ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Health Minister Dr. John Haggie, Status of Women Minister Lisa Dempster and Premier Andrew Furey say public health guidelines were followed during two indoor Liberal party fundraisers on Monday and Wednesday.
On Wednesday, Haggie hosted a $250-per-ticket fundraiser at the Bally Haly Country Club in St. John’s, with 23 attendees of the 40 expected to attend the event.
On Wednesday, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald outlined the rules for larger indoor gatherings, with up to 100 attendees, and smaller indoor gatherings, with no more than 20 attendees, during the holiday season.
"Certainly with the 100, we’ve made clear that it applies to situations where the gathering is being organized by a business or entity that is able to do that organization, where they can take responsibility for ensuring the rules are followed,” Fitzgerald said during Wednesday’s COVID-19 update.
“What we’re recommending for Christmas is that everybody think about 20 when they’re thinking about their contacts over Christmas. Have a consistent 20 contacts that your household has that you will be socializing with over the Christmas season. In addition to that, that there be no more than 20 people gathering in your home.”
Haggie apologized for holding the gathering, speaking with reporters on Thursday evening.
Furey says public health guidelines were followed during the fundraiser.
“To my understanding it was well within the COVID guidelines and public health parameters as per the special measures orders,” Furey said Thursday.
Furey did not attend the fundraiser, saying he had to pick up his son from hockey practice at the time.
However, Furey did attend a fundraiser at a private residence in St. John’s with Status of Women Minister Lisa Dempster on Monday. The gathering featured 25 people at the indoor event.
“On Monday, Nov. 30, I attended a fundraiser with 25 people in attendance. This was a distanced gathering and all COVID protocols and measures were followed in accordance with the special measures orders, which limits gatherings to no more than 50 people,” Dempster said in a statement.
“It is worth noting public health provided guidance on holiday activities effective Wednesday, Dec. 2, two days after the event, recommending gatherings in homes be limited to 20 people.”
Progressive Conservative Leader Ches Crosbie says even if the fundraisers followed the letter of the law, the gatherings don’t show leadership.
“We’ve been discouraged from having gatherings. We’ve been discouraged from having family gatherings, workplace gatherings. I know of birthday parties that have been cancelled,” said Crosbie.
“Everyone is complying with the spirit of all these announcements from Haggie and the premier — not the letter, but the spirit. … Now Haggie goes out and although he may have complied with the letter of the law around this country club event that he had for fundraising for the Liberal party, he did not comply with the spirit of it.”
In September, the Progressive Conservative party held an indoor, $1000-per-plate fundraiser at the Delta Hotel. Crosbie says the public health situation was completely different then, given the low prevalence of the coronavirus.
New Democratic Party Leader Alison Coffin says the indoor fundraisers aren’t setting a good example for the rest of the province.
“I think there are two sets of interpretations of the rules. We are being compelled to keep our gatherings under 20, but in the right conditions it appears it’s OK for someone else to do something that’s outside of those rules,” said Coffin.
“You lead by good example, not bad.”
