We didn’t order end to college president’s contract: Pallister

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This article was published 01/08/2019 (2229 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Premier Brian Pallister says his government played no role in the decision by Red River College’s Tory-appointed board not to renew the contract of college president Paul Vogt.

Asked Thursday if his government influenced the board’s decision in any way, Pallister said: “No, I was not, nor was any member of my cabinet, involved in any way.”

The board’s action, first reported by the Free Press on Monday, caught the education and business communities by surprise, not to mention Vogt himself.

Concerns have been raised that it was politically motivated. Vogt once served as an adviser to former NDP premier Gary Doer and rose to become the province’s top bureaucrat under the former New Democrat administration.

Vogt has led Red River since 2016. His contract expires next year.

Board chairman Loren Cisyk hasn’t explained the directors’ reasoning for not renewing Vogt’s contract except to say that the board “is looking to go in a different direction.”

“Great things are happening at the college!” Cisyk also said in an email to the Free Press.

Asked about the decision Thursday at a Progressive Conservative party announcement, Pallister said human resource decisions “are in the hands of the boards” the government appoints, “as they should be.”

“Human resource management is the hardest part of running any organization, so I will remain respectful of the board’s decision,” he said.

The premier wouldn’t say what he thought about the decision, noting he’s been the recipient “of some pretty harsh criticism for allegedly injecting myself in board decisions” involving Crown corporations.

The government has scrapped a plan by Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries to spruce up the Club Regent Casino. It’s also been accused of interfering in negotiations between Manitoba Public Insurance and private insurance brokers.

Asked if he was saying that the government played no role at all in the decision not to renew Vogt’s contract, Pallister responded: “Absolutely.”

Meanwhile, the premier paid tribute Thursday to police officers involved in the hunt for two alleged killers in northern Manitoba. He also thanked community leaders and volunteers for the role they’ve played, singling out Gillam Mayor Dwayne Forman.

“I (want) to compliment (him) on the thoughtful and respectful way that he’s dealt with this and the leadership he’s shown in his community,” Pallister said.

The premier said he hasn’t had the chance to speak with Forman yet, adding the mayor probably doesn’t want any “distractions” right now.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca