Latest news with #JohnHogan
CBC
a day ago
- Politics
- CBC
Hogan says new cash benefit for departing ministers axed, in wake of CBC report
Premier John Hogan says his cabinet has met and decided to "immediately rescind" a new policy that provided outgoing ministers between $12,000 and $48,000 on their way out the door. In a post on Facebook late Friday afternoon, Hogan reiterated that he was not in cabinet and was not involved in the decision to approve the policy. The new benefit — which came into effect April 1 — was never publicly disclosed, until it was revealed by CBC News on Friday morning. "I became aware of the matter following inquiries from the media and acted quickly to revoke the allowance," Hogan noted in his Facebook post. The stunning reversal came 10 hours after CBC News broke the story about the new transitional allowance policy for ministers. It provided one month's salary for each year of service in cabinet, on a prorated basis, for a minimum of three months and a maximum of 12 months. The province's Executive Council declined to say when the decision was made, noting that it was a decision of cabinet and those deliberations are protected. On Thursday evening, a spokesperson for Hogan told CBC News that the premier was not in cabinet when the decision was made, and he was not involved in the decision. That statement sparked barbs from both opposition parties Friday. "I think that's a cop-out," Progressive Conservative Leader Tony Wakeham said in an interview early Friday afternoon. Wakeham called the allowance "another Liberal scandal," and said Hogan, as premier, would be well aware of a decision made by cabinet. "At a time in Newfoundland and Labrador when so many people are hurting with the cost of living, to see taxpayers dollars being secretly paid out to Liberal cabinet ministers and approved by their own ministers, this is scandalous," Wakeham said. NDP Leader Jim Dinn said the decision left him "shaking my head [in] disbelief," and recalling what he's heard while hosting town halls about affordability. "It shows a lack of sensitivity to the struggles that many people face in the province," Dinn said. "If you can make decisions like this, surely there are other things you can do just as easily to help people of the province who are struggling with cost of living." Both leaders spoke to CBC News before Hogan's Facebook post announcing the reversal of the benefit. Since April 1, when the now-rescinded policy came into effect, eight cabinet ministers have either already left or signalled their intentions to not run again when voters go to the polls in a looming provincial election. Hogan's statement on Facebook did not address whether the decision is retroactive, and how it would apply to any money already paid out.
CBC
a day ago
- Politics
- CBC
New child-care spaces are great, but advocate says ECEs need more acknowledgment
The provincial government recently announced hundreds of new affordable child-care spaces, but the advocacy group ABCs and ECEs also wants to see early childhood educators recognized for their accomplishments. Founding member Erin Cullen has written Premier John Hogan in search of that recognition, and spoke about it with the CBC's Heather Gillis.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hogan says new cash benefit for departing ministers axed, in wake of CBC report
Premier John Hogan says his cabinet has met and decided to "immediately rescind" a new policy that provided outgoing ministers between $12,000 and $48,000 on their way out the door. In a post on Facebook late Friday afternoon, Hogan reiterated that he was not in cabinet and was not involved in the decision to approve the policy. The new benefit — which came into effect April 1 — was never publicly disclosed, until it was revealed by CBC News on Friday morning. "I became aware of the matter following inquiries from the media and acted quickly to revoke the allowance," Hogan noted in his Facebook post. The stunning reversal came 10 hours after CBC News broke the story about the new transitional allowance policy for ministers. It provided one month's salary for each year of service in cabinet, on a prorated basis, for a minimum of three months and a maximum of 12 months. The province's Executive Council declined to say when the decision was made, noting that it was a decision of cabinet and those deliberations are protected. On Thursday evening, a spokesperson for Hogan told CBC News that the premier was not in cabinet when the decision was made, and he was not involved in the decision. That statement sparked barbs from both opposition parties Friday. "I think that's a cop-out," Progressive Conservative Leader Tony Wakeham said in an interview early Friday afternoon. Wakeham called the allowance "another Liberal scandal," and said Hogan, as premier, would be well aware of a decision made by cabinet. "At a time in Newfoundland and Labrador when so many people are hurting with the cost of living, to see taxpayers dollars being secretly paid out to Liberal cabinet ministers and approved by their own ministers, this is scandalous," Wakeham said. NDP Leader Jim Dinn said the decision left him "shaking my head [in] disbelief," and recalling what he's heard while hosting town halls about affordability. "It shows a lack of sensitivity to the struggles that many people face in the province," Dinn said. "If you can make decisions like this, surely there are other things you can do just as easily to help people of the province who are struggling with cost of living." Both leaders spoke to CBC News before Hogan's Facebook post announcing the reversal of the benefit. Since April 1, when the now-rescinded policy came into effect, eight cabinet ministers have either already left or signalled their intentions to not run again when voters go to the polls in a looming provincial election. Hogan's statement on Facebook did not address whether the decision is retroactive, and how it would apply to any money already paid out. Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.
CBC
5 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Gerry Byrne confident in Premier Hogan's leadership despite bowing out of election
Gerry Byrne, the Liberal MHA for Corner Brook, has joined an exodus of MHAs stepping away from politics ahead of the next election. But speaking with reporters about his decision, he says it isn't because of a lack of faith in Premier John Hogan.
CBC
6 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Exodus of N.L. cabinet ministers challenges Liberal Party momentum, prof says
One by one, veteran Liberal Party politicians are bowing out of the campaign trail ahead of Newfoundland and Labrador's upcoming fall provincial election. The trail of resignations started in May 2024 when former St. John's South MHA Tom Osborne resigned from provincial politics after a 28-year career. Then, in September, former energy minister Andrew Parsons announced he wouldn't be running in the 2025 provincial election after a 14-year political career. He formally resigned in May 2025 following the change in the provincial Liberal leadership. Parsons' resignation followed that of former Premier Andrew Furey, who stepped down in February after serving for four and a half years. Furey has since returned to working as an orthopedic surgeon in St. John's, but has not ruled out a future in politics. Furey's resignation triggered a Liberal leadership race in March, which saw Windsor-Lake MHA John Hogan become premier in May. Five cabinet ministers out A formal provincial election must take place by October 2025. With the six-week campaign trail getting closer, five of Hogan's cabinet ministers, and one backbencher, have decided not to seek re-election. Seniors Minister John Abbott was the first to tender his resignation from provincial politics. Elected in 2021 as MHA for St. John's East-Quidi Vidi, Abbott attempted to become the Liberal leader twice. First up against Furey, then Hogan. He chose to resign at the end of the summer following a lawsuit over the controverted 2021 provincial election. Then on July 7, Finance Minister and Deputy Premier Sioban Coady announced that she will not seek re-election after spending a decade in provincial politics, and three years in federal politics between 2008 and 2011. A week later, on Monday, three cabinet ministers announced that they will also not seek re-election after spending a decade in provincial politics. The first was Industry, Energy, and Technology Minister Steve Crocker. Shortly after came Justice and Public Safety Minister John Haggie, and then Environment and Climate Change Minister Scott Reid. Lake Melville MHA Perry Trimper is also moving on. He announced his decision to leave politics in May. Liberal momentum challenged Political science professor Alex Marland told CBC the exodus of long-time Liberal politicians in the province is normal and healthy, as it paves the way for new faces in the House of Assembly. "Politics is draining," he said. "You just need energy." But with ridings opening up for new competition, Marland said those newly elected faces could belong to a different party and lead to a change in government. "It's ultimately challenging for the premier to show momentum, and politics is so much about momentum," Marland said. That doesn't mean Hogan can't win the upcoming provincial election, but Marland said losing big names poses a challenge. There is also a pattern in Newfoundland and Labrador. Since 1972, whenever the province's governing party elects its third leader, they lose in the following provincial election. "I immediately think of Paul Davis," Marland said. "There's a lot of factors at play, but the thing that is constant is the longer you are in government, the harder it becomes to stay in government." He said that's because the government develops a record, and people want change. Sometimes, change occurs when a new leader takes office with a new cabinet. It can also lead to a change in the governing party. With an eye on the PCs, Marland said a good strategy for the party would be recruiting star candidates who want to be part of PC Leader Tony Wakeham's caucus. Marland said star candidates are people with a public profile, and they are often mayors.
