Debates of May 27, 2004 (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, along the same lines of several of my colleagues on the issue of conduct and Mr. Zoe, indeed this is a serious matter as has been well acknowledged and it’s also an extremely difficult one for everyone in this assembly. You know, when a friend or a colleague has difficulty, one of the things that is incumbent on us as peers or co-workers or friends or neighbours is to do what we can to be supportive of another person who intends to get back on the right track in life. That is where I would like to be with our colleague, Mr. Zoe. In order to say that, especially in this political environment where accountability, openness and transparency crosses over very much into our personal lives, at least I believe it does. That’s a condition I understood and I accepted when I took this job. I would like Mr. Zoe to consider the same thing, and my question to the Premier is very much like what Mr. Hawkins was pursuing. What steps is Mr. Zoe planning on taking? I would like to know more about this because I still need to know if I am going to be supportive of Mr. Zoe. I need to have some satisfaction that the steps he is going to undertake are ones that I can understand and have confidence in in order to support him. Thank you.

Mr. Premier.

Return To Question 156-15(3): Conduct Of Minister Zoe

Mr. Speaker, as I said to the Member who had a question previously, the kind of steps Mr. Zoe is taking is something that is very personal to him. It’s one that he has to deal with. This has not been easy for him, for me or for any of us. I would encourage Members if they want to know more, that they take the opportunity to speak to Mr. Zoe privately about what he intends to do. I don’t think it’s something I should spell out the details of here. I don’t feel that’s my responsibility. The important thing to me is that Mr. Zoe has told me, and I accept his statement, that he is going to take steps to make sure this does not happen again. The exact nature of that is something that may be better dealt privately with Mr. Zoe. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 156-15(3): Conduct Of Minister Zoe

Okay, Mr. Speaker. I won’t pursue that line of questioning anymore. The Premier has made it abundantly clear that the decision is to keep that private. However, I would ask the Premier again, related to this, would these steps require that Mr. Zoe be absent from his job for any substantive period of time, and over what period of time might these steps be required? Thank you.

Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 156-15(3): Conduct Of Minister Zoe

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Zoe has indicated to me that he is taking personal time to do this. Yes, he will be away. Whether he chooses to do it during his holiday time or other days off, then that’s something that needs to be clarified further. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 156-15(3): Conduct Of Minister Zoe

Mr. Speaker, has the Premier considered, given his knowledge of these steps and what’s involved, that an option that he has would be to ask Mr. Zoe to temporarily step aside from his duties so he could concentrate on this? Is this something that is relevant to the situation, a temporary absence from the portfolio? Thank you.

Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 156-15(3): Conduct Of Minister Zoe

Mr. Speaker, that is certainly something that has crossed my mind. I have told Mr. Zoe that I believe he is a very good Minister in carrying out his job. He has other difficulties to deal with and I will be there to provide all of the support I can to help him overcome those difficulties. If it means that he is going to be away, if it came to that, then certainly I would support that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.