SUMMERSIDE – Communications officers for Revenue Minister Gail Shea are offering little detail on the Egmont MP’s decision to leave her seat in the House of Commons Wednesday evening, prior to a vote to reverse controversial changes to the Employment Insurance program.
Clarke Olsen, said the minister had to leave.
“Basically, the story is Minister Shea had to leave the House yesterday (Wednesday) for personal reasons,” Olsen said.
The motion for the reversal was sponsored by the New Democratic Party. The minister had been in the House throughout the evening but left before voting.
“It’s clear the minister was in the house and she had to leave for personal reasons,” Olsen said.
The explanation gives the public very little insight into why the minister left but Olsen said the public would glean from it what they will.
“I’ll leave people’s reactions up to them, right now,” he said. “The only comment I can offer on it at this point is she had top leave the House for personal reasons.”
Shea has backed the E.I. changes presented by the Stephen Harper government and has said E.I. will be there for Canadians who need it.
Several groups on the Island have requested the minister work to ease the impact of the changes.
