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Eddie Joyce, Chair of the Public Accounts Committee and
MHA for the District of Bay of Islands, says the government members of the
Public Accounts Committee are stifling the job of the committee and today
refused to allow the Auditor General to do an independent audit of the VON
settlement in Corner Brook last year.
"In the meeting of the Public Accounts Committee this
morning, a formal and second request was made to have the Auditor General
conduct an examination of the settlement of the VON strike in Corner Brook,"
said Mr. Joyce. "Unfortunately, the government members of the committee
refused to allow the Auditor General to immediately conduct this review.
"It is disturbing that government members of a
so-called independent committee are not agreeing to a format established by
the committee in that each member can bring forth one item to review. If
there was no wrongdoing in settling this strike, the Auditor General’s
review would confirm this action. This is just another attempt by government
to cover-up its actions and refuse to answer for their decisions. There is
definitely no openness or transparency occurring on this committee and we
are not examining the true actions of government.
"There are so many unanswered questions and
discrepancies related to this file that an investigation needs to be
completed to find out exactly what took place. The Premier is on record as
saying the strike was settled because of the new health funds that were
invested by the federal government. However, the current Minister of Health
continuously states that it was existing funding used for this initiative.
What happens when this funding runs out at the end of March? Why did this
agreement force the resignation of the Minister of Health and the firing of
the Deputy Minister of Health?
"In the past, opposition members brought forward
issues to the Public Accounts Committee for investigation. It is very
disappointing that a government that continuously states they are open and
accountable, refuse to permit investigations that will ensure there was no
wrongdoing. I will raise this issue again at the next public accounts
meeting and if we as an Opposition are continuously stonewalled, we can see
no purpose of having or being part of any further Public Accounts Meetings."
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