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Sole-source contracts 'issued too often,' MLA
Aaron Beswick Northern News Services Published Thursday, November 18, 2010
While the 2010 Review of Members' Compensation and Benefits was tabled May 11, the latest legislative sitting ended Nov. 4 without discussion on legislation to curb sole-source contracts being offered to former ministers soon after leaving office. "Sole-source contracts are issued too often," said Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley, adding he intends to push for legislation during the sitting that begins Feb. 2. "There have been a couple situations where sole-source contracts were let to two different people for identical work, overlapping in time on the basis that they were uniquely placed to provide the service." Bromley refers to consulting contracts to former finance minister John Todd (John Todd Holdings) and former Industry, Tourism and Investment minister Brendan Bell (Northern Strategy Group) between 2007 and 2009. Bell was paid a total of $124,000 at a rate of $1,500 per day (maximum 10 days per month) while Todd received $48,000 at a rate of $4,000 per month). The two were tasked with providing "strategic advice and assistance" to Premier Floyd Roland on his relations with Ottawa, other provincial leaders and his portfolios. The report recommends former cabinet members be prohibited from receiving major contracts (over $25,000) from any government departments and corporations for one year after leaving office. In the case of major sole-source contracts, the report recommended they only be allowed after a minister has been out of office for at least two years. "When a former minister accepts a contract from his/her former colleagues on cabinet, it is difficult to avoid allegations of patronage," states the report. "In a small jurisdiction such as ours, there can be exceptional circumstances where it would be to the benefit of government to contract a former minister. Their ministerial skills and knowledge may make them uniquely qualified for the job."
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