Debates of May 27, 2004 (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier, and it is with regard to the Member’s statement by Mr. Zoe earlier today. Mr. Speaker, I can’t say that I know all of the details that pertain to the incident that led to the statement by Mr. Zoe today, but I have had the opportunity to speak to those who have more knowledge about it, and my understanding is that the incident was quite serious, and one that has brought disrepute and questioned the integrity of this House. Mr. Speaker, I have to tell you that I take membership in this assembly as a privilege that is very important and serious, and one that I have to work really hard to uphold. It is the standard that we have for all of us, and the respect and the expectations that people have of this assembly depends on the conduct of all the Members of this House. My information is that what Mr. Zoe did in this incident has put a dark shadow on that, and one of the things that the public has said is that if anybody in the public did what Mr. Zoe did, they would be fired. So I would like to ask the Premier whether he has given any consideration to remove the portfolios from Mr. Zoe. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 147-15(3): Disciplinary Action For The Conduct Of Minister Zoe

Mr. Speaker, the incident that occurred is certainly being viewed as one that we take seriously. I can let the Member know that upon hearing about it, I did call the Legion, I did talk with Mr. Zoe, I sent a letter to all of the Members advising them of the incident, and I have also spoken to many of the Members about this particular incident. Mr. Speaker, the incident is serious, and it is one that I certainly view as one that we don’t want to see happening, whether it is MLAs or Ministers. I can assure the Member that I have also included in the mandate letters to all of the Ministers concerned with regard to anything that brings embarrassment to our government. Thank you.

Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 147-15(3): Disciplinary Action For The Conduct Of Minister Zoe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to add that I have a lot of respect for Mr. Zoe, as I have for Members in this House. I do believe he is a very capable Minister. I believe the issue here is something quite different, and I believe the issue has to do with leadership. I would rather like to see a situation where Mr. Zoe maintains his duties in Cabinet, but I need to be assured that there are decisions made by decision makers with the power to make sure that it doesn’t happen again, and the statement today does not tell me, and does not give me the confidence that we have taken the steps necessary to make sure that it doesn’t happen again. So I would like to know if the Premier would exercise his power -- and he has the power -- to discipline his Minister to make sure this doesn’t happen again. What sort of disciplinary action has the Premier taken as the leader of the pack? Thank you.

Mr. Premier, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 147-15(3): Disciplinary Action For The Conduct Of Minister Zoe

Mr. Speaker, I’ve outlined some of the actions I have taken. I am doing another letter as a reminder to all of Cabinet that we cannot tolerate these kinds of incidents. So that will be going out today or tomorrow. I assure the Member that I do view this very seriously. We maintain high ethical standards within this House and certainly within Cabinet, and if there is another such incident then, as I have told many Members, that I will then make fairly strong recommendations to this House.

Mr. Speaker, I want to remind us that it is not me who makes that decision, it is the House that has selected me as Premier, it is the House that has selected the Cabinet, and we have to work as a team in dealing with these kinds of issues. But I assure the House that we maintain the highest ethical standards that can be expected of people, and I don’t intend to vary from that. Thank you.

Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 147-15(3): Disciplinary Action For The Conduct Of Minister Zoe

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I just want to state that I think that we have to be fully mindful of the fact that we are dealing with the public expectations and our responsibility to the public. I don’t believe this is now limited to what happened in the Legion. It is not a Legion issue. It is an issue that goes to the general public. Mr. Speaker, I don’t believe the public who knows about this -- and there are a lot of people in the public who knows about what happened -- are satisfied with the Premier and Members around this House exchanging letters. I think the public expects us to do more to show, and not just talk about it, but to act the talk. So I think the public has the right that concrete actions were taken, and I have to remind the Premier he has the power to take disciplinary actions, and he has the power to remove the portfolios from him. Would the Premier consider that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Premier, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 147-15(3): Disciplinary Action For The Conduct Of Minister Zoe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Zoe’s mandate and portfolio is…With him certainly I have considered it, certainly I will consider it in the future. If anything like this ever happens again, not just with Mr. Zoe but with all of Cabinet, I have looked at this one very seriously, I have followed up with the Legion. Mr. Zoe has as well, apologized; the Legion has given me a letter indicating that they have accepted the apology. Today Mr. Zoe stood up and made an apology to all of us and to the public, and has indicated that this will not happen again. I assure the Members again that if there is any such thing happening again, not just by Mr. Zoe but by the whole of Cabinet including myself, then we will take action. I intend immediately to follow up with another letter to confirm that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 147-15(3): Disciplinary Action For The Conduct Of Minister Zoe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t believe the Premier has answered the question, and that is doing his part to not just do the letters. How many letters can you write? Does he not think, based on the information that he has, that what happened is not important enough for him to take more action than writing letters? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Premier, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 147-15(3): Disciplinary Action For The Conduct Of Minister Zoe

Mr. Speaker, I believe that the action that I have taken and the action that Mr. Zoe has taken certainly indicates that we view this issue very, very seriously. I believe that what has been done to date not only upholds our ethical standards, but is also showing responsibility towards ourselves as Cabinet Ministers and as MLAs. I want to make it very clear that there will be absolutely no tolerance from here on, and I have said that to many of the Members. I have told Mr. Zoe, I have told all of Cabinet, that there will be no further acceptance of this. Mr. Speaker, I don’t want to get into the details of this, but at this point I think that we have dealt with the issue, I think I have dealt with it in a way that is fair, and I think at the same time underlines the importance and the significance of this kind of incident. I can assure you, Mr. Speaker, and assure this House that this will not be tolerated further. Thank you.