THE COVERUP

May 14, 2008

The NDP refuse to release the letter that would tell the people of Saskatchewan if former caucus chief of staff Jim Fodey was fired or not. 

At stake: Fodey's $131,000 severance package.  

Wood River MLA Yogi Huyghebaert is demanding answers:

"Well, Mr. Speaker, the cover-up continues.  Now the NDP is refusing to release the letter it sent authorizing a $131,000 severance payment to former NDP chief of staff, Jim Fodey. What are they hiding?

If they've been telling the truth about Mr. Fodey's departure, what are they hiding?

If Mr. Fodey is truly entitled to this $131,000 severance payment, then what are they hiding?

Mr. Speaker, the NDP covered up the truth about their caucus fraud scandal 16 years ago, and they're still doing it today.

The NDP claim to be concerned about openness and accountability. They claim to be concerned about the government changing the approval process for contracts over $50,000, yet they flat out refuse to release the letter authorizing this huge severance payment to an NDP staff member who supposedly resigned.

Typical NDP, say one thing and do another.

Mr. Speaker, the NDP has turned a $6,000 fraud scandal and cover-up into a $131,000 bill to Saskatchewan taxpayers. At the very least, they owe Saskatchewan people an honest explanation. They owe Saskatchewan people the truth.

Will the Leader of the Opposition show that he actually still is the leader of the party, do the right thing, and release the letter? If not, what are they hiding?"