Newfoundland closes Ottawa office
Premier Kathy Dunderdale has shut down the provincial government’s quasi-embassy in Ottawa.
That post was created in 2004 by former premier Danny Williams to improve relations with the federal government.
But Dunderdale says the office is no longer needed and isn’t worth the expense.
“Communication with the federal government is better,sacoche louis vuitton and in terms of making the most effective and efficient use of the funds available to us I think this is the best decision right now,” Dunderdale told reporters on Tuesday.
The office has been vacant for two years, since historian John FitzGerald wrapped up his contract a few months before it was set to expire. He took a job with the provincial bureaucracy back in St. John’s.
The previous provincial rep was writer, broadcaster and former MHA Bill Rowe, who served in the role for seven months before departing for family reasons.
The position was vacant for more than a year after Rowe left.
Dunderdale says she considered replacement candidates, but decided to close the office to save money.
During his time in office, Williams repeatedly stressed the importance of having a quasi-ambassador in Ottawa.
But upon review, Dunderdale said it is “more efficient and more effective” for bureaucrats and ministers to get the job done.
The decision means the office’s lone staffer has been laid off.
The province is stuck with a lease that runs until 2013. If the office can’t be sublet, taxpayers are on the hook for about $130,000.
The leaders of the two opposition parties said the office served no useful purpose.
“This is one of the decisions of the Dunderdale government that we can support, although we do feel it took much too long,” Liberal Leader Dwight Ball said.
NDP Leader Lorraine Michael told reporters she couldn’t see any benefit from the office.
“I think it was a waste of money, and it’s about time they admitted that it wasn’t doing anything for them,” Michael said.
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