Unions want PEI Minister Janice Sherry of Labour fired

Janice Sherry made a big splash on the weekend. When she informed the Federation of Labour she wouldn’t take questions after her speech, most of the delegates walked out in protest.

Later the delegates passed a resolution calling for her resignation.

“We pay these ministers to represent us. We are taxpayers,” UPSE president Shelley Ward told CBC.

“This minister has to be responsible and has to be accountable to the people. And when we want to ask questions, she should be able to answer them. No matter, if it was her, or anybody else appointed to that post.”

Opposition Leader Olive Crane sympathized with the labour leaders, adding that Sherry’s arrogance was part of a wider problem. “We have been hearing concerns about government’s refusal to consult, from Island health care workers, our agriculture sector, our municipalities, our seniors and just about every group we come in contact with. This government, simply does not want to hear what Islanders have to say.”  

“We, as Members of the Opposition ask questions in the legislature, they go unanswered. We ask Ministers to bring back documentation on contracts and studies, they say they will do so and although we continue to press them, the information never makes it to the floor of the House.”

“This Premier not only shows his arrogance in his treatment of Islanders, but demonstrates a lack of respect for our democratic processes.”

“She is the Minister responsible, and as far as I am concerned, she is accountable to Prince Edward Islanders. The Premier needs to answer for this Minister’s decision to circumvent her responsibility as an advocate for the labour groups in this province.”

This is no less alarming than Minister Sherry (Labour and Seniors) issuing a report of reforms for Islanders with disabilities that totally ignores seniors living with disabilities. 9,000 of the 22,000 Islanders with disabilities are seniors and don’t have DSP coverage. The report Sherry sponsored totally ignores them without a single recommendation for their assistance. Disability Services Review final report

Paul MacNeill of the Eastern Graphic writes that Sherry is either incredibly arrogant or incredibly incompetent.

“So what exactly did Janice Sherry think the job requirements were when she was named to cabinet? Did she think it was all cups of tea and chicken sandwiches? Or does she really think she is doing her job by showing up to the annual meeting of the Federation of Labour and refusing to answer questions from the audience?”

“That’s not going to happen. But the minister’s seeming lack of confidence in her own ability to handle questions from a core constituency speaks volumes about just how weak the Ghiz cabinet is. Competency is very clearly not a requirement to make cabinet and with it the $111,000 salary plus other perks like a free car courtesy of Island taxpayers.”

“What is most egregious is the minister’s failed opportunity to start an honest dialogue with labour before inevitable cuts are made to the provincial civil service. Cuts are the only way to reign in the soaring provincial deficit and debt. ”

“How those cuts are made will require negotiation and give and take from both sides. Janice Sherry has managed to alienate labour before any negotiations even begin.”

Or it may show, in the alternative, that Premier Ghiz has Minister Sherry on a very short leash. Sherry was Ghiz’s biggest supporter at the Public Accounts Committee hearings into the PNP.

Ghiz prefers Sherry when she is cutting off dialogue. Liberal gang hides from truth