P.E.I. has a new acting conflict of interest commissioner after cabinet appointed retired judge John McQuaid Tuesday to fill the vacant position.
The appointment was made after former conflict of interest commissioner Neil Robinson resigned Sunday.
CLICK HERE FOR FACTS ABOUT JOHN MCQUAID
Premier Wade MacLauchlan said he thought McQuaid’s appointment would be very well received.
“Really outstanding reputation for his integrity and professionalism, legal expertise and character,” MacLauchlan said.
McQuaid will serve as acting commissioner until the legislative assembly appoints a new commissioner, although that won’t happen before the next election, which is expected this spring.
Robinson resigned after questions were raised about his involvement in the province’s e-gaming file.
A meeting was planned with the legislative management committee to determine whether Robinson would continue in his position. That meeting didn’t happen before Robinson resigned, saying he no longer had the confidence of the legislative assembly.
MacLauchlan said with everything that has happened recently he thinks people are paying more attention to conflicts of interest, which he sees as a good thing.
“I think we’ve got someone in former justice McQuaid who will absolutely have confidence, and I do think it would have been preferable if Mr. Robinson would have been permitted the opportunity to appear before the legislative management committee, which was the intended process.”
With his appointment, McQuaid said he is looking forward to filling the interim position.
McQuaid also said a lot of the work is done through the clerk of the legislative assembly’s office so he plans to meet with staff in the next few days.
“I want to familiarize myself with the legislation, with the procedures MLAs and cabinet ministers have to follow and then I will have a better idea as to what, if anything, I might want to accomplish,” he said.
With a need to have someone fill the part-time position, McQuaid said it was not an ideal way of stepping into the job but he was honoured to be asked.
“Because there was a gap there was a need for the gap to be filled and I have time and I’m available to do that over the course of the next few months,” he said.
P.E.I. has a new acting conflict of interest commissioner after cabinet appointed retired judge John McQuaid Tuesday to fill the vacant position.
The appointment was made after former conflict of interest commissioner Neil Robinson resigned Sunday.
CLICK HERE FOR FACTS ABOUT JOHN MCQUAID
Premier Wade MacLauchlan said he thought McQuaid’s appointment would be very well received.
“Really outstanding reputation for his integrity and professionalism, legal expertise and character,” MacLauchlan said.
McQuaid will serve as acting commissioner until the legislative assembly appoints a new commissioner, although that won’t happen before the next election, which is expected this spring.
Robinson resigned after questions were raised about his involvement in the province’s e-gaming file.
A meeting was planned with the legislative management committee to determine whether Robinson would continue in his position. That meeting didn’t happen before Robinson resigned, saying he no longer had the confidence of the legislative assembly.
MacLauchlan said with everything that has happened recently he thinks people are paying more attention to conflicts of interest, which he sees as a good thing.
“I think we’ve got someone in former justice McQuaid who will absolutely have confidence, and I do think it would have been preferable if Mr. Robinson would have been permitted the opportunity to appear before the legislative management committee, which was the intended process.”
With his appointment, McQuaid said he is looking forward to filling the interim position.
McQuaid also said a lot of the work is done through the clerk of the legislative assembly’s office so he plans to meet with staff in the next few days.
“I want to familiarize myself with the legislation, with the procedures MLAs and cabinet ministers have to follow and then I will have a better idea as to what, if anything, I might want to accomplish,” he said.
With a need to have someone fill the part-time position, McQuaid said it was not an ideal way of stepping into the job but he was honoured to be asked.
“Because there was a gap there was a need for the gap to be filled and I have time and I’m available to do that over the course of the next few months,” he said.
About John McQuaid:
John McQuaid is a former P.E.I. Court of Appeal judge who served in that position for 20 years until his retirement in 2013.
Prior to becoming a judge, McQuaid practiced law for 20 years.
He is PC Party president Peter McQuaid’s brother.
