"There was no need to disrupt the operations of this office and cause uncertainty for the employees and the general public who depend on the stability of gas pricing ensured by the commission," said Ms. Thistle. "The commission had been operating efficiently with no cost to government and it was not necessary to cause this upset.

Under questioning in the Estimates Committee on Wednesday evening, the Liberal MHA put the question to Minister Whelan on what her intention was for the long-term in keeping the Grand Falls-Windsor office open and staffed. "I was able to get a commitment from her that she will be appointing a full-time director under the supervision of the Public Utilities Board. Why she did not make this commitment as part of her original announcement, I’m not sure. But I do have this commitment in Hansard, the official record of the House of Assembly, and I will be holding her to that commitment.

"This latest round of government bungling follows several weeks of questioning by the Government Services critic, George Sweeney, where he has been pressuring the minister to inform the House of her decision. Finally, when her announcement was made, she stated that there would be savings of $110,000 annually. In face under my questioning in the Estimates Committee, however, she stated the opposite, that there will be no savings at all.

"The question must now be asked, why did government send the commission into total chaos for no reason? The minister has admitted that there will be no savings and no real change in the way the commission operates. At a time when fuel prices are volatile on the world markets, the minister is putting the protection of consumers in jeopardy for no apparent reason."