Brian Gallant mum on future of Margaret-Ann Blaney, Robert MacLeod

Premier Brian Gallant is refusing to say what has become of two high-profile, Tory-appointed provincial officials despite earlier assurances that they would be laid off with six other deputy ministers linked to David Alward’s Progressive Conservatives.

Robert MacLeod, the chief executive officer of Invest New Brunswick, and Margaret-Ann Blaney, the president and chief executive officer of Efficiency New Brunswick, were both given high-paying jobs in the Alward government.

On Oct. 3, Gallant suggested the outgoing Progressive Conservative government that appointed them would also send them packing before the Liberals were sworn in.

However, it's now clear that MacLeod and Blaney were not among the six deputy-minister level Tories, who were handed severance packages in Alward’s final cabinet meeting.

On Oct. 10, Blaney was still on the job at Efficiency New Brunswick, though she did not respond to an interview request.

Now Gallant acknowledges it was left to his new Liberal government to deal with these two Tory appointees.

"The past government certainly has done some things when it comes to deputy ministers. There are some things that will continuously have to be dealt with,” Gallant said.

Gallant said he can't go into detail because it's a personnel matter, though it's one that could cost taxpayers six-figure severance payments.

All the premier promised was that he would have more to say on it in the near future.

Both MacLeod and Blaney were high-profile appointments during Alward’s term and both were well-known within the Progressive Conservatives.

MacLeod ran against Alward for the Progressive Conservative leadership in 2008. Alward appointed MacLeod to a senior campaign position in 2010 and then named him as the first president of Invest NB in 2011.

Blaney ran for the Progressive Conservative leadership against Bernard Lord in 1998. She served in several cabinet positions in the Lord and Alward governments.

She resigned from cabinet in 2012 to become the president of Efficiency New Brunswick, a position the Tories had previously cut.

The six deputies who were laid off in the final Alward cabinet meeting were:

• Daniel Allain, who was a deputy minister in the premier's office and former president of NB Liquor. 
• Nancy MacKay, who was a deputy minister in the Executive Council office. She had also served as Alward's chief of staff.
• Dallas McCready, who was the deputy minister for strategic initiatives in the Executive Council Office. 
• Darell Fowlie, who was on a leave of absence from his job as a deputy minister in the premier’s office.
• Greg Lutes, who was the deputy minister of Tourism, Heritage and Culture. 
• Roger Clinch, who was the premier’s chief of staff.