Putting on the pressure
Independent MLA Bush Dumville seeks answers from premier about chief of staff
Former Liberal MLA Bush Dumville came out swinging with his first question in the legislature this spring, saying the premier’s chief of staff conducted strategy meetings with Liberal members of the public accounts committee before meetings.
Dumville, who left the Liberal party in January, used his time during question period Thursday to ask Premier Wade MacLauchlan if he had personal knowledge that chief of staff Robert Vessey held strategy meetings to influence the outcomes of committee decisions. MacLauchlan said he didn’t have knowledge of that, but as a caucus the members work as a team and call on what resources they have.
“I’m glad to say that we continue to work as a team,” he said.
Dumville used to be part of that team and was a backbench Liberal MLA for more than 10 years before deciding to sit as an independent.
With limited time for questions in the house, Dumville continued by asking if Vessey was directing the committee on MacLauchlan’s orders or if he was acting alone. MacLauchlan said he was sure MLAs on all sides of the house understand what it is to work as a team and to conduct themselves accordingly. “Indeed, that is what we do and I’m happy to say that when it comes to committees, as leader, I do not make it my business to tell committees what to do,” he said. Dumville fired back by saying that during a Jan. 6, 2017, meeting with Liberal committee members and others, Vessey said “the premier wants e-gaming put behind him.” Again, Dumville asked if MacLauchlan gave that instruction to Vessey or if his chief of staff was acting alone. MacLauchlan said he knew nothing about the insinuations, repeating that Liberal committee members work as a team and are moving forward as a government.
He added that he expected people would find this sitting that “e-gaming has been put behind us.”
After question period, a spokeswoman for the premier’s office said Vessey denied making the comments about egaming.
The Guardian asked if Vessey would tell members of the media directly that he did not make the comments, but the spokeswoman said he would not.