N.L.'s consumer advocate steps down, hopes party politics won't decide his replacement

Dennis Browne has resigned as Newfoundland and Labrador's consumer advocate after a decade of serving in the role.

The announcement was made by the provincial government on Monday.

For the time being, the role will be held on an interim basis by Adrienne Ding, a St. John's lawyer who recently represented PC candidates during provincial election recounts in November.

Ding is also a partner at the law firm O'Dea Earle. Another partner in the firm is Thomas E. Williams, the brother of former PC premier Danny Williams.

In an interview with CBC News on Tuesday, Browne said he hopes Ding's new role isn't a sign of party politics sneaking into the appointment process.

Appointments are traditionally made by the Independent Appointments Commission, a legislated body put in place a decade ago to remove politics from the appointment process. It's the same process under which Browne was hired.

"They haven't done that part right, and that is of concern," Browne said.

"I would hope that we're not going back to the old way. The old way should be dead."

Browne was previously a Liberal Party organizer, but says he quit politics after his appointment in 2016.

He said he was prepared to stay on as consumer advocate while the commission did its work, and speculated a new advocate could have been appointed in short order through the proper process.

Premier Tony Wakeham was unavailable for comment on Tuesday as he travels to Ottawa for meetings. But at a news conference, Justice and Public Safety Minister Helen Conway Ottenheimer said Ding was chosen for the role based on her merit.

"There would not be any politics involved. When we make decisions like this, it is to make sure that we have the person that is best suited," she said, adding the appointments process will be followed.

"I would expect that there would be a competition."

Browne said discussion with family led him to decide a decade was long enough in the role. However, he leaves his role of consumer advocate during what he called a busy few weeks.