Minister of Education didn’t know about information publicly available for weeks

On June 9th, 2021, Education Minister Tom Osbourne was caught off guard when Opposition Critic Barry Petten brought up information regarding Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) President Vianne Timmons’s compensation beyond her half-a-million-dollar salary.

The four numbers Petten brought up include $517 for a tax preparation bill, a $12,000 car allowance, an $18,000 housing allowance, and $4,000 for fitness equipment and a personal trainer.

This information was publicly available on MUN’s access-to-information for weeks and published on my site on May 29th, yet Osborne told reporters on June 10th that he knew nothing about it. Osbourne states, “I wasn’t aware of it. I asked today — we don’t have those details.”

Matt Barter is a third-year student in the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty at Memorial University of Newfoundland, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. He enjoys reading thought-provoking articles, walks in nature, and volunteering in the community.

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