ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Both the Progressive Conservatives and the NDP are demanding that Liberal Leader Andrew Furey release the interim report of the Premier’s Economic Recovery Team (PERT) as soon as he receives it.
PERT, headed by Dame Moya Greene, is expected to file an interim report with the province by the end of this month.
The team is reviewing government expenditures, the province’s fiscal capacity and how services are delivered, and exploring growth sectors such as clean energy and investments in technology, with recommendations expected to inform Budget 2021.
NDP Leader Alison Coffin sent a letter to Furey, and stated in a news release Monday that she is calling on Furey to be “open and transparent” with the people of Newfoundland and Labrador and commit to releasing the interim report the day after it is submitted to the government.
"Mr. Furey famously said 'everything is on the table' when asked how he would address the tough financial situation facing Newfoundland and Labrador. Since then, people have been worried about what public services and jobs will be cut and what services will be privatized as a result of the Moya Greene report," said Coffin. "Mr. Furey has been continually saying he's not hiding anything behind the Greene report. I say prove it."
Furey has been constantly criticized by the opposition parties for calling the election before the report is released publicly.
Progressive Conservative Leader Ches Crosbie said Furey already knows what’s coming in the interim report because the terms of reference directly obligated Greene to report to the premier every week during the process.
The terms of reference state that the chairperson will communicate weekly with the premier and clerk of the executive council, Crosbie said.
“That means Mr. Furey has already had approximately 17 updates from Ms. Greene,” Crosbie said.
“He knows exactly what’s coming in the report. He’s left voters in the dark instead of being open and transparent about what he knows is coming.”
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