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Roland Butler, Opposition Critic for Human Resources, Labour and Employment
and MHA for the District of Port de Grave, is questioning the qualifications
of former PC Party Leader Len Simms for an appointment as Chair and Chief
Executive Officer of the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation.
"There are a number of serious concerns in our province today related to
housing," said Mr. Butler. "In urban parts of this province, we are faced
with an impending crisis in terms of affordable housing. This is not the
kind of position which government should be using to reward one of its
former leaders.
"I would like the minister to provide the qualifications which Mr. Simms
brings to the job and the process which was used to select him over others
who could have filled the position. This is clearly a political patronage
appointment, the kind which the conservatives said they would not make
during the election campaign. If they truly wanted to provide Mr. Simms with
reward for his years of service, there are many other positions that could
have been identified that did not have such an impact on some of the poorest
people in our province.
"It is great for the minister to participate in events related to social
housing, but it is highly inappropriate to make patronage appointments to
key portfolios that affect people’s lives on a daily basis. Appointments
such as this demonstrate the lack of concern or attention being paid to
housing issues by this government."
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