Tom Marshall's office benefits questioned at House of Assembly
Paul Davis says all benefits, expenses connected to former premiers 'on the table'
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Paul Davis says his government is willing to consider cutting what it spends on benefits and other expenses afforded to former premiers, including his predecessor.
Davis made the comments Thursday while replying in the House of Assembly to questions from Liberal critic Eddie Joyce, who asked how much the provincial is paying to former premier Tom Marshall to maintain offices in Corner Brook.
"In this time of fiscal restraint, the premier says everything is on the table," Joyce said.
"Yet we see a former premier who was in the office for only eight months can pay a secretary for three years at a cost of approximately $275,000 to review his files as a minister," said Joyce.
"I ask the premier, how can you justify keeping Tom Marshall in a suite of offices while the current member for Humber East has to rent office space in Corner Brook?" said Joyce, referring to Liberal MHA Stelman Flynn, who won a byelection to replace Marshall in November.
Marshall, who succeeded Kathy Dunderdale as premier last January, stepped down as MHA not long after Davis won a Tory leadership race in September.
Joyce said Marshall is the only premier to serve less than a year in the role who has also been able to keep staff following his resignation.
Davis said the practice of premiers maintaining staff after their resignation is well-established, but that doesn't mean it is immune to a wide-ranging review of expenses.
"They've been around for a number of years but I can assure you, and I can assure the member opposite, that even that is under review, and that is on the table as well," said Davis.
Finance Minister Ross Wiseman added that Davis is the first premier to put the policy in review to save the province money.