Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My last four questions on this topic went by so quickly.
The ministerial benefits policy. We got a very succinct answer from the Premier that, yes, they are set by the Cabinet. But we had kind of a less succinct answer when it came to who actually sets the policies that are in place right now. The Premier referred to perhaps looking at these and doing a review. But I’d like to ask the Premier: when he says that this policy is in place as a result of work done by the previous government, maybe he would know, having been in the previous government, was this ministerial benefits policy reviewed by the 15th Assembly Executive Council? Is that the scope of benefits that are being acted on today?
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The Hon. Premier, Mr. Roland.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The benefits policy was last reviewed by the last government and has come into effect for the life of this government. We as the Cabinet can do a further review of our own and make changes. As has been highlighted with the last round of changes that occurred, it gave the Cabinet authority to make those changes.
I really do appreciate the Premier tabling this, because this goes toward one of my issues with transparency. However, not everything that I want to know as a Regular Member is contained in this tabled document.
I would like to know if the Premier, in the spirit of transparency, would be prepared to table the results of the review that took place of the ministerial benefits policy in the 15th Assembly.
Mr. Speaker, the practice in this Assembly as well as other Assemblies…. This isn’t made by another government and remain with that government. I’m unable to go into material and request that information. But I can ask our staff to prepare some summary notes and sit down with the committee on that.
Yes, that would be most helpful. If staff would have access to the ministerial benefits policies, including benefits, amounts, and so on, that were in place prior to the review by the 15th Assembly decision on a new policy, which took effect at the beginning of the 16th Assembly…. If they could compare those two and provide that to Members or table that as a public document, that would be what I’d be asking for. Would the Premier be prepared to do that?
After having a discussion with staff to see what we’re able to do, I’d be prepared to give information to Members and, if we’re able to, to even table it.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.
That’s all. Thank you.
