Debates of May 27, 2004 (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, just in follow-up to that, the Premier is asking the Members of this House to have confidence along with him that something like this is never going to happen again. Mr. Speaker, we all know that these kinds of issues do not go away by themselves. People struggle with these kinds of things their entire lives. This is not something that you can just wave a magic wand. It takes serious effort, serious commitment and serious work in order to overcome some of these things. We know that. So the Premier is asking us to have confidence in him, but how confident is he? He was just asked a question by Mr. Ramsay. Is he confident enough to assure us and get us on board and say let’s do this? Is he confident enough to say he’s willing to put his job on the line to convey that commitment to Mr. Zoe? Thank you.

Mr. Premier.

Return To Question 163-15(3): Premier’s Confidence In Minister Zoe

Mr. Speaker, whether I am Premier or not is a decision the House has to make here. If they are not satisfied with the actions that I take and the decisions that I make, the judgements I make, then it’s up to the House to make that decision. Mr. Speaker, if there were to be another incident like this, then let’s deal with it at that point. I have made it very clear what my position is as I have no tolerance at all for anything further. Mr. Zoe has told me that he is taking steps. He has told the Members in this House in other discussions that he is seeking help. I can’t get into exactly what that is, Mr. Speaker, but I can assure you that we are working to make sure that this does not happen again. I am going to do everything within my power and authority to make sure this does not happen, but I can’t control everything every day. I will deal with the consequences as they happen, if they happen again. I am confident by working together we can be fairly sure that this is not going to happen, but if it does, we will deal with it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 163-15(3): Premier’s Confidence In Minister Zoe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like the Premier to spell out for me what “we’ll deal with it “means. What will he do?

Mr. Premier.

Further Return To Question 163-15(3): Premier’s Confidence In Minister Zoe

Mr. Speaker, when this incident we are talking about with Mr. Zoe came to my attention, I, within hours, sent a letter to all the Members to advise them of what had happened. I could have just talked to Mr. Zoe or written a note to him and dealt with it privately. I chose to apprise all of the Members because I thought it was serious. Mr. Speaker, I have also told the Members here that if there is an infraction of this and if Mr. Zoe doesn’t live up to his word or other Cabinet Ministers don’t live up to their word, then there is no toleration at all. In that case, I don’t have the authority to remove a Minister, but I certainly would make a recommendation to the Members that this is not acceptable and here is the course of action that I would take, which would be to recommend that the Cabinet Minister be reviewed by the assembly. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am astounded at the Premier’s willingness, given the track record here and given the circumstances; I am still baffled by the one-more-time concept. I don’t know why he would put himself in that kind of exposure. It’s a job. What Mr. Zoe does for this House is a job. We place confidence in people to do certain jobs. Amongst ourselves we say let’s give that person that job. I don’t think he’s doing Mr. Zoe any service by putting this kind of pressure on him. This is not something that somebody has within their own power to change. I think he is putting Mr. Zoe in a terrible situation. That’s a tremendous amount of pressure for somebody. I think that if Mr. Zoe really wanted treatment -- which has been brought up here today -- it would have been brought up in his statement today. I don’t think he wants to make that kind of public declaration. I would like to know if this comes to a vote in this House…When this comes to a vote in this House, which it surely will, is the Premier prepared to allow his Cabinet Ministers over there who are looking a little uncomfortable today, a free vote on this matter? Thank you.

The question is a new question from your original statement. The statement you had originally was directed to the Premier with regard to his conduct. Now you are asking about a question on a vote. So that’s a new question. Final Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 163-15(3): Premier’s Confidence In Minister Zoe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Premier in his last response, said that he immediately took action to inform the Members of what happened. Yes, he could have buried this and tried to hide it. I don’t think that would have done any good. This is a small town. It’s a small territory. I do commend the Premier and I did tell him after I received the letter, I did commend him for taking the action that he did and not ignoring the situation. However, I still fail to see why he is putting himself and his government and his Cabinet under this kind of pressure to say one more chance. Could he explain to me what is the purpose and merit of another chance? Thank you.

Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 163-15(3): Premier’s Confidence In Minister Zoe

Mr. Speaker, I can only repeat that Mr. Zoe has told me that he is taking steps to make sure that this will not happen again. He has told me that he is seeking help. I take him at his word. I believe he is a good Minister in carrying out his responsibilities. Mr Speaker, all I can say is I take his word at it. I have also assured the House that if this is happening again, I will have no tolerance at all for it. Mr. Speaker, it’s my judgement, based on the incident that this is one that deserves the action that we have taken. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 7, oral questions. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier also. As I was listening to the questions and answer to the statement made by Mr. Zoe, I think the Premier is getting very close to giving misleading information if it’s not inaccurate.

That comment is unparliamentary and I would like to ask the Member to withdraw it by saying that a Member is misleading the House. Ms. Lee.

Mr. Speaker, I apologize and I would like to retract that statement. What I wanted to say is I have information from being what is being said here and what I have heard and gotten notes from the Premier, it indicates two different things. The Premier just indicated in his answers to Mrs. Groenewegen that he is confident that Mr. Zoe is seeking help. I believe that is true on the information I have. I am not saying Mr. Zoe is…The information I have from what the Premier has said to me in private, what Mr. Zoe had to say in private, that is not true. I would like to know from the Premier what evidence does he have? Why is he saying Mr. Zoe is seeking help or seeking treatment? What evidence is there? My information is that that isn’t the case at all. Thank you.