News Release
Office of the Official Opposition
 

Finance Minister and Labour Minister contradict Premier - Agreements are in place!
April 28, 2004

Opposition Leader Roger Grimes said today that Premier Williams has now stated he needs to legislate a contract because there is no contract in place. In the House of Assembly on Wednesday afternoon, April 28th, both the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Labour confirmed after questions that collective agreements are currently in place for all workers and continue in place until a new one replaces it.

"The Premier has misled the people of the province again by saying he has no choice but to legislate because there is no contract in place," said the Opposition Leader. "Meantime, both Ministers stood in the legislature and emphatically stated that the current agreements stay in effect indefinitely and forever unless they are renewed or renegotiated."

Despite this, the Premier is creating a myth in an attempt to justify his plans to create a new agreement through the Legislature instead of through negotiations or binding arbitration.

"When will this Premier stop playing fast and loose with the truth, stop making excuses and let the current contract continue on if he can’t negotiate a new one or won’t have a new one decided by arbitration," Mr. Grimes asked. "When will the lies stop?"

Media Contact:
Darrell Mercer, Communications, (709) 729-6151