Deputy receives funds from PNP
TERESA WRIGHT
The Guardian
Brooke MacMillan, liberal appointee hand in the cookie jar more than once
The former deputy minister responsible for the Provincial Nomination Program admitted that he received immigrant money through this program after questions were raised Friday by the Opposition leader about his involvement.
Brooke MacMillan was appointed deputy minister for the Department of Innovation and Advanced Learning under minister Richard Brown when the Liberals took power in June 2007. He was shifted out of the department and appointed head of the P.E.I. Liquor Control Commission last August.
“She can say anything she wants in this chamber because she has immunity in this chamber — but we have professionals right now looking into this program, they’re called the auditor general’s office, and they will interrogate, investigate and report back to this legislature in a professional manner and will have the facts and figures,’’ Brown said.
Richard Brown, Minister of Innovation - "You're such a liar Duddy" Apprenticeship of Richard Brown, Mordecai Richler
But later in the day Friday, MacMillan released a brief statement to the media, saying he did in fact receive investment units through the PNP under the previous Conservative government and under the current Liberal administration. But not while he was “deputy responsible for the program,’’ MacMillan’s statement says.
Brown said he never discussed PNP with MacMillan. And he says MacMillan’s move out of the Innovation Department had nothing to do with the PNP.
He was moved out to allow the current deputy, Michael Mayne, to take over, Brown said.
“The department was instructed we would implement the innovation strategy, the Island prosperity plan, and (Mayne) was going to be deputy,’’ Brown said.
When asked, he would not say whether he knew MacMillan had received investment units.
Deputy ministers are subject to conflict of interest guidelines, but as appointed bureaucrats, the final decision on whether a conflict might exist rests with the premier.
PEI Premier Robert Ghiz, 'Numbered companies in a blind trust? I don't got no stinkin' numbered companies in a blind trust", Treasure of PEI (coming soon to the screen)
Premier Robert Ghiz said an issue pertaining to a possible conflict of interest was brought to his attention with regards to MacMillan and the Provincial Nominee Program but wouldn’t say what that issue was.
“There was some issues that were brought to my attention,’’ he said.
“But that happens all the time within government, there’s always issues coming to my attention.’’
Saying anything more would be against the rules, Ghiz said.
“I would be breaching privacy rules if I came out and disclosed who did or did not qualify under this program.”
That’s why Crane is calling for a full public inquiry into the PNP and how it was administered.
“We have lots of questions about the administration, including the role of ministers and MLAs and deputy ministers,’’ Crane said.
“There are serious rumours out there that need to be addressed and taken in a serious way. There’s a lot of red flags here and a lot of tough questions that need to be asked and, more importantly, answered,’’ Crane said.
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) offered expedited Canadian visas for immigrants who were willing to invest $200,000 in an Island company.
Over 1,800 PNP applications were processed by the P.E.I. government between April and Sept. 2, 2008.
The provincial auditor general and the public accounts committee are currently conducting investigations into the administration of the PNP.
