Opposition struggling to match Tory momentum in byelections

Last Updated: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 | 5:02 PM NT

CBC News

Opposition parties in Newfoundland and Labrador are struggling to prepare for four byelections, not to mention the general election scheduled for October.

NDP president Nancy Riche said voters in all districts deserve the opportunity to vote for New Democratic candidates.
(CBC)

Both the Liberals and the New Democrats have been challenged to find candidates willing to contest byelections in February, particularly in the Tory stronghold of Ferryland.

Nancy Riche, president of the NDP in Newfoundland and Labrador, says it is still unclear whether the party will be able to field a candidate for the Feb. 8 vote in Ferryland district, which became vacant when Loyola Sullivan retired in late December.

"I really believe the people deserve to have NDP candidates," Riche told CBC News.

The party drew 309 votes in Ferryland in the 2003 election.

Riche said finding candidates is nonetheless important, even if the party struggles for money and resources to run campaigns.

"What was important to us was to have campaigns in all ridings, even if it meant minimal campaigns, so that it provided people with the opportunity to vote NDP," she said.

Tories have dominated public opinion polls

Premier Danny Williams's personal popularity and the high standing of the Progressive Conservatives in tracking polls have made it hard for opposition parties to gain traction.

Former finance minister Loyola Sullivan retired Dec. 29, triggering a byelection for the Tory stronghold of Ferryland.
(CBC)

The Tories were first to select candidates in all four byelection campaigns.

The Liberals filled out their slate on Wednesday, while announcing candidates in two races.

Deer Lake pharmacist Dwight Ball — defeated by his sister-in-law, Kathy Goudie, in the 2003 election — will represent the party in Humber Valley.

For Ferryland district, the party has nominated Trepassey businessman and former fisherman Kevin Bennett.

"He's going to be a strong candidate because he understands the fishery," Leader Gerry Reid said Wednesday.

Finding candidates to challenge Tories has been hard, especially in seats considered PC strongholds. Ferryland, for instance, has elected Progressive Conservatives continually since 1971. There are about 8,000 eligible voters in the district, and almost 3,000 people showed up for the Tory nomination battle.
 
Danny Dumaresque, president of the Liberal party in Newfoundland and Labrador, said the party is hoping a win in one of the four seats — all had been held by governing PCs — could give the Grits momentum heading into October.

"We don't pretend to have the millions of Williams or the Tory party," said Dumaresque.

Liberals still dealing with 2003 debt

The Liberals are still paying down a $600,000 debt left over from the 2003 election campaign.

"We are working hard to prepare a realistic budget … and therefore we have every confidence of being able to put on a very good campaign."

The byelections — three being held on Feb. 8, followed by a vote in Humber Valley on Feb. 12 — were prompted by various departures from the PC ranks:

• Sullivan, a 14-year veteran in Ferryland district, surprised his colleagues with a Dec. 29 retirement.
• Former cabinet minister Ed Byrne resigned his Kilbride seat effective Jan. 1, saying he could not serve with the cloud of the legislative spending scandal still hanging over him.
• Port au Port MHA Jim Hodder resigned earlier this month for health reasons.
• Kathy Goudie, the embattled MHA for Humber Valley, quit last Friday — after the other byelections were called — citing stress from having double-billed her expense claims as a factor in her decision.

Another byelection probable

A fifth byelection appears likely. Randy Collins, NDP representative for Labrador West, announced last week he is planning to resign his seat in mid-February. Like Byrne, Collins was named last year in audits that revealed excessive payments of constituency allowances.

Provincial law requires a byelection to be called within 60 days of a seat becoming vacant. The legislature has also entrenched fixed-date legislation, with the next election set for Oct. 9.

Williams has the option of calling an early election, but ruled that out last Friday after he made changes to the provincial cabinet.

Current standings in the house are 31 PCs, 11 Liberals, two New Democrats and four vacancies.