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Reid questions $24,000 chauffeur service charged by Premier in Ireland while so many people struggling financially May 31 , 2007
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Opposition Leader Gerry Reid is questioning a $24,000 untendered contract for chauffeur services used by the premier and his ministers during a 3-day trip to Ireland in February and March. Reid says this excessive amount is unacceptable when so many people in the province are struggling to make ends meet. The $23,152.92 untendered chauffeur contract was listed in the Report of Public Tender Act Exemptions for March 2007 tabled by government in the House of Assembly. Under law, government must table any untendered contracts that are over $10,000. The file number of this document is 70263 and was approved on March 3rd, 2007. AWhile there are thousands of people doing without an income on the northeast coast and Labrador because of ice conditions, this government is unwilling to provide any assistance to help their plight,@ said Mr. Reid. AMeanwhile, the premier has no problem spending almost $24,000 on chauffeur services for he and his officials to be driven around Ireland in March. I have people in my district who have lost their vehicles because they cannot make their payments. AI question why the premier is willing to look after himself and his friends with taxpayer dollars, yet is unwilling to do anything to help address the plight of other Newfoundlanders and Labradorians struggling financially. He has no problem giving $15 million to his buddies for fibre-optics; spending $200,000 to wine, dine and entertain the premiers; paying $8,000 for fur coats for his buddy Ralph Klein; giving huge pay increases to his staff while other public servants suffer through wage freezes; and wasting almost $24,000 on chauffeur services in Ireland, yet he is unwilling to do anything for people struggling without an income on the northeast coast and Labrador because of ice conditions.@ Reid noted that the premier disputes the figures in the report, but has invited him to review the information tabled by government in the House of Assembly. Reid says if the information is incorrect, the premier has to answer why his government is tabling false information in the legislature and misleading the people of the province. |
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