Ministerial Statement - Minister responds to editorial published in today's edition of the Telegram

The following statement was issued today by Art Reid, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

I rise today on the matter of personal privilege. I wish to correct a false statement that appeared in an editorial published in today's edition of The Telegram.

The editorial, entitled: "Art Reid Stepped Over the Line" had to do with the Provincial Home Repair Program. It stated that this minister changed the designation of two towns in his district - Harbour Grace and Carbonear - so that many more of his constituents could qualify for the program.

The editorial in The Telegram was based on an inaccurate statement that was originally provided by the Honourable Member for Conception Bay South. Even though I provided the correct information to The Telegram and the other media yesterday, the editorial failed to make reference to this and while I do not think it was deliberate, I feel they have an obligation to print a retraction.

This minister did not re-categorize any towns in his district. The change in the categorisation was done province-wide, not just in the district of Carbonear-Harbour Grace. It was done purely for administrative/procedural reasons and in fact, I was not even aware of and therefore had no input whatsoever with respect to this change.

The Member for Conception Bay South issued a news release yesterday. The Member of the Opposition accused me of partisan politics with respect to the home repair program and the release stated that this minister directed his staff to approve projects in his district even though the projects did not meet the criteria.

At no time did I direct my staff to approve projects under the Provincial Home Repair Program.

With respect to the charges of patronage, the member says almost one quarter of the approvals were awarded for my district. I can provide information to the House which will show that Carbonear-Harbour Grace District did not receive the most approvals under the Home Repair Program in the Avalon area.

In conclusion, I take the strongest possible exception to these erroneous statements by the Member for Conception Bay South.

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