Opposition Leader Gerry Reid will be introducing a motion in the House of Assembly on Wednesday afternoon calling on government to appoint an independent inquiry with broad and expansive terms of reference to immediately investigate all the details and circumstances of the fibre-optic deal. 

AIn light of fact that the Auditor General may not be able to conduct an immediate and probing investigation into the fibre-optics deal, together with the Conservatives= refusal to allow a public hearing through the Public Accounts Committee, I am calling on government to launch an independent process. This would be similar to the one currently taking place on constituency allowances with Justice Greene,@ said Mr. Reid.  

AI am convinced that the process used to subsidize this most recent fibre-optic deal is flawed and the relationship between the premier and the proponents is a little too close. The fact that no tender or request for proposals was issued makes this deal even more suspicious. I would fully support a public hearing at the Public Accounts Committee, however, the actions of the government members of that committee make that process unlikely. As a result, I feel an independent inquiry into this deal would serve to clarify the deal for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. 

AThe premier has already indicated his support for this type of investigation,  as Justice Greene was asked to review constituency allowances. A similar, non-partisan investigation would certainly clear the air and ensure all facts of the case are presented in an equitable manner. I am certain that this level of investigation would be supported by the premier, as it would remove the perception of any politics that he claims are of concern. I look forward to government support on this issue when it is raised for debate on Wednesday afternoon. Maybe then the air will finally be cleared on this issue and all of the facts will be brought forward and made public.@ 

Private Members Motion on fibre-optic deal

 Whereas $15 million in taxpayers money has been allocated for a project to bring two additional fibre- optic cables to the province in a deal which involves close personal friends and business associates of the Premier  without a call for public tenders or a request for proposals; 

Whereas many significant concerns have been raised about the lack of analysis, the role of lobbyists, the disclosure of a benefits analysis, the exploration of other options and the procedures followed in allocating this money;