The Official Opposition is calling on Premier Tony Wakeham to disclose whether Bern Coffey resigned from his role on the Churchill Falls file on the eve of the House of Assembly debate due to discontent, according to information received by the Opposition.
“We have been told that Bern Coffey left his role just before the debate began, yet the Premier proceeded through the entire debate without disclosing that information to the public,” says Official Opposition Leader John Hogan. “If that is correct, when did the Premier become aware of Mr. Coffey’s departure, why did he leave, and why were Newfoundlanders and Labradorians kept in the dark?”
Mr. Coffey had previously been outspoken about his views on Churchill Falls. In May, Premier Wakeham only disclosed that Mr. Coffey and Jerome Kennedy had been hired months earlier after being questioned by the Official Opposition in the House of Assembly.
This departure raises further concerns about transparency surrounding Churchill Falls, particularly following the Premier’s broken referendum promise and ongoing questions about independent oversight and accountability.
Mr. Coffey was part of the team that provided briefings on behalf of government following the Premier’s announcement of his deal with Quebec. However, he left the team before the House of Assembly debate, an important development the Premier hid from the public.
During the September Churchill Falls debate, Premier Wakeham said the negotiating team “will continue to deliver for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.” His comments confirmed for the public that the Premier’s advisors would remain in place when, in fact, a key member had resigned.
“The Premier took away the public’s promised vote and asked people to trust his process. He only admitted he had hired key advisors when questioned in the House. Now we are hearing that someone involved in that process left before the debate, without any public explanation,” says Hogan. “People deserve the full story about a deal that will shape this province for generations.”
The Official Opposition is demanding that the Premier immediately clarify Mr. Coffey’s status, the timing and circumstances of any departure, and whether he raised concerns about the agreement.
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