Mr. Speaker, after all of four months of work, Mr. Gary Anstey, the former executive assistant to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, received $31,000 in severance pay. Mr. Ansley was rehired last month at an annual salary of $93,000, but was not required to pay back his allowance, despite the fact he had voluntarily left his job.
By way of explanation, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans is trying to mollify the public's legitimate outrage by arguing that such practice is not inconsistent with Treasury Board guidelines.
So, what does the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans think of the rules established by the Minister of Human Resources Development, which deny benefits to unemployed workers who have voluntarily quit their jobs? This double standard policy is only good for undermining the credibility of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and this government as a whole, for perpetuating such a practice, which is even more unacceptable in the context of a public finances crisis.