PC MHA asks legislative standards commissioner to investigate premier's fishing trip

PC Opposition house leaderBarry Pettenhaswritten a letter to the provincial commissioner of legislative standards, seekinganswers from Premier Andrew Fureyfor what Petten is calling "his conflicts of interest."

Pettenwants Furey to answer for his fishing trip toRifflin' Hitch Lodge in Labrador with his father Senate Speaker George Furey in July 2021, which came to light in a report byonline news organization allNewfoundlandLabradorin mid-October.

The lodge is owned by billionaire John Risley, a friend of Furey'sand the chairman of World Energy GH2, a company looking to developa wind-powered hydrogen-ammonia project on the Port au Port Peninsula.

"A lot of it is about the optics. The optics of the situation. I think the court of public opinion has ruled. If you go out in the street and you talk to a lot people in the street this is something I've talked to a lot of people about most people see this as something not right," Petten saidFriday.

"We've heard from political scientists saying the same thing. This don't pass the smell test."

Fureyhas reiteratedthat he paid for the trip himself.

"It's mytime, mydime," Furey has said on multiple occasions.

The premier insists the wind project was never discussed during the trip because of "ethical walls" he set up buthas also ignored demands to produce receiptsfrom the trip.

Petten saidFurey's repeated refusal of transparency is not good enough.

"You'repremier of the province 365 days of the year, 24/7. That comes with the territory. At minimum that was a poor judgment call to decide to go out to a fishing lodge and [have] whatever discussion," Petten said.

"We're not getting any answers. All you're getting is these flippant remarks and, for the most part lately, it's deafening silence."

In a statement to CBC News on Friday, a spokesperson for the premier's office said Furey personally paid for the vacation.

"As the premier has stated on several occasions when asked about his personal vacation time, he is very grateful to have the opportunity to go fishing with his father an activity the two have enjoyed for many years prior to the premier holding this position and one he plans to continue engaging in during and after his time in office," reads the statement.

"As the premier has stated many times, the topic of wind energy is not new and a number of jurisdictions have developed wind projects. Wind energy has long been discussed in Newfoundland and Labrador."

Petten said his letter to Commissioner for Legislative Standards Ann Chafe isn't a personal attack on Furey. He said he's just "doing his job."

"People of the province deserve better. This is public money. We're talking about trust," Petten said.

"If Ms. Chafe comes back and says everything wasfine then we'll live with that.I just want answers. I just want this investigated properly."

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