The man with the most hats
By Craig Westcott
Barry Petten laughs and admits that if he was to print all his titles on a business card, he’d probably have to use a Bristol board.
“I’d have a lot of trouble jamming it my pocket,” he admitted.
With the latest cabinet shuffle, the MHA for Conception Bay South is now Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Registrar General, Minister of Community Engagement, Deputy Government House Leader, Deputy Premier, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, and Minister of Public Procurement.
It’s a lot of work just saying it, but Petten doesn’t seem to mind. He is flattered that Premier Tony Wakeham has placed so much faith in him. Only ministers Lloyd Parrot and Craig Pardy can match him with the breadth of roles they manage.
And despite all the duties, Petten isn’t forgetting his district responsibilities, as the kilometres upon kilometres of fresh pavement from Seal Cove to Topsail attest. Petten said the contractor is well aware government wants the job finished before school starts.
“It’s long overdue, the paving, and there’s more to come next year,” Petten said last week. “There’s a section there by Tim Horton’s and Legion Road just up to Anthony’s Road (in Kelligrews) that we couldn’t do this year, because there are a few issues with the lights. We needed things put underground – the (wiring for the) traffic lights at Legion Road – and there’s a couple of (underground water and sewer) connections that had to be done and we couldn’t pave the road before they were done. So, we’re going to do it next year. And there’s another section in Seal Cove to go along with the Town’s new water and sewer between Parson’s ballfield and the boundary in Holyrood. So, after next year, all of Route 60 from Paradise right up through Holyrood and beyond will have great driving for years to come, hopefully. It’s long overdue and a lot of people are happy, including myself.”
Past governments usually repaved roads in sections, rarely the whole thing. Petten had nearly a quarter of a billion dollars to spend across the province this year and he said he’s trying to make the most of it.
“It’s quite an amount of work, but I believe you should do it right the first time, then you will have years of maintenance free (road),” he said of the Route 60 project. “From a government perspective, it’s more cost-effective to do it this way.”
Other district issues are also a priority, Petten pointed out, including construction of an urgent care health centre in CBS.
“People ask me about that a lot,” he said. “That’s moving along in the infrastructure planning process and there’s money allotted for the construction of this new build. That’s a big deal for residents of CBS and something we’re committed to, and I look forward to seeing that to completion.”
Another issue high on his agenda is the eventual replacement of Frank Roberts Junior High in Foxtrap with a new building. Parents have been lobbying for a better building for years. Petten managed to get money set aside in this year’s budget to do an assessment of the school.
“It’s been an issue of mine for quite some time,” Petten said. “It was something that I fought hard for when we were in Opposition, so when we got in government it was one of my top priorities.”
Other district accomplishments are not as big, but still important to him, Petten said, such as the new pavement on the parking lots of Queen Elizabeth Regional High School and St. George’s Elementary.
Petten is fortunate in that while his newest portfolio, Municipal and Community Affairs, comes with its own challenges and priorities, he’s been around government and Opposition long enough to have become acquainted with many of the towns and talked with their leaders.
“Experience matters, no matter what you do in life,” Petten agreed. “In government, you’re drawing a lot on your experience and your relationships, and good communications.”
Petten said he always tries to be straight up with people and respectful.
“There is some logical overlap,” as well, between the two departments, Petten said, noting officials and ministers of Transportation and Municipal Affairs were often both involved in funding decisions for the towns when it came to infrastructure. Now he’s the minister of both departments.
“I guess it gives me more freedom to carry out the duties and work jointly with both departments,” he said. “So, there are synergies. It increases the workload, no doubt, but I do think once I get my head around the department things will settle and I’ll find good practices to make things flow better, and at the end of the day it will work out well for all involved, the municipalities especially… I’m looking forward to good things for the municipalities and moving things ahead on their agenda.”
Being minister of both Transportation and Municipal Affairs places Petten at the centre of many infrastructure and funding decisions. He said he is doing his best to spend the money more smartly than governments have done in the past, and wisely, because it belongs to the residents of the province.
“That’s been my mantra for a long time,” he said.
He added he is not doing all the work alone. Petten said he depends a lot on his staff, both his district political staff, and the various department’s professional staff.
And while he usually spends the last hour of each evening the same way he started his workday at 7 a.m. – checking emails and returning messages – Petten said he still manages to recharge thanks to his family.
“I’ve got three grandchildren, my wife Rhonda is retired, and I’ve got two daughters who live close by, so that’s my outlet,” Petten said. “They keep me grounded and that helps a lot, I’ve got to say.”