‘Blatant patronage’

Brad Trivers raises concern over former Liberal MLA appointed to chair Order of P.E.I. council

Former Liberal MLA and cabinet minister Gerard Greenan has been appointed the new chairman of the Order of P.E.I. advisory council prompting accusations of political patronage.

Greenan replaces Charles Curley, who resigned as chairman of the advisory council last month to take a job as the executive director of the Liberal party of P.E.I.

Opposition MLA Brad Trivers says this is creating poor optics when it comes to government’s treatment of this independent office.

“When you take a chair and make them the executive director of the Liberal party and then you replace him with a Liberal cabinet minister and MLA, I think (the premier) has got to rethink his whole approach to these appointments,” he said. “I mean, there’s obvious ties here.”

Trivers pointed to the last time the Order of P.E.I. faced political controversy, when former premier Robert Ghiz personally awarded two-time Olympic gold medalist Heather Moyse with an Order of P.E.I. award.

Curley, who was still chairman of the advisory council at the time, raised concerns about the fact Ghiz circumvented the proper procedures to give Moyse the award.

“It kind of puts politics into the Order of P.E.I., which we’re trying to take the politics out of it,” Curley told The Guardian in 2014.

Trivers says he believes politics have once again become entwined with this office.

“The danger is that it takes away from the credibility of the process, and it lessens the value of the award,” he said.

“The people who receive the Order of P.E.I. are so deserving and contribute so much to our Island, but you don’t want to risk tainting that in any way shape or form.”

Premier Wade MacLauchlan was not made available for an interview, but in a statement, a spokeswoman for his office said

the appointments to the Order of P.E.I. were made through Engage P.E.I.

However, cabinet must approve all appointments to the Order of P.E.I. council.

“Mr. Greenan’s approach to his work and public life has always been focused on consensus-building,” the spokeswoman said.

“When considering an appointment to this position, it is important to have an individual whose leadership style reflects consensus-based decision-making and who will be effective at carrying out the various duties of the role, including the ceremony that honours the recipients.”

She stressed the work of the advisory committee is “absolutely non-partisan,” but did name some former politicians and political candidates who have served as chairs of the committee, including former Conservative MLA Leone Bagnall and Nils Ling, who ran for the Green party.

“Prince Edward Island is fortunate to have so many residents actively engaged in our democratic and political process. Regardless of political affiliation, the experiences, expertise and insights gained through involvement in our political process can benefit Islanders in many ways.”

But Trivers says the whole affair smacks of patronage.

“That’s really appearing like a blatant patronage appointment.”