Premier John Hogan says the transitional allowance policy that was approved by cabinet earlier this year has been rescinded.

CBC first reported the news earlier today that the policy, which would have seen thousands of dollars paid to outgoing ministers based on their years in cabinet, was quietly approved by cabinet earlier this year and has been in effect since April 1st.

That news quickly drew the ire of opposition members in the House, who called for the decision to be reversed.

Hogan says he convened a cabinet meeting earlier today and made the decision to do exactly that.

Hogan says he was not in cabinet at the time and was not involved in the decision to approve the policy. That puts the timeline for when the policy was approved sometime between late February and late March, during which time Hogan had stepped away from cabinet to run for the Liberal leadership.

Moreover, Hogan says he was made aware of the policy because of the media inquiries surrounding it, and acted quickly to revoke the allowance.

Earlier Story

There are mounting calls from opposition parties and MHAs calling on government to cancel a new initiative whereby outgoing cabinet ministers could receive thousands of dollars in compensation.

The details were first reported this morning by CBC.

According to the report, cabinet approved a “transitional allowance policy,” which came into effect on April 1, whereby cabinet ministers will receive one month of their ministerial salary for each year served in cabinet.

They will get that in case of resignation, retirement, death, or loss of an election.

The decision comes as a slew of cabinet ministers announce their intention not to run again.

PC Leader Tony Wakeham says the report reveals a level of “corruption” within government.

He says if all departing cabinet ministers take the payout, it would amount to about $300,000 of taxpayers’ money.

“I don’t think this should have ever been approved, especially doing so behind closed doors,” he said.

He is calling on Premier John Hogan to immediately reverse the decision, and for all ministers on the way out not to accept the payments.

Independent MHAs Paul Lane and Eddie Joyce are calling for the same.