Getting to the bottom of the PNP program
Why are government members objecting to calling top bureaucrats to testify before the public accounts committee?
It’s disappointing that Liberal MLAs object to calling former and current deputy ministers and top bureaucrats before a legislative committee to shed light on the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Surely these individuals, who oversaw and administered the program, would be in the best position to address concerns about it. Islanders deserve to hear what they have to say.
At a recent meeting of the public accounts committee, Opposition Leader Olive Crane asked that current and former deputy ministers and bureaucrats of the Department of Innovation come before the committee to talk about the PNP program. The program, which offered expedited Canadian visas for immigrants willing to invest $200,000 in an Island company, became the centre of controversy a few months ago when perceived discrepancies with the administration of the program arose. The program expired in September.
Ms. Crane wants to hear from the former and current ministers and deputies, as well as from the CEO of the program. But Liberal MLAs apparently don’t think this is necessary. According to government house leader Robert Vessey, the ministers should speak to the issue because it’s always the minister who’s in charge.
No one’s disputing that the buck stops at the minister. But in the interest of transparency and accountability, the deputies and bureaucrats should appear before the committee. They’re in the best position to explain details of the program. They’re also better able to respond to any questions the ministers – who don’t usually have hands-on knowledge of how such programs work – can’t answer.
What’s interesting here is that this is probably the argument the Liberals would have made had they been in opposition. In fact, it sounds remarkably similar to the one they made when they were on the other side of the house during the Polar Foods controversy. Liberal Opposition members at that time insisted bureaucrats appear before the committee to get to the bottom of it. They were right then. And Ms. Crane is right now.
10/11/08
