The latest from Mr. Accountability

When Len Simms was appointed chairperson and chief executive officer of Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation in 2005, the announcement neglected to mention the fact that Mr. Simms’ term would expire just in time for him to rejoin the PC party campaign team.

And, curiously, even though “the premier's office said Simms's contract had expired,” neither said Premier’s office, nor NLHC itself, bothered to go on the record about it.

Said Premier’s office was more than happy to announce though, that by some happy coincidence, now that that pesky “election” is out of the way, Mr. Simms has been “appointed” to his old post. (Obviously not “re-appointed”, because, at the time of his “appointment”, he didn’t hold the office.)

The appointment, we are informed, is effective immediately.

The end-date of the appointment, once again, is not given.

However, we are given the following bit of information:

He [Simms] was appointed Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation in February, 2005. In accordance with Provincial Government policy, he resigned from that position on September 10 to participate in the recent provincial election campaign.

So here’s a good question for the open and accountable government’s PR flack (hi, Liz!) whose name is attached to today’s press release: when does Len Simms’ contract expire this time? And why did he resign from that position on September 10, when, according to the CBC report of September 12, “the premier's office said Simms's contract had expired”?

For reference, the next election, per the “fixed election” amendment of 2004, will be held on Tuesday, October 11, 2011.

Ms. Matthews’ co-ordinates are:

Media contact:
Elizabeth Matthews
Director of Communications
Office of the Premier
709-729-3960, 351-1227
elizabethmatthews@gov.nl.ca