Dealing with Eddie Joyce 'total intimidation,' says former chair of waste management group

A man who dealt with former Liberal cabinet minister Eddie Joyce during several years as chair of a regional waste management authority says encounters with Joyce were "a terrible, intimidating experience."

Don Downer, a longtime Progressive Conservative, spent six years as chair of the Western Newfoundland Waste Management Board and two years as chair of the regional planning board for the Humber Valley area.

During that time, he said he had nothing but headaches dealing with Joyce in his position as municipal affairs minister.

"I can say unequivocally, [it was] total intimidation just about all of the time," Downer said.

"Except when he said to me at one point, 'I want to bury the hatchet.' And I kind of construed that as being in my head."

Downer has known Joyce for more than 30 years, and said he wasn't surprised when he heard about the complaints from two members of the House of Assembly.

Service NL Minister Sherry Gambin-Walsh filed a complaint against Joyce Wednesday but declined to give details.

The Tory MHA for Fortune Bay-Cape La Hune Tracey Perry has said she will also be filing a complaint, citing "intimidation and efforts to embarass."

The complaints will be investigated by the Commissioner of Legislative Standards, Premier Dwight Ball said in a statement Friday, one day after removing Joyce from the Liberal caucus.

'Partisan back-scratch politics'

Downer makes no bones about it — he's an opponent of the Liberal Party — but said that's not why he disagrees with Joyce's tactics.

It was a terrible, intimidating experience for the board, for me, for anybody else that was involved.- Don Downer

"One can't deny that if you've got a longtime allegiance to a party that there isn't some bias here, but let me just say I hate seeing this in any politician," he said.

"I would call out anybody who uses those kinds of tactics. And this is by the way, the worst kind of partisan back-scratch politics."

When asked to respond, Joyce told CBC News he could not do interviews while the investigation is ongoing.

Joyce tried to prop up new board chair, Downer says

After Joyce was named Minister of Municipal Affairs, Downer said he struggled to get him in a meeting with the Waste Management Board, a group of municipal officials.

When he did show up, Downer said Joyce brought Corner Brook city councillor Josh Carey with him — with the intention of promoting Carey to replace Downer as chair.

This was despite the board telling Joyce he could not bring in Carey, since it was a meeting for board members and MHAs.

"It was a terrible, intimidating experience for the board, for me, for anybody else that was involved."

Former Corner Brook Mayor Charles Pender, who also sat on the board, corroborated this story but declined a formal interview.

Joyce, despite declining an interview, suggested CBC News contact specific members of the board for their recollection of events. Those members have yet to respond to requests for interviews.

In January 2018, Carey became the new chair of the Waste Management Board — after what Pender called "some arm-twisting."

He pointed out that the board relies on the province for funding.

Support remains strong for Joyce

When asked what crosses the line between being authoritative and being a bully, Downer said it's about balancing strength with rational thought.

As for the "back-scratch politics," Downer said the Liberals are not the only ones to operate that way.

"All parties are into it, but Mr. Joyce is the epitome of it," he said.

• Pro-Joyce? People in Humber-Bay of Islands stand by MHA booted out of caucus

Several people in Joyce's district praised their MHA on Thursday, saying he was a champion for their communities and was key in making improvements for them.

But Downer says that's not a surprise — he always took care of his constituents, and anyone who agreed with his party and his politics.

"He can do practically [whatever] he wants and nobody there would not vote for him."

Investigator can call witnesses

The man charged with investigating the complaints against Joyce has authority over conflict of interest and code of conduct issues in the House of Assembly.

Bruce Chaulk has the authority to "engage external resources," as well as the power to compel witnesses, the premier said in his statement.

"A final report will be presented to the individuals involved as well as myself," Ball said on Friday.

"As I have said multiple times, I encourage any MHA who may have experienced harassment to come forward to myself or to the commissioner who can initiate similar reviews on a case-by-case basis."

Chaulk made news in his commissioner's role last year when he was involved in the investigation into text exchanges between Liberal MHA Colin Holloway and the mayor of St. Brendan's. 

In that case, Chaulk recommended Holloway be disciplined.