Premier Tony Wakeham says a controversial right-wing election strategist will have no say over policy decisions in the new PC government.

Steve Outhouse was appointed to lead Premier Tony Wakeham’s transition team.

Outhouse was a strategist in the election of the right-wing United Conservative government in Alberta and Blaine Higgs’ PCs in New Brunswick.

NDP Leader Jim Dinn wrote the premier, expressing concern over inclusion, human rights, DEI policies, school and student safety, and protection for members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

“One of the things we’re going to be looking for is with regards to addressing the DEI initiatives about making sure that our schools are inclusive, that they have the support that we addressed for things such as pay equity and other issues that are near and dear to workers of this province as well,” he told reporters.

Premier Tony Wakeham says Outhouse will have no power over policy decisions.

(“It’s all about the data collection and the input and identifying voters and and the administration of that. Mr. Outhouse is not involved in the policy decision piece of government,” Wakeham told VOCM Open Line with Paddy Daly.