Opposition asks for immediate recall of legislature to debate e-gaming report

Opposition leader Jamie Fox has written to the Speaker of the P.E.I. Legislature, asking Buck Watts to convene the legislature ahead of schedule to allow for debate over the auditor general's report on e-gaming.

"Given the grave issues raised by the [auditor general's report] into the e-gaming scandal we feel that this is an appropriate step to take," Fox told reporters during a media conference Tuesday.

• 'Lack of due regard for transparency' in e-gaming file says P.E.I. auditor general
• E-gaming emails deleted, text messages not provided to AG

"The fall sitting of the legislature is more than a month away. Islanders don't want to wait another month for answers to their questions on the e-gaming scandal. They want answers now."

The legislature is scheduled to resume sitting on November 15. The fall sitting traditionally begins after Remembrance Day.

'Lack of due regard for transparency and accountability'

On Oct. 5 the province's auditor general Jane MacAdam released a highly critical report looking at the province's attempt to become a regulator of online gambling. She concluded that the government demonstrated "a lack of due regard for transparency and accountability" in that pursuit, and overall found that taxpayers' interests were not properly protected.

At their media conference, the opposition Tories raised four major issues from the report which they feel require immediate attention:

• Funding of $1.4 million in loans and grants to the Mi'kmaq Confederacy of PEI to finance the project, some of which was previously undisclosed.
• Apparent conflicts of interest involving three senior government executives including the chief of staff of former premier Robert Ghiz.
• The deletion of documents including emails, contrary to the P.E.I. Archives and Records Act;
• A lack of co-operation, at least initially, between at least one government agency (the Office of the Superintendent of Securities) and the auditor general's office.

In his letter to the Speaker, Fox noted the opposition has previously called for a public inquiry into e-gaming.

"In the face of these urgent and extraordinary circumstances, the PC Opposition caucus is formally requesting you immediately recall the Legislative Assembly," the letter states.

In a brief email, Speaker Buck Watts told CBC News "This is a serious request, I am reviewing the matter and will respond directly to the Official Opposition in due course."

Finance minister to coordinate government response

In the immediate aftermath of the auditor general's report, Premier Wade MacLauchlan said Finance Minister Allen Roach would lead government in a coordinated response to the findings. 

CBC News has asked to speak with Roach about that response. A spokesperson for the finance department said Roach was not yet prepared to speak on the topic.

"He has read the report and reviewed the recommendations," the spokesperson wrote via email. "He is developing an overall plan to address each of them and will involve relevant departments … As the plan is developed he will be able to offer more details."

On Tuesday the province's Standing Committee on Public Accounts announced it would hold a public meeting with the auditor general on Oct. 19 to go over her e-gaming report.

That meeting will provide MLAs on the committee with an opportunity to question the auditor general in detail about her findings.