The opposition continued to grill government today on the hiring of an advisor in the Premier’s Office who is being paid through MCP.
A Private Member’s Motion was introduced after Question Period today, asking government to halt the practice of paying a political advisor through MCP funds.
The opposition claims it has acquired meeting and briefing notes through Access to Information that show Dr. Des Whalan – who the Premier says is advising him on health care matters – attending meetings on a range of issues, some of which are not related to health care.
Liberal Leader John Hogan led questions in the House this afternoon.
“Why was Dr. Whalen meeting, and in his calendar, about a bird-dog fire fighting aircraft? What does that have to do with health care and why is MCP paying for advice on it?” Hogan asked.
The Premier says he makes “no apologies for taking advice from people that are involved in the health care system in our province, and I will continue to do it.”
Hogan responded, “regardless of the advice that is being given, it is totally inappropriate to pay for political advice.”
Premier Tony Wakeham dismissed the Private Member’s Motion and the arguments made as “political theatre.”
