For the last two days in the House of Assembly, the NDP Caucus has questioned government on the hiring of a former high-ranking Liberal staffer as Executive Director of Marketing and Development without advertising the position or holding a competition.
In Question Period yesterday, NDP Leader Gerry Rogers said people were astounded by this appointment and reminded the House that the Premier campaigned on taking politics out of the hiring process. The Minister claimed creating the new position was urgent. “I ask the Premier, what exactly was the urgency and what does he have to say to the people for this blatantly political appointment?” Rogers said.
NDP House Leader Lorraine Michael asked the Minister if he would table a copy of the contract for the position of Executive Director of Marketing and Development.
Today in Question Period, Rogers said the Minister admitted that he completely orchestrated the hiring of Ms. Foote for the position.
“Can the Minister tell us the exact roles played by Dean Briton, CEO of The Rooms, the Board of The Rooms, the Clerk of Executive Council, and the Premier’s Office in this orchestration?” Rogers asked.
Rogers further asked how does the Minister believe he has the ability to determine someone is “amply” or “most” qualified for a professional position in a field in which he personally has no qualifications?
Michael notes that the Minister said this new position of Executive Director was in the Strategic Plan for The Rooms, yet there is no explicit evidence of this in the existing, publically available Strategic Plan. “Perhaps there is another secret strategic plan somewhere that we are not privy to?” Michael said.
“Can the Minister point out where and in what strategic planning document is this Executive Director of Marketing and Development position identified and noted as essential?” said Michael.
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