Former Newfoundland minister named ambassador for fisheries conservation

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This article was published 25/01/2007 (7161 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. (CP) – The federal government ignited accusations of political patronage Thursday when it named former Newfoundland finance minister Loyola Sullivan as Canada’s ambassador for fisheries conservation.

Sullivan announced his retirement from provincial politics a month ago, triggering speculation he was considering a jump to the federal scene.

“It’s something you never rule out,” Sullivan said Thursday, adding he was approached about the ambassador’s job about two weeks ago.

“You don’t know what the future holds.”

Federal Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn said Sullivan’s departure from Newfoundland politics coincided with the department’s plan to resurrect a post that was eliminated by the former Liberal government 10 years ago.

“We had just started to have a chat about who might be a good fisheries ambassador when, lo and behold, Mr. Sullivan becomes a free agent,” Hearn said.

But opposition members said the appointment lacked any sense of accountability.

NDP fisheries critic Peter Stoffer said the House of Commons should have been consulted.

“Why does an ex-Conservative finance minister of Newfoundland and Labrador all of a sudden get a job as an ambassador of fisheries?” Stoffer said.

“Usually, positions of that nature, if they are to be created, should go through a peer process and . . . not given to political friends.”

Liberal fisheries critic Scott Simms agreed.

“For a government that says they’re so accountable, why was this done in such veiled secrecy?” he said.

The job comes with a salary ranging from $130,000 to $160,000 and an annual budget of $500,000.

In his new role, Sullivan will represent Canada at international meetings on a range of fisheries issues, including fish stock management and enforcement of fishing rules set by the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization.

Hearn said position was brought back because of Canada’s growing concerns with overfishing and high European tariffs.

“I can’t be running around the world meeting with ministers every few days or as each issue appears,” Hearn said.

“We’re in a minority situation. We have a lot of other things, as you know.”

Still, Hearn admitted Sullivan would be a welcome addition to the Tory team should an election be called.

“Now if somewhere down the line a federal election comes along and there’s an opening, what a great fella to have with you.”

Sullivan, a former teacher and businessman who once owned two fish-processing companies, entered provincial politics in a’92 byelection and was re-elected four times.

He held a number of different posts in the legislature, including party whip, house leader and interim Tory leader. He was named finance minister in 2003.