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Judy Foote, Opposition Critic for the Department of Innovation, Trade and
Rural Development and the Department of Business and MHA for the District of
Grand Bank, says Premier Williams’ refusal to appear before the budget
estimates committee of the House of Assembly to defend the budgetary
spending for the Department of Business is another example of his contempt
for the democratic process. The Premier is the minister responsible for the
Department of Business.
"Obviously he continues to think he is above the law and does not have to
follow the normal procedures of the House of Assembly," said Foote. "This is
the second year in a row that he has refused to appear before the Budget
Estimates Committee of the House of Assembly to answer questions about how
the money allocated to the Department of Business will be spent. As Minister
responsible for this department, he has a responsibility to account for the
expenditure of these funds. Last year he was out of the country when the
meeting was scheduled and we offered to reschedule the meeting at his
convenience which he refused. This year he was in the building where the
meeting was taking place and he refused to attend. Ministers need to be held
accountable and it is through the estimates committees that they are
questioned not only about departmental expenditures but plans and strategies
to move the province forward. The Premier chose to assume responsibility for
the Department of Business and in doing so he should be held to the same
standard as any minister responsible for a department of government.
"This Premier chooses to ignore his responsibility and despite all his
talk about openness and accountability, his actions tell a different story.
He will not meet with the members of the Budget Estimates Committee of the
House of Assembly to discuss the expenditures and plans of the Department of
Business when every other minister is expected to do so for their respective
departments.
"This is a new Department created by the Premier and he has taken
responsibility and control for the operations from his office. There has
been very little information released about this department since its
creation and there are a lot of questions about its operation that need to
be answered. For example, at this point we are not even sure what grants,
subsidies, or programs are being offered through this Department. There was
in excess of $700,000 budgeted for grants and subsidies but no indication
how it was spent and no opportunity to put the question to the Premier.
There was $150,000 budgeted for positions in the Department of Business but
we don’t know what the positions are. We don’t know what procedures, if any,
are in place for making application for funding and we don’t know how that
all interacts with the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural
Development. At this point there is not even a Web-site established for the
Department so there does not seem to be much emphasis on making information
available to the public.
"The morning before the estimates for the Department of Business were
scheduled to be debated, the Resource Committee met to discuss the
Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development with Minister
Dunderdale. On that Tuesday morning the minister was asked questions about
the Department of Business by committee members who were trying to gain an
understanding of the relationship between the two departments. The next
morning, it was Minister Dunderdale who appeared on behalf of the Premier to
answer questions for the very department she knew nothing about 24 hours
ago. True to form the minister read a prepared statement extolling the
virtues of the Premier and the department but the Premier refused to speak
about his own plans and departmental expenditures.
"I find this lack of respect for the parliamentary process to be beneath
a person who holds the Office of Premier. Since he chose to take
responsibility for a department of government he should also take
responsibility for ensuring that there is a clear understanding of the
mandate of the department and how the department functions and spends the
money allocated for it. As a minister of a government department, the
Premier should face the same scrutiny as any other minister and be held
accountable for the expenditures within the Department of Business."
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