Governing hobbled by 'dribs and drabs' from N.L. audit: Williams

Investigation proceeding as it should: Opposition leader

Last Updated: Friday, January 5, 2007 | 11:29 AM NT

CBC News

Premier Danny Williams said the ongoing audit of spending at the Newfoundland and Labrador legislature is making it difficult for him to govern.

Danny Williams says he is becoming frustrated with how information is being released from an ongoing audit of legislative spending.
(CBC)

"I'm finding it very difficult in this investigation to be dealing with dribs and drabs of information," Williams said, referring to a series of reports made by Auditor General John Noseworthy on spending at the legislature.

Williams asked John Hickey to step aside as minister of transportation and works on Thursday, after being notified that Noseworthy's office had found Hickey had been paid twice for claims amounting to $3,770.

Speaking with reporters Thursday, Williams expressed frustration that Noseworthy's reviews — which included explosive findings that caused tumult last summer across party lines — are being released in small parts at a time.

Five politicians from three parties, including former cabinet minister Ed Byrne, were named last year in a series of reports that Noseworthy filed. All were shown to have received substantial overpayments in their constituency allowances.

Williams said Hickey — who repaid the amount Thursday when the issue was brought to his attention — had to step aside while Noseworthy continued his investigation, and stressed that the issue is far different from the cases last year.

John Hickey was asked to step aside Thursday as transportation minister, pending an ongoing review.
(CBC)

However, Williams expressed a concern that Noseworthy — who is currently researching how constituency allowances were used by dozens of politicians dating back to 1989 — may continue to release information on politicians in a series of reports.

"How can I continue to govern in this manner, if — on every month — there's going to be an allegation of something with regard to a particular person that's a cabinet minister?" Williams said.

"I would have to do that," he said, referring to a legal requirement that he ask cabinet ministers to step aside during such investigations.

"Can I govern like that? No, I can't."

Noseworthy declined an interview request. He is expected to comment publicly when he files a formal report, as per protocol, to the house of assembly.

Noseworthy had notified Speaker Harvey Hodder about preliminary findings involving Hickey, and Hodder in turn contacted Williams.

Probe continuing as it should: Reid

Opposition leader Gerry Reid said he does not have sympathy for Williams's concerns, and that the auditor general's investigation is proceeding as it should.

"The auditor general was given direction by the premier and the cabinet to investigate the constituency allowances of all MHAs," Reid said.

"He's doing his job and he's moving ahead as he was asked to do."

Hickey is the second cabinet minister to be affected by Noseworthy's reports. Byrne, who was forced to resign as natural resources minister in June after Noseworthy's first report was completed, subsequently resigned altogether from the legislature.

Noseworthy, who completed his investigation into excess constituency payments in December, is now working on a review of the appropriateness of how constituency allowances have been used over the years.

To supplement Noseworthy's reviews, Williams asked Derek Green, the chief justice of the Newfoundland Supreme Court's trial division, to review the entire system of constituency allowances, as well as to consider how politicians should be remunerated.