Bruce Chaulk has been suspended as election director and commissioner of legislative standards. (Paul Daly / The Canadian Press)
Newfoundland and Labrador has suspended Bruce Chaulk from his duties as Chief Electoral Officer and Commissioner of Legislative Standards.
In a press release issued shortly after 13:00 NT on Tuesday, the provincial executive council said the provincial government has accepted the recommendation of the House Management Committee to suspend Chaulk based- se in the complaints filed in Elections NL
“The suspension will be in effect until an independent review of the findings of the Citizens’ Representative on the allegations filed in Elections NL is completed, ”the statement said.
With immediate effect, Travis Wooley, former Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, is the Acting Electoral Director, and Ann Chafe, who recently retired from her role as Commissioner for the Public Service Commission, is the Acting Commissioner of Legislative Standards. .
Statutory offices, such as the Chief Electoral Officer, the Commissioner for Legislative Standards, the Citizens’ Representative, the Advocate for the Elderly, the Advocate for Children and Youth, the Auditor General and the Commissioner for information and privacy, operate independently of the government and report to the House of Assembly.
The executive council said it has forwarded the full, unwritten report from the citizens’ representative to the House Management Committee of the Assembly, which is made up of members of the three political parties and is responsible for overseeing the administration. of statutory positions.
“Today’s decision reflects the importance of following the right processes when we are dealing with allegations of misconduct. As with any human resources issue of this nature, the person involved will be on leave until further reviews are completed,” he said. Minister of Justice John Hogan. Press release.
“The office of the Chief Electoral Officer and the Commissioner for Legislative Rules has an important role to play and appointments are being made to ensure that the public can have confidence that the work of these offices can continue. The independent review it will be important in this process. “
Hogan will answer questions from the media at 2 p.m. NT outside the House of Assembly.
In May, independent MHA Paul Lane and interim Conservative progressive leader David Brazil alleged that House Speaker Derek Bennett was hiding a report accusing a House official of harassment and harassment.
Lane told reporters that a voter contacted him directly about an alleged report by a whistleblower about a senior official and a toxic work culture in the Newfoundland and Labrador elections. He then said that the report had been submitted to the Citizenship Delegation two months earlier.
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