The Official Opposition is raising concerns about yet another act of secrecy and lack of transparency from Premier Tony Wakeham, as he continues to avoid leadership, pass off responsibility, and allow a generational opportunity on the Churchill River to slip away.
Back in January, the Premier secretly hired Jerome Kennedy, a former cabinet minister under Danny Williams and the Natural Resources Minister at the time of the Muskrat Falls sanctioning, and Bern Coffey, a public critic to the deal, to help negotiate the MOU. Newfoundlanders and Labradorians were not informed of this decision until the Premier was compelled to come clean in the House of Assembly. It’s clear this information was withheld because the Premier knew the public would object to these appointments.
Equally concerning is the Premier’s conduct during Question Period. The Premier’s failure to disclose the identities of these advisors when directly questioned in the House undermines the very transparency the Conservatives campaigned on, and shows a troubling lack of respect for the Legislature. If there was nothing to hide, the government should have informed Newfoundlanders and Labradorians when these advisers were hired back in January.
The government has also failed to acknowledge that Bern Coffey was, until recently, a paid political staffer for the Conservatives, including during the period when the MOU was being debated in the Legislature. The review process simply cannot be independent if the Premier is inserting politically connected insiders, one of whom has already publicly weighed in on the agreement.
Finally, there are serious questions about cost and accountability. What is the mandate of these advisors? What are Jerome Kennedy and Bern Coffey being paid for this work, and how does the Premier not know? How were these contracts awarded, and what will this additional layer of advice cost taxpayers? At a time when families are looking for relief, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians deserve full transparency on how their money is being spent, and why.
The Official Opposition remains hopeful and optimistic that a fair deal on the Churchill River can still be reached, righting the wrongs of 1969, and will continue to advocate for that outcome in the House of Assembly.
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