Double-billing report was factor in quitting: Goudie

A Conservative backbencher identified this month as having double-billed on her expense claims resigned her seat in the N.L. house of assembly Friday.

Kathy Goudie, who represented Humber Valley district since 2003, said stress from being named in a report by Auditor General John Noseworthy was a factor in her decision.

"I have always taken great pride in operating with honesty and integrity in all aspects of my life," Goudie said in a statement.

Goudie is the fifth politician and the fourth in the governing Progressive Conservative caucus to resign from the house of assembly since Dec. 29.

In a report released earlier this month, Noseworthy found that Goudie had double-billed $3,818 in her constituency allowance.

Goudie, who repaid the sum, attributed the wrongful claims to clerical errors and inattention as she recovered from surgeries.

Noseworthy also identified Transportation Minister John Hickey as having double-billed on some claims.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary has opened a criminal investigation into Noseworthy's report, which came on the heels of a much more explosive investigation in 2006, which identified five politicians as having received almost $1.6 million in overpayments to their constituency allowances.

Goudie's resignation, whichis effective immediately, comes only hours after Randy Collins,the New Democratic member for Labrador West, announced he will resign his seat in mid-February. Collins had also been named in Noseworthy's 2006 investigations.

On Friday afternoon, Premier Danny Williams said a byelection will be held Feb. 12 to fill the vacancy in Humber Valley.

Williams hadcalled byelections earlier this week for Feb. 8, to fill threeother vacancies:

• Ed Byrne, a former Tory cabinet minister whom Noseworthy also found exceeding his constituency allowance, resigned his Kilbride seat effective Jan. 1.
• Former finance minister Loyola Sullivan retired on Dec. 29.
• Port au Port MHA Jim Hodder, a PC backbencher, resigned his seat last week for health reasons.

Williams expressed some sympathy for Goudie's situation.

"Kathy's gone through a rough few weeks, believe you me," Williams told reporters, shortly before Goudie issued a resignation statement that confirmed rumours she was stepping down.