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Eddie Joyce, MHA for the District of Bay of Islands, is calling on Minister
Joan Burke to release the details of employment established for Ms. Nada
Borden, the Vice-President of the PC Party and Chief Financial Officer the
Premier in the District of Humber West. Yesterday in the House of
Assembly, several examples were provided of high profile PC Party
supporters, friends, relatives and business associates of the Premier being
hired to public service positions without going through any process
whatsoever. Today in the House of Assembly, questions were raised regarding
the contract of Nada Borden, who has been seconded by government to work on
the White Paper process.
"I was very surprised to learn that Minister Joan Burke did not know what
position Ms. Borden was currently holding, her pay details, nor the location
of her office," said Mr. Joyce. "Through the Access to Information Act I
have confirmed that government has seconded Ms. Borden from her job at the
College of the North Atlantic and she is apparently doing work on the White
Paper process. Nobody seems to know what this job entails, not even the
minister!
"It appears that Ms. Borden has been given this position as a reward for
her commitment to the Premier and the PC party. Her current position is
being filled at the College of the North Atlantic and it appears she will
not be returning. I expect this new position has been created to carry Ms.
Borden over until retirement and provide her with the opportunity to be
closer to the Premier and advise on political issues in the Corner Brook
area. As a matter of fact, Ms. Borden is actively trying to recruit a
candidate for the Conservative Party in the District of Humber-St.
Barbe-Baie Verte for the upcoming federal election.
"This government continues to do favours for their political friends. The
taxpayers of the province should not be paying to look after the Premier’s
supporters. I suggest a better use of this funding would be an investment in
the seniors who need long-term care in the Corner Brook area. Instead of
paying this unnecessary salary to Ms. Borden, government should invest this
money in long-term care at Western Memorial Regional Hospital and stop
sending seniors hours away from their family and friends."
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