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George Sweeney, Opposition Government Services Critic and
MHA for the District of Carbonear - Harbour Grace, says that a document
released by the Premier yesterday lists numerous items as achievements that
can only be described as a "bold lie". "In the
Department of Government Services, the Premier lists five items as
accomplishments that were astounding," said Sweeney. "If these are the kind
of things the Premier wants to be proud to accomplish over the course of his
mandate, the people of this province are in for a very tough three years.
"In the area of automobile insurance reform, the
government broke a key election promise and failed to deliver adequate rate
reductions or equality to consumers of the province. If backing away from
promises and giving in to insurance companies and lawyers is an
accomplishment, what do we have to look forward to this year?
"After cutting inspection and enforcement resources in
the budget and refusing last month to address pitfalls with the Highway
Traffic Act, the government actually listed increased safety as an
accomplishment in their first year of office. In a year where ATV and
highway safety have been serious public policy issues following serious
injuries and deaths, the government has refused to act in any way, yet they
also list these items as accomplishments.
"I would really like to know how government has made
the Government Purchasing Agency independent as they also claimed in this
document. On February 20, 2004, government announced that it was shifting
responsibility for this agency so that it would report directly to the
Minister of Government Services. I’m not sure how they translate that into
the agency becoming an independent body.
"These are just a few of the items I have spoken out
about during the past year. The government continues to fail in any attempt
to live up to the promises they made during the election and over the past
year. It is my duty as a member of the Official Opposition to bring these
items to the attention of the public and I will continue to do that on an
ongoing basis. Government cannot continue to provide false impressions of
their actions and expect to be unchallenged. It is important that we set the
record straight and give an accurate review of what this government has done
since coming to power a year ago." |