NDP Leader Mike Redmond pledges inquiry into government dealings
Targets of judicial inquiry would be provincial nominee program, loan portfolio, e-gaming
Redmond held a news conference Monday to announce this as the first plank of the NDP platform for the upcoming provincial election.
He says if enough NDP MLAs are elected in the next election to form government or to support a minority government led by another party, they will move to implement the judicial inquiry.
Redmond says three key areas would be reviewed — the provincial nominee program, the provincial government's loan portfolio and e-gaming.
"We can not have an inquiry and it's the status quo and things will not change or we can have a public inquiry similar to the Gomery Commission," said Redmond, referring to the federal government sponsorship scandal inquiry headed by retired justice John Gomery.
Redmond says if a review shows laws are too weak to prevent government abuses, then those laws will be strengthened.
New conflict-of-interest rules: premier
The conflict-of-interest requirements will be the same as those imposed on cabinet ministers.
He says post-employment restrictions will also be put in place.
MacLauchlan says he sees this as a way of helping public servants do their jobs better, by clarifying any issues surrounding conflict of interest.
"Frankly, I think it's something that we could have benefited from having in place long ago. But it has obviously been brought to light currently by the commentary about the online gaming situation," said MacLauchlan.
"And I think that's for me, as an incoming premier, the response is to be alert to that, to learn, and to take action where I think, you know, action can be taken beneficially."
Additional measures may be considered in future, he says.
MacLauchlan says this is part of an enhanced emphasis on openness and transparency within government that he believes will build public confidence.