The Honourable Derek Bennett, Chair of the Management Commission, is providing an update related to the request of June 8, 2022 from the Lieutenant-Governor in Council with respect to a report of the Citizens’ Representative under Public Interest Disclosure regarding the Chief Electoral Officer.
The Management Commission held meetings respecting the request on June 14 and June 21, 2022, during which the Commission deliberated and issued decisions with recommendations to the Lieutenant-Governor in Council regarding:
- suspension of the Chief Electoral Officer and Commissioner for Legislative Standards until an independent review of the findings and report of the Citizens’ Representative regarding the Chief Electoral Officer is completed; and
- acting appointments for the Chief Electoral Officer and Commissioner for Legislative Standards positions in accordance with subsection 5.5(1) of the Elections Act, 1991 and subsection 34(8) of the House of Assembly Act.
The Management Commission is in the process of finalizing the details of the independent review of the findings and report of the Citizens’ Representative, including who will conduct the review, the terms of reference and related timelines. The Commission’s work on this matter is ongoing.
Deliberations on this matter have been conducted in-camera in accordance with subsection 19(1) of the House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act, which requires the Management Commission to meet in-camera on personnel and legal matters. The Act provides that the substance of all decisions made at in-camera meetings become part of the public record. The decisions respecting these recommendations could not be reported publicly until the Lieutenant-Governor in Council made its decisions on the matter and appropriate human resources procedures and protocols were carried out.
An update respecting the independent review will be provided once details are finalized. The Commission is in the process of scheduling its next meeting, but a date is not confirmed at this time.
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Media contact
Bobbi Russell
Policy and Communications Officer
House of Assembly
709-729-1178
bobbirussell@gov.nl.ca