Mayor’s email exposes health minister’s threatening and bullying behaviour

Marshall Dean, MHA for the District of the Straits-White Bay North, says he is shocked by the premier’s defense of the demeaning and unprofessional behaviour demonstrated by the health minister in a recent meeting with a delegation from St. Anthony to discuss their concerns over the relocation of the air ambulance service.  

The MHA raised the specter of the minister’s behaviour in the Legislature today as highlighted in an email to the premier from the Mayor of St. Anthony, Ernest Simms.  The premier readily came to the defense of his minister, showing no compassion for how the delegation was treated.  In his email, the mayor said he and members of his delegation felt threatened, ridiculed and intimidated by the outbursts of “sarcasm, insinuations and accusations” flung at them by the minister.

“The minister’s handling of these meetings and the temperament and tactics displayed is very revealing of the backroom bullying and lengths this government can stoop to when they know they have zero defense of their policy decisions,” says Dean.  “For the premier to stand in the House of Assembly and defend his minister’s inappropriate conduct rather than apologizing is very distressing.

“This delegation came in good faith and with passion in their hearts to have their voices heard and they clearly did not receive the decency and respect they deserve from a minister of the crown.  In fact, the fierce behaviour of the minister is no better than the schoolyard bullying we as a society no longer condone.  

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