Opposition parties say the true reason for the government of Newfoundland and Labrador's reorganization last month wasn't to find savings.

Figures supplied to CBC News show the premier's office spent about $1.8 million in firing five deputy ministers and one assistant deputy minister.

Government billed it as a way to save money, but the list shows some of the people let go were immediately replaced.

This is outrageous, people should be absolutely outraged. - PC Leader Paul Davis

Beverley Clarke, who was the former deputy minister of health and community services, got the biggest payout. She received $455,321, including severance, unused leave and payment in lieu of notice.

Her position wasn't eliminated; instead government hired John Abbott to replace her. Abbott was deputy minister of health during the hormone receptor testing scandal.

Progressive Conservative Opposition Leader Paul Davis says it's hypocritical to spend this money to needlessly fire bureaucrats while government is cutting services.

"This is outrageous, people should be absolutely outraged," said Davis.

"They pay $2 million to dismiss senior executives for no other reason than so they can replace them with their own Liberal friends."

Hiring and firing

NDP Leader Earle McCurdy and PC Leader Paul Davis are both asking why government paid big money to fire deputy ministers only to hire others. (CBC)

Ball's office hasn't provided an explanation for why Clarke was let go and then immediately replaced, but shot back at the comments from Davis.

"The accusations from Paul Davis that $2 million dollars [sic] was spent to hire "Liberal Friends" is completely false, and demonstrates his misunderstanding of contracts put in place by his government," said Ball in a statement.

He said the office said the province could create a "smaller, more focused public service" by eliminating five deputy minister positions and one assistant deputy minister position.

The statement goes on to say the actual cost to government is only $852,207, the total amount of pay in lieu of notice, because severance and vacation pay would have been owed whether when the deputy ministers left voluntarily or were fired.

"This in lieu of notice amount will be recouped by government within a year through the reduction of those positions," Ball said.

Leigh Puddester, Brent Meade, James Evans, Beverley Clarke and Rachelle Cochrane were all dismissed as part of the reorganization.

I just wish from time to time they'd call a spade a spade. - NDP Leader Earle McCurdy

Other deputy ministers went into lower level positions, allowing Patricia Hearn, Ted Lomond and John Abbott to be hired even as people were being let go.

Government came under fire at the time of the reorganization for the hiring of three former Liberal candidates for assistant deputy minister positions.

That hiring happened because of vacant positions.

Davis didn't raise any specific concerns about the three deputy ministers hired.

'Call a spade a spade'

NDP Leader Earle McCurdy says he has no problem with government choosing to remove some top bureaucrats and bring in others.

However, he said it shouldn't be done under the guise of cost-cutting.

"I just wish from time to time they'd call a spade a spade and just come out with a direct, simple, clear statement of the facts," he said.

"As a new government they have every right to replace existing deputies or other top officials with their own people but in doing so they should be clear as to what's going on."

Meanwhile, Davis said the move violates the spirit of the Liberal promise to make independent appointments.

The new rules brought in under Bill 1 by the new government only require the Independent Appointments Commission to select people for government agencies, boards and commissions, not for core civil service jobs.