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Speaker to rule later on allegation of threats by MHA

Bennett Voicemail

The Conservative government released a voicemail left by Liberal MHA Jim Bennett at the office of Minister Joan Burke, a message Government House Leader Jerome Kennedy says amounts to a threat.

Published on March 8, 2012
Published on March 8, 2012

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House was sent into recess following accusation

Topics :
House of Assembly.Liberal House , Government House

Government House Leader Jerome Kennedy said today in the House of Assembly that Liberal MHA Jim Bennett threatened Minister Joan Burke.

Kennedy said that Bennett called Burke's office to threaten to "vilify" Burke on Open Line if an issue was not resolved.

Bennett left a voicemail message at Burke's office. (To hear voicemail, click on image of MHA Jim Bennett).

Kennedy said that Bennett should be censured or found in contempt of the House of Assembly.

The phone call reportedly was about transportation for a constituent with regards to a chemotherapy appointment.

The Liberals are saying that the phone call happened on Feb. 3 and the government did not raise the issue at its earliest convenience.

Liberal House Leader Yvonne Jones is saying the issue is not intimidating Joan Burke, and it is not a point of privilege.

 

 

Comments

  • Username
    Tony Young
    - March 9, 2012 at 19:43:38

    A bunch of clowns running the province. Make no wonder nothing gets done. Threat, sounds like something Ms. Burke must have done was going to get leaked to the media by Mr. Bennett. Even the News papers are afraid to breath it to the public. LOL, oh well guess Ms. Burke screwed up yet again.

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  • Username
    Jim Bennett Idiot-Dwight Ball Gutless
    - March 9, 2012 at 07:48:47

    Leadership includes reigning in your caucus when they are proving to be nothing but an embarassment to your cause. Their are many public issues that need airing in the House, Jim Bennett's behavior being discussed and taking up time and the front pages does nothing to enhance the Liberals cause, it detracts from it.

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  • Username
    Dave
    - March 9, 2012 at 00:35:55

    Poor old Screamapillar Kennedy

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  • Username
    Eli
    - March 9, 2012 at 00:05:37

    What floored me was the sorrowful display of indignation by the PC's. Burke was the most pitiful. Grow up woman! As for Kennedy, he crawled back into the fold on his hands and knees after the Law Society threatened him with the boot if he didn't recant his actions at The Hughes Inquiry. Colour him thick.

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  • Username
    JP
    - March 8, 2012 at 23:51:29

    Mr. Kennedy of all people should know that this doesn't constitute a threat. Mr. Bennett is simply making a point that Minister Burke and the employees under her control have dropped the ball, and he is giving them an opportunity to fix the problem otherwise he would bring the issue to the media so that everyone could know how serious an issue he had before him and the in-actions of a minister of the current government. Personally I'm glad that the government released the voicemail message so that we the people can judge for ourselves by listening to Mr. Bennett's own words! Kudos by the way to Mr. Bennett for sticking up for his constituents.

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    • Username
      Terry
      - March 11, 2012 at 16:29:02

      Burke was in the wrong. She is playing politics. She is arrogant and unsympathetic. Pathetic what we have running our province!!

  • Username
    Mary
    - March 8, 2012 at 23:15:25

    What a bunch of youngsters,it's time to throw out Liberals and Conservatives, give the N D P a turn, they can't be any worse than what we've got. Why don't they do some WORK for a change?

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  • Username
    Barry
    - March 8, 2012 at 23:05:22

    Never thought Jim Bennett could be any stunner than he looks. He just proved he is. What does that say about the people of the St Barbe district for actually electing this moron?

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  • Username
    robert tucker
    - March 8, 2012 at 23:02:06

    I used to have respect for Jerome Kennedy. He has had difficult roles /ministrial roles to play for Danny boy and Dunder. Now I find that Jerome is getting tired/sarcastic! It is unfortunate that his personna is getting stale and his vision fir the province is no lacking. Sorry Jerome. I tell it like it is!!

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  • Username
    What happened
    - March 8, 2012 at 22:39:32

    Still waiting for Kennedy to deal with the prison issue, isn't that the reason he ran so long ago? So what happened? Did you forget? You're pretty good at threats, pointing and wagging your finger too aren't you. Sad isn't it, to know that a cancer patient has to go to this extent. Good job to anyone who helps someone so ill. Vilify all you need to.

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  • Username
    Nik
    - March 8, 2012 at 21:57:04

    THEY NEED AN EXCUSE TO HAVE ANOTHER BREAK I THINK IT'S TIME FOR A DAMN ELECTION OR BETTER YET A PEOPLE'S PARTY!!!!!

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  • Username
    George from Northern Pen
    - March 8, 2012 at 21:33:38

    Sickening! They are all a bunch of childish people who will push at anything to divert attention away from the real issues. I have zero faith left in politicians of any political stripe. Bennett should have been pushing hard for his constituent, but his approach is what we have seen from many of our politicians over the past few years. Arrogance and intimidation rule the roost. Kennedy need only look in the mirror with his handling of the Air Ambulance affair. Hey two lawyers here!! And how many times is this that Joan Burke has been at the center of a issue where her department didn't seem to be doing it's job?

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  • Username
    Scott
    - March 8, 2012 at 21:14:55

    Ms Jones why are you mad...Jim Bennett made threats...to some one...Mr Bennett should be taking to court...Because if this was a common person...that person would end up in court...The Liberal should give him the boots...if not... the party will pay for it in the next election.

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  • Username
    Excited the house is open
    - March 8, 2012 at 18:50:53

    I can't believe that after 9 months with the house closed this is what Kennedy and Dunderdale are whining about? The premier suggesting that calling government workers idiots was shameful....has she forgotten that her former boss very boldly stated to the media when referring to Eastern Health staff " They should be all shot over there." during the botched lab tests and not a single soul challenged him on it. I suggest that by the time Blunderdale gets through the next four years she'll be looking for a way out! And what about the way she and baby Kennedy attacked and talked down to Lorraine Michael this week? Who are the bullies here really? The more I see of politicians the sicker I get! Grow up, all of you!

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    • Username
      Terry
      - March 11, 2012 at 16:34:42

      It is amazing how the PC's can try and justify these antics. I had hoped for more from Dunderdale, Kennedy and Burke. But it seems they are like many politicians before them. Their legacy will be secrets, conflicts of interest and incompetence!!

  • Username
    Excited the house is open
    - March 8, 2012 at 18:50:06

    I can't believe that after 9 months with the house closed this is what Kennedy and Dunderdale are whining about? The premier suggesting that calling government workers idiots was shameful....has she forgotten that her former boss very boldly stated to the media when referring to Eastern Health staff " They should be all shot over there." during the botched lab tests and not a single soul challenged him on it. I suggest that by the time Blunderdale gets through the next four years she'll be looking for a way out! And what about the way she and baby Kennedy attacked and talked down to Lorraine Michael this week? Who are the bullies here really? The more I see of politicians the sicker I get! Grow up, all of you!

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  • Username
    Storm
    - March 8, 2012 at 18:44:17

    Kennedy, Burke, Dunder....grow up.

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  • Username
    HarbourMaster
    - March 8, 2012 at 18:40:03

    I can't believe the children we have elected to run this province. Here we have an opposition member who has nowhere to turn but threaten to call Open Line to get action because Joan Burke's department was sitting on their hands. More power to Bennett for looking after his constiuent who had no transportation to get to his chemo treatment. And shame on Kennedy and Burke for trying to make a political issue out of this. When will the PCs start acting like the government they were elected to be.

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  • Username
    Sam
    - March 8, 2012 at 18:35:16

    Go back to practising law, where the youngsters on the bench will happily entertain antics.

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  • Username
    ballhockey
    - March 8, 2012 at 18:18:16

    so, he bullies someone around and is now sorry that he was caught. There are better ways to get results than this bully boy behaviour!!!!!!!

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    • Username
      NIK
      - March 8, 2012 at 22:00:15

      THAT'S WHAT YA GOTTA DO TO GET THIS GOVERNMENT TO WORK !!! DUHHHH

  • Username
    Money For Nothing
    - March 8, 2012 at 17:16:40

    16 million a year to run the House of Assembly that only sat for 33 days last year. What does all that staff do with so much time off. Dunderdale complained about decorum as a reason not to open the House and then she leads attacks on Lorraine Michael (see today's editorial in the Telegram). Now this from a Liberal MHA. All of our politicians make me sick. Childish and worthless behavior.

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  • Username
    Nick
    - March 8, 2012 at 17:14:31

    Never ceases to amaze me the gutter politics of the Liberals. No wonder they are in the wilderness.

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    • Username
      Patrick Guilfoyle
      - March 8, 2012 at 22:51:29

      What gutter politics? You must be joking. I applaud Bennett! He was doing his job, thinking of his constituents. You must be a member of the conservative fan club.

  • Username
    Randy
    - March 8, 2012 at 17:03:00

    How silly can this government get- This is Harper style dirt..Mr Bennett seems to have every right to get peed off at Joan Burkes and her office for ignoreing the plight of a family in need. It's not the first time Burke has stuck her head in the sand over serious family issues,, Say no more because of imposed media blackouts

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  • Username
    Jenny
    - March 8, 2012 at 16:45:40

    Not too bright to leave such a message on someone's voicemail with today's technology. Make no wonder he went into politics.

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  • Username
    Political watcher
    - March 8, 2012 at 15:54:29

    With all due respect, don't everyone one of them "vilify" each other every day. It is not a threat as much as it is a promise.

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  • Username
    Joe it all
    - March 8, 2012 at 15:36:36

    All this time without the House open and that is the most pressing matter??? I guess they reaklly didn't have anything to offer the people so the House was just as well closed. Maybe they can start their summer break when the clocks go ahead!!

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    • Username
      No worries
      - March 8, 2012 at 17:28:42

      No worries about that. They’ll be off to the sunny south for their spring vacations pretty soon. Cancer patients and all the rest of us be dammed.

  • Username
    Central Gal
    - March 8, 2012 at 14:58:35

    First day open and this is what kind of crap we got to be putting up with!!! My two year old has more sense then this. Its just as well to close the House of Assembly all year round!! Could someone out there please tell me why our taxpaying dollars are paying these MP's if we don't even get to hear from them anymore????

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  • Username
    W Bagg
    - March 8, 2012 at 14:40:52

    for what? trying to stick up for his constituents. contempt of the House of Assembly? What does that mean, he can't show up there for the 20 odd days it's open per year and have people yell at him. Contempt for the Hof A is noty opening it and saying it is dysfunctional. When a govt gets in trouble they try to divert attention to other areas or topics..........

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  • Username
    Copernicus
    - March 8, 2012 at 14:40:25

    Kennedy is probably still upset that Bennett is taking him to court over the St. Anthony Air Ambulance debacle. Tut tut, Mr. Kennedy

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    • Username
      Ben
      - March 9, 2012 at 07:39:29

      And to think the people in St Anthony are actually payng Jim Bennett to represent them. I remember some of the people who protested the air ambulance issue a few years ago. Looks like there is more than one 'stun' person on the Northern Peninsula.

  • Username
    chris
    - March 8, 2012 at 14:22:12

    Youngsters!

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  • Username
    Jordan
    - March 8, 2012 at 14:17:41

    Shameful.

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