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Opposition Leader Roger Grimes and Gerry Reid, Opposition Education Critic
and MHA for the District of Twillingate-Fogo, say the termination costs of
public sector employees has already cost the taxpayers of the province close
to $8 million and that number is guaranteed to rise as court challenges have
been filed and program renewal approaches. The termination costs were
obtained through a request made under the Freedom of Information Act. While
the document does not give the names of employees terminated or their
individual cost breakdown as originally requested, it does demonstrate the
significant amount of money spent by government on termination packages for
employees who lost their jobs in this fiscal year.
"I was very disappointed that government did not include a detailed
breakdown of each position," said Mr. Grimes. "If that were the case, we
could determine how much the unnecessary firing of the Deputy Minister of
Health and the Information and Privacy Commissioner cost the taxpayers of
the province. We could also determine how much the taxpayers spent to get
rid of people with whom Danny Williams did not want to work. While some of
these positions were eliminated through the general budget process, there
were many people dismissed because they did not always agree with the
Premier, or did not share his political stripe. As a result, the taxpayers
of the province are on the hook for approximately $8 million.
I also question what future costs will be associated with terminations.
Some of these payments are only projections. There are court cases that are
progressing through the Department of Justice from employees who are
challenging the termination payments they received. Also, program renewal is
just around the corner. How many more positions will be eliminated?"
Opposition Education Critic Gerry Reid said that he was amazed to learn
that almost $4 million was paid in termination costs to school board
officials involved in government’s ill-thought out and rushed restructuring
plan. "Government stated that they would save $6 million from school board
restructuring in this fiscal year. It is now obvious that they have already
spent most of these savings in termination costs.
"In addition, all 11 board offices have remained open, even though there
are now only five boards. Where are the savings? Is this the reason that
1,500 substitute teaching days were removed from the system and spending
reductions have been imposed upon individual schools? It is unfortunate that
this government did not think about the consequences of their rushed plans.
As a result, the school system in this province has lost the benefit of
services and materials that were available in the last school year. I also
fear upcoming teacher cuts will only make the situation worse next year."
Both MHAs stated that they will be keeping a close eye on the outcome of
the court challenges and future dismissals and payments that will be
undertaken by government.
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