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News
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Joyce will ask Public Accounts Committee
to request auditor general investigate fibre-optic deal November 10, 2006
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Eddie Joyce, MHA for the Bay of Islands and Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, says there is an urgent need for an investigation of the deal the province has made with close friends and business associates of the premier to build a fibre‑optic cable from Newfoundland and Labrador to Nova Scotia. The deal involves $15 million of taxpayers= money. "Given the controversy that has been generated and the many questions raised about this project, it is important that our committee have access to all the factors involved in the decision-making process, so we can determine if the correct procedures were indeed followed," says Joyce. Joyce notes that the Public Accounts Committee, consisting of all-party members of the House of Assembly, has the right to refer this matter to the Auditor General=s office for further investigation. This is an option which he will be asking the committee to consider when they next meet. Under Section 16. (1) of the Auditor General Act, a special request can be made by the Public Accounts Committee for a special report on a matter relating to the financial affairs of the province. The Liberal MHA advises that he will be in contact with other committee members next week to arrange a meeting of the committee. "I am hoping that all members of the committee will realize the importance of investigating this matter and not approach this from a defensive position. As members of the Public Accounts Committee, we have a very important role in examining the finances of the province. I take that role very seriously and I am hoping the Conservative members of this committee will also support the need for clarity and openness on this issue of public concern, as well." Members of the Public Accounts Committee also include fellow Liberals Percy Barrett, Yvonne Jones and Conservatives Sean Skinner, Kathie Goudie, Ray Hunter and Wallace Young.
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