A campaign stop in Labrador on Tuesday put Progressive Conservative Leader Danny Williams on the defensive over his government's handling of energy issues.
PC Leader Danny Williams faced pointed questions Tuesday over Labrador energy issues.
(CBC)
Williams, campaigning for Newfoundland and Labrador's Oct. 9 election, flew to Happy Valley-Goose Bay to lend support to cabinet minister John Hickey in Lake Melville district.
Williams came to sell his government's record in Labrador, but found himself taking pointed questions over a government energy plan released earlier this month, in particular plans for the Lower Churchill hydroelectric megaproject.
Many people in the region are upset that Lower Churchill power will flow south to the island, without benefits to Labrador — where power costs are among the highest in the province, despite the existing Upper Churchill plant.
"So what's going to happen is that industries are going to look more to Newfoundland than Labrador to set up because there's not going to be no grid or anything for industry to set up to get cheap power," resident William Burden said.
Government officials have said that some ideas proposed for Labrador — such as diverting power from a planned transmission line to the island to the Labrador coast as well — are too expensive.
But Williams tried to ease concerns.
"When it comes to this new power, I can tell you categorically that that industry is going to be here in Labrador," Williams said.
Williams's comments, though, did not satisfy skeptics, including Tory supporters like Leo Abbass, mayor of Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
Abbass is not happy that a Lower Churchill project wouldn't bring power to his central Labrador town until at least 2015.
"I don't believe here in central Labrador we can wait that long," Abbass said. "We require additional power now."
Willing to talk
Local councils in Labrador want Lower Churchill power distributed around Labrador, including to the south coast.
Hickey, the minister of Labrador affairs, said he is willing to talk.
"As it sits right now from what we are hearing, there is more room for discussion and I'm prepared to have that discussion as the Labrador minister," Hickey said.
Even some supporters at Hickey's headquarters admit that discontent in Labrador over the energy issue gives an opportunity to Hickey's opponents.
Hickey took slightly less than 40 per cent of the vote in 2003, edging a Labrador party candidate.
However, the Labrador party has not yet nominated a candidate in Lake Melville, which may give weight to the campaign of current Liberal candidate Chris Montague.
Related
| Party | Elected | Leading | Total | Vote Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC | 43 | 0 | 43 | 69.56% |
| LIB | 3 | 0 | 3 | 21.98% |
| NDP | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8.21% |
| OTH | 0 | 0 | 0 | .25% |
| Last Update:October 9, 10:58:12 PM NDT | ||||
| Unofficial results were updated at the time shown. For more recent results, visit Elections NL. The CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites. External links will open in a new window. |
NL Votes 2007 »
- Williams faces daunting task of managing expectations
- Handed one of the most commanding mandates in Newfoundland and Labrador's history, Premier Danny Williams says he expects to face a cascade of requests for help during his second term.
- Former minister calls Liberal collapse 'catastrophic'
- Able to put their combined caucuses around a single card table, Newfoundland and Labrador's opposition parties are grappling with what life will be like in the shadow of a massive Tory majority.
- Efford keeping keen eye on Liberal leadership
- Former cabinet minister John Efford didn't hesitate Wednesday to indicate he is more than interested in taking over the reins of Newfoundland and Labrador's bedraggled Liberals.
- Williams leads Tory landslide in N.L.
- Danny Williams and his Progressive Conservatives were swept back into office Tuesday night by a massive lead over their political opponents.
- Heartbreak for Liberals as Grit vote collapses
- Newfoundland and Labrador's Liberals were overwhelmed Tuesday night, as a Tory wave of support claimed districts that had long been in the Grit camp.