NDP severance debate a one-sided affair

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This article was published 21/05/2015 (3775 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Premier Greg Selinger refused for a second day to answer questions from the Opposition about $670,000 in severance packages given to seven of his former advisers.

Progressive Conservative Leader Brian Pallister hammered Selinger on the issue during Wednesday’s question period and during later proceedings in the house known as the budget estimates debate.

Selinger said representatives from the province’s labour relations division of the Treasury Board, with advice from civil legal services and the civil services commission, negotiated the severance packages.

Pallister demanded to know who specifically was responsible for negotiating individual packages, but was told by Selinger the government would not discuss the personnel issues in public because of confidentiality requirements.

It has previously been reported former chief of staff Liam Martin was paid $146,047 in severance.

The remaining six packages were negotiated March 9, the day after the NDP leadership vote.

“Labour relations handles these matters and I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to make comments over and beyond that,” Selinger said.

“These settlements were arrived to through by mutual agreement and there’s an element of confidentiality. We’ve been advised by our officials, who have received legal advice, that they are to remain confidential.”

Pallister demanded to know whether the former NDP staffers were paid “generous” severance packages because of their support of leadership rival Theresa Oswald, despite an assurance they could support any candidate outside of office hours without penalty.

“The fact is he’s got a black cloak over the whole thing,” Pallister said of Selinger.

The premier declined to respond, again citing confidentiality.

Pallister asked whether any more severance packages have been negotiated but not made public.

“I’m not aware of any incidents like that,” Selinger said.

The seven staffers fell victim to the recent NDP leadership battle and their support of Oswald for NDP leader. Oswald lost her bid to replace Selinger in a March 8 vote.

Pallister wanted to know whether the staff reduction and the NDP leadership battle had any impact on the operations of government, such as putting together a new budget.

It did not, Selinger said.

The government has said $670,000 in severance was paid to the ex-NDP staffers — severance the premier has described as paid in “mutual separation agreements.”

The amounts of each package will be released in Public Accounts documents in the fall.

The NDP staffers who left the government are: Martin; Anna Rothney, former cabinet priorities and planning secretary; Maeghan Dewar, head of issues management for the executive council; Matt Williamson, former director of communications; Jen Anthony, director of issues management for the government; Alissa Brandt, director of the premier’s secretariat; and Sally Housser, associate director of cabinet communications.

The PCs confirmed a number of Tory staffers have also left in recent months, including researcher Spencer Fernando, communications officers Keith Borkowsky and Connie Tamoto, and director of communications Mike Brown.

Lyle Bauer left as the party’s chief executive officer late last year.