Government handling of a fibre optic deal will likely take centre stage as Newfoundland and Labrador politicians return Monday for the first sitting since a legislative spending scandal broke in June.

Premier Danny Williams has been accused of cronyism for putting $15 million into a fibre optic network backed by former business associates.

Danny Williams said nothing untoward has been done in the government's support of a new fibre optic network.
(CBC)

Opposition Liberals say they plan to pepper the government with questions about the deal, which the provincial government announced earlier this month as an element of its agenda to spur innovation.

Most recently, the Liberals have accused the government for not enforcing recently introduced legislation that requires individuals who spend 20 per cent of their time lobbying government to sign up with a registry.

"The bottom line is that the spirit and intent of that act was to make sure anyone who's lobbying, trying to influence a government decision should be made known to the public," said Opposition house leader Kelvin Parsons.

"They didn't do that."

Williams is brushing aside the criticism.

"We do have probably the best legislation in the country put in place in order to make sure things are done properly," Williams said.

"I feel quite confident that they would have been complied with."

The province backed a $52-million project — put together by a consortium including Rogers Communications, Persona Communications and MTS Allstream — to compete with an existing Bell Aliant fibre optic system.

Two executives with those companies worked for Williams when he owned Cable Atlantic, which he sold to Rogers before entering politics. Dean MacDonald is the president and chief executive officer of Persona, while Marshall is a Rogers vice-president.

As well, electoral office data show that Rogers and Persona donated to the provincial Progressive Conservatives — but not other parties — in the last two years.

The legislature opening Monday will also see the return of three members of the house of assembly who have come under scrutiny because of startling reports by Auditor General John Noseworthy.

Noseworthy reported that Tory Ed Byrne, Liberal Wally Andersen and New Democrat Randy Collins were all reimbursed for their constituency allowances far beyond amounts to which they were entitled.

Byrne — who was forced out of his natural resources portfolio in cabinet — gave a series of media interviews last week, speaking publicly for the first time since June. Byrne said he still knows little detail of the allegations that have prompted a Royal Newfoundland Constabulary investigation.

Meanwhile, Loyola Sullivan, who has taken on Byrne's former duties as government house leader, says the fall session will cover a variety of issues, from regulating flea markets to adding an extra month to daylight savings time.

As well, the government is planning to create a new health research ethics authority.