The opposition parties are reacting with concern to the latest AG report.
Opposition Leader Tony Wakeham is accusing the provincial government for failing to provide the oversight promised when the creation of the Oil and Gas Corporation was first announced.
Auditor General Denise Hanrahan’s report on operations at OilCo—created when Nalcor was absorbed into NL Hydro—found shortcomings in the areas of compensation, operating expenses and conflict of interest.
Wakeham says the AG found that the Crown corporation did not ensure the best use of public money, which is concerning given Minister Siobhan Coady’s assurances that there would be direct oversight into OilCo’s operations—reporting directly to the Minister of Natural Resources.
Instead, Wakeham says, the AG found “repeated instances of government directing the Oil and Gas Corporation to classify its positions and the Corporation refusing to do so.”
Jim Dinn
Meanwhile, NDP Leader Jim Dinn says its difficult to read about unchecked spending when his constituents are suffering from the high cost of living. He calls it “unconscionable” to spend $10,000 on business class upgrades for air travel when people are regularly making choices between food, housing and medicine.
