Christopher Mitchelmore should be reprimanded over Foote's hiring: Bruce Chaulk

The commissioner of legislative standards is recommending that cabinet minister Christopher Mitchelmore be reprimanded over the hiring of former Liberal staffer Carla Foote.

Bruce Chaulk's report continuously refers to allegations thatMitchelmore"grossly mismanaged" his obligations with respect to the Code of Conduct.

The report includes tworeports by the Office of the Citizens' Representative and a response from Mitchelmore.

"It is my recommendation to the legislature that Minister Mitchelmore be reprimanded to ensure that Minister's [sic] act diligently in the future when they are involved in matters which may impact the public purse and governance of crown boards and/or agencies," wrote Chaulk.

There were five allegations investigated by the citizens' representative. But just two allegations resulted in findings that Mitchelmore breached the code.

Mum at question period

Few details if any were gleaned during question period at the House of Assembly on Monday as Opposition leader Ches Crosbiepeppered the Liberals with questions over a CBC story into the hiring of Foote at The Rooms.

House leader Siobhan Coady refused to answer pointed questions aboutthe report, as it hadn't been tabled in the legislature and repeatedly said it was covered under parliamentary privilege and deals with a human resources matter.

However, immediately following question period, the report, titled "The Mitchelmore Report," was tabled in the House of Assembly, and posted online.

Mitchelmore violated the provincial government's code of conduct when he hired the longtime Liberal staffer for a job at The Rooms and jacked up the salary, according to a report by the Office of the Citizens' Representative, a public body tasked with investigating whistleblower complaints.

• Mitchelmore investigated for Carla Foote hiring, whistleblower report finds wrongdoing
• Commissioner for Legislative Standards:The Mitchelmore Report

Mitchelmore released a short statement through his communications staff Monday afternoon. He would not speak with reporters.

"This matter will be dealt with in the House of Assembly and I will apologize. I have no further comment at this time," he said.

Responding to the allegations in Chaulk'sreport, Mitchelmore's lawyer, Chris Peddigrew,said, "We strenuously deny he committed gross mismanagement and deny that corrective action is either appropriate or required."

Legislature debating leak, not Mitchelmore Report contents

Some members of the House of Assembly expressed concern over confidentiality, and indicated they want an investigation into who leaked the report.

"This is a matter ofprivilegeof a report which should have been tabled and given to all members of the house before it was deliberated externally," Coady said.

She is requesting that the matter be sent to a standing committee to determine how it was leaked to CBC.

Independent MHA Paul Lane went so far as to say the person or people who leaked the report should be fired.

The investigation started last winter after Mitchelmore fielded a daily barrage of questions from journalists, but before The Rooms CEO Dean Brinton was cut loose with compensation and a confidentiality agreement.

The investigation found Mitchelmore told Brinton about theplan to hire Foote after she was already offered the job.

According to the board of directors, Premier Dwight Ball is the one who ordered the hiring, something he denies.

Ball was in Toronto Mondayat a meeting of Canada's premiers, but said in a statement that he was not involved with Foote's hiring.

"I've been catching up on the news out of the House of Assembly and I want to clarify that I did not direct anyone to hire Ms. Foote for a job at The Rooms," the statement said.

The matter continues to be debated in the House of Assembly.

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