Blaney gets new job despite hiring restrictions

The appointment of former New Brunswick cabinet minister Margaret-Ann Blaney to a senior civil service position that had been eliminated two months ago continued to generate political heat Friday with the minister now in charge of Blaney unsure how she avoided government-wide hiring restrictions.

"You'd have talk to HR (Human Resources) on that," Environment and Local Government Minister Bruce Fitch told CBC News.

On Wednesday, Premier David Alward announced that Blaney wasresigning her cabinet postas minister of Energy and her seat as an MLA to take a position in the civil service as president of the conservation agency Efficiency New Brunswick.

'It is despicable and unfair that the only guaranteed jobs in this province are those promised to Tory faithfuls.' Bathurst Liberal MLA Brian Kenny

It's a deputy minister-level post that pays about $170,000 a year, fodder for Opposition Liberals who have denounced it three days running.

"It is despicable and unfair that the only guaranteed jobs in this province are those promised to Tory faithfuls," Bathurst Liberal MLA Brian Kenny told the legislature Friday.

Blaney's appointment comes as the province attempts toeliminate 1,500 civil service jobsover the nextthree years, a goal that Alward said would limit new appointments.

"We are reducing the number of government employees by eliminating vacant positions and putting hiring restrictions in place," he told the legislature in April, a month before Blaney's appointment.

In addition,Alward announced in Marchthatfive deputy minister positions had been eliminated as part of government reform, including the presidency of Efficiency New Brunswick, which was to be filled for free by the Deputy Minister of Environment Denis Caron.

On Friday, Bruce Fitch said he was unsure of how Blaney overcame current hiring restrictions to land the Efficiency New Brunswick appointment or why Caron could no longer do the job.

"Things changed and it is what it is today," said Fitch.