Bagnall queries cheques for tourism research - CBC.ca

P.E.I. tourism critic Jim Bagnall raised questions in the legislature Friday about where cheques the province has been writing for tourism research went.

For several years the Tourism Department has partnered with the Tourism Research Centre at UPEI to produce studies on the direction of the Island's tourism industry.

Bagnall said he obtained a document that showed centre director Sean Hennessey had started up a company with same name as the Tourism Research Centre at UPEI. He said cheques were going to Hennessey instead of going to the university, for work done by the university.

"Instead of paying the university you've been paying Sean Hennessey. So how can you justify that?" Bagnall asked Tourism Minister Robert Vessey.

"How many duplicate cheques have you made?"

Bagnall also pointed out the connection between Hennessey and the current deputy minister of tourism, Melissa MacEachern.

"Your deputy is the one that oversees this. She's the one that worked for Sean Hennessey. She's the one that was at the university and worked for TRC," he said.

"She knows the system and yet your deputy is OKing cheques to be written to individuals like Mr. Hennessey, her former boss?"

Bagnall asked if MacEachern had been suspended over the issue. Vessey said that the file was reviewed within the department and "there was not a thing wrong with it".

Vessey said any issue regarding the Tourism Research Centre is one for the university to explore.

"If UPEI and Sean Hennessey have an issue I'd say that's an issue for the university," he said.

Bagnall suggested there was an investigation, but he didn't say by whom. Vessey said his department would cooperate with any investigation.

Bagnall also asked if the minister would turn the file over to either the auditor general or the attorney general. Vessey said he was confident in the review that had been done. Vessey wrapped the discussion by saying to Bagnall, "You're going down into the weeds and that's your style."

Calls to Hennessey on Friday afternoon from CBC News have not yet been returned.

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