The incoming Chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), St. Barbe MHA Jim Bennett, is frustrated with the lack of government cooperation on the committee that is intended to scrutinize government spending. 

“I’ve written Government House Leader Jerome Kennedy on two occasions asking for a list of proposed government members of the committee,” said Bennett. “To date Minister Kennedy has not responded.”

Bennett stated that it’s unfortunate that the Deputy Chair of the PAC, John Dinn, is now trying to blame the committee’s inactivity on past PAC members instead of acknowledging his role and moving forward.

"Regardless of previous inactivity, dysfunction, and finger-pointing by government members, the people of the province deserve an active and aggressive investigation into provincial public accounts by this committee,” said Bennett. “You can be assured that we will be scheduling public meetings and calling witnesses as soon as practicable. We have a lot of ground to cover and a lot of lost time to make up for."

Bennett noted that the Dunderdale Government’s shocking decision to close the House of Assembly has further prevented any new activity of the PAC.

“New members can only be appointed to the PAC when the House is open,” said Bennett. “This is yet another reason why we should be in the House, not on the outside looking in.”

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Media Contact: 

Peter Miles| Director of Communications
Office of the Official Opposition
(709) 729-6151     petermiles@gov.nl.ca