NEWS RELEASE

                                                                                       Office of the Official Opposition

January 15, 2010
For Immediate Release

Premier’s attacks on Grenfell administrators deflecting from real issue

The Premier’s attacks on the administration of Sir Wilfred Grenfell College is unwarranted and nothing more than an attempt to deflect from the real issue of government breaking their commitment to a full, autonomous SWGC, says Marshall Dean, Opposition Education Critic and MHA for the District of the Straits-White Bay North.

The Premier delivered a speech yesterday in Corner Brook in which he attacked senior administrators of SWGC for challenging his broken commitment to full autonomy in a letter sent to his office.

“There are numerous examples of where the Premier and his government made clear commitments that SWGC would receive full autonomy,” said Mr. Dean. “Instead of listening to the concerns of senior administrators of the college, he attacked them personally and called their correspondence ‘snotty’. This is not new behaviour from our Premier, if you disagree with his approach you are chastised or attacked. It is unfortunate that such dedicated and strong supporters of SWGC and the development of western Newfoundland are treated in such a disrespectful manner.”

Government committed to providing full autonomy to SWGC in budget and throne speeches since 2007 and numerous media interviews. “If this government wasn’t serious about providing full autonomy to the college, it should never have been promised. Attacking professional people because they challenged a broken political commitment is unfortunate and I believe the Premier owes an apology to the senior administrators that he so publicly insulted.”

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Media Contact: 
Darrell Mercer
Director of Communications
Office of the Official Opposition
Tel: (709) 729-6151 or (709) 687-0477