Olive Crane leader of the Opposition

Brooke MacMillan and program director, Neil Stewart constantly broke and changed rules on PNP

Opposition Leader Olive Crane says it is up to the public to decide whether they feel that MLAs, deputy ministers and senior government officials in the Ghiz government were in a conflict of interest as to when and how they participated in the Provincial Nominee Program.

“The Auditor General and his office put in more than 2000 hours conducting their investigation that included interviews with Citizenship and Immigration Canada, conducting interviews with immigrants, talking to staff of Island Investment Development Inc. (IIDI) and carrying out a thorough investigation of all documentation on this file.”

Crane said that the Auditor General concluded that both the former Deputy Minister of Innovation and Technology Brooke MacMillan and program director, Neil Stewart constantly broke and changed rules. “The Auditor General also had grave concerns about MLAs accessing units and recommended government strengthen the Conflict of Interest legislation in this province.”

As to Tuesday’s report from the Conflict of Interest Commissioner, Crane said that it was interesting that the Commissioner based most of his opinion on a conversation with Brooke MacMillan and Neil Stewart, and a review of policy guidelines that were posted on the provincial nominee website that governed the program in the fall of 2007.

“The Auditor General confirmed that Brooke MacMillan and Neil Stewart broke rules, and did not follow policy and the IIDI board responsible for due diligence paid no attention to this file and the website was never updated.”

“Overall,” said Crane. “It is up to the public to decide on the appropriateness of MLAs and senior government officials accessing government programs and contracts. It is also up to the public to decide what their expectations are in regards to management policy on any government program involving taxpayers money. We in the Opposition have our opinion, and the Premier, his Cabinet Ministers and MLAs have theirs.”

Crane stressed that the Opposition does not intend to back off its inquiry into the Provincial Nominee Program. “We would simply ask this government, if it has nothing to hide, to allow for full disclosure.”