Former premier Andrew Furey MIA from HOA
MHA for Humber-Gros Morne risks financial penalties for absence from legislature
The only thing that's been in Andrew Furey's House of Assembly seat over the last two weeks is Lucy Stoyles's handbag.
Since the House returned from the Easter break, the former premier and member for Humber-Gros Morne is the only MHA who has been absent every day.
Andrew Furey stepped down as premier earlier this month but has not resigned as MHA, meaning he still continues to collect the $95,000 a year salary.
Furey hasn't been in the house since May 9, when John Hogan took over the job.
"While he was available if required, he requested and was granted leave by the caucus whip," Diane Randell, who handles communications for the Liberal caucus, told CBC News when asked why Furey wasn't in the house.
She didn't provide any details about the reason he's not in the house.
Before stepping down, Furey told reporters that he had operating time booked at the Health Sciences Centre after he was no longer premier.
Furey was an orthopedic surgeon before entering politics and said he planned to return to that full-time after leaving politics
Furey risks fines for absence
The House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and Administration act requires MHAs to attend every day the house is open, unless they have a valid reason.
That includes illness, a death in the family, or to attend to constituency business.
The speaker can also grant an MHA leave, but a spokesperson for the speaker's office says so far they haven't received a request from Furey.
If the absence isn't authorized then $200 for every day they're not in the house is deducted from a member's pay
Furey's absence raises concerns: PCs
Progressive Conservative MHA Barry Petten was surprised not to see Furey in the house.
He was premier when the budget was introduced in April, but he wasn't there when MHAs voted to pass the budget late on May 14.
"If you're an MHA there's a responsibility to get approved leave, notify the speaker your dealings. Nobody is saying you can't do the surgeries but you still have to look after your district," said Petten.
Petten questioned whether Furey's constituents are getting the representation they deserve, and whether Furey is still making trips to his district.
"If he's not he definitely should resign because he's not doing anyone any favours. Otherwise he's collecting an MHA's salary while he's over practicing medicine."
The $95,000 a year salary is significantly less than what he earned as a surgeon. Public records show Furey billed $731,564.26 for his medical work in 2018-19 before he entered politics.
If Furey does resign it wouldn't require a byelection, because it's within six months of the fixed elections date, which will take place on or before October 14.
Resigning now could mean losing out on pension
In order to be eligible for a pension after leaving politics, a member has to be elected twice, which Furey has, but the rules also say they have to be an MHA for at least 5 years.
Furey became premier in August 2020, but wasn't elected as an MHA until October 2020, meaning he's likely several months short.
CBC News asked the government about when exactly Furey would be eligible for a pension and spokesperson David Sorensen wouldn't provide a date, only quoting the rules which say five years.
The size of his pension would likely not be very large, based on his relatively short service. The legislation says MHAs and ministers, which includes the premier, earn 2 per cent of their salary per year, so if he reaches five years of service CBC News calculated that his pension would likely be around $16,000 a year.
Sorensen wouldn't confirm that calculation is accurate saying because he hasn't left "a calculation of his potential pension is not possible at this time."
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