$45K severance as John Ottenheimer fired as head of N.L. Housing
The former head of the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation says he was "deeply disappointed" to be dismissed after just a year into his five-year contract as CEO, a move that will cost taxpayers $45,000.
John Ottenheimer was fired Monday morning in a meeting with the clerk of the privy council.
"It was termination without cause," Ottenheimer, a former cabinet minister and Progressive Conservative leadership hopeful, told CBC on Tuesday. "I was advised that government wished to 'move forward.' That was the expression that was used."
Ottenheimer said he was offered 14 weeks' severance, which works out to about $45,000 before taxes based on his $169,000 salary, and doesn't include any payout for unused sick leave. Ottenheimer said he didn't have any details of that yet.
"I'm not sure what's in store for me," he said. "I'm very interested in public service and public life, and what that role may be, I have no idea. I'll just, I guess, take a wait-and-see attitude and see what's in store."
'Signed contract in good faith'
Ottenheimer said he was "deeply disappointed" to be dismissed.
"I enjoyed my work thoroughly, went to work each and every day with enthusiasm," he said.
"Newfoundland and Labrador Housing does great work for the people of the province. I felt that I had a wonderful working relationship with those at the housing corporation. We have great employees there, and I'm truly disappointed."
Ottenheimer said he was looking forward to the next few years at the corporation.
"I signed a contract in good faith for five years, and obviously that's not meant to be."
Ottenheimer was appointed by the previous PC administration for a five-year term beginning July 27, 2015.
Premier Dwight Ball — then leader of the Opposition — at the time called it political patronage, but Ottenheimer wouldn't say if he thought his dismissal was politically motivated.
"I'm not going to respond to that directly, I'm going to leave that to your listeners," he said. "I will say that I'm truly disappointed. It's work that I enjoyed thoroughly."
'Not satisfied' with how job was filled
A press release from the provincial government Tuesday announced Ottenheimer's interim replacement: Tom Lawrence, N.L. Housing's chief financial officer.
The government also announced the Independent Appointments Commission will begin the merit-based appointment process to fill the position.
CBC's request for an interview with Sherry Gambin-Walsh, minister responsible for the NLHC, was declined, but in a statement emailed on her behalf from department communications, Gambin-Walsh said the government is "modernizing how appoints are made, and clearing a path for the most qualified people" to be selected for positions.
"As a government, we are not satisfied with how this position was filled in 2015, and, therefore, the contract was terminated," reads the statement, which adds that the appointments commission is "actively recruiting" for senior positions at Nalcor, NL Hydro, and Memorial's Board of Regents, among others."
