Danny Williams used a helicopter Wednesday to take his campaign to Fogo Island, but some residents there were far more interested in a less glamorous mode of transportation: their ferry service.
A Change Islands woman confronts PC Leader Danny Williams on Wednesday over the exodus of working-age residents to other provinces.
(CBC)
The Progressive Conservative leader, campaigning for Newfoundland and Labrador's Oct. 9 election, heard a mouthful after he arrived on Fogo Island, where some voters wasted no time in tackling his party's transportation policy.
"I've always voted PC but I'm a Liberal now," a woman told Williams. "You said when you ran in the last election that you were going to put ferry rates down."
"And we did," Williams replied.
"Yeah, but you only put them down when you jacked them up," the woman replied.
Williams took his campaign into Isles of Notre Dame district, the new name for what has been Twillingate & Fogo — home territory for Liberal Leader Gerry Reid, who also happened to be campaigning in the district on Wednesday.
The two leaders did not meet during the day, but their respective buses passed each other — with a polite exchange of honks.
Shaking hands with voters in Summerford, Reid played down Williams's blitz in his district.
Nonetheless, he told supporters he will need their help to defend his district, which traditionally votes Liberal, while he is crisscrossing the province until election day.
"I really, truly appreciate the extra assistance that we're going to need this time, because I'm not going to be here," Reid said.
"But just believe me, my heart and soul is with you every day."
Liberal Leader Gerry Reid criticized Williams for using a helicopter to travel to the district.
(CBC)
Reid, who has represented the area since 1996, also criticized Williams for how he arrived in the district, on Newfoundland's northeast coast.
"Glad to see he's back here after four years," Reid said.
"I think he flew in a helicopter and had his bus driven down here. I would have liked for him to see the condition of the roads in this province."
Pointed questions
Williams, who made a campaign-style appearance in a recreational vehicle during a community festival in July, has made no secret of hoping to take seats long held by Liberals.
Williams found support in the area, but he also received some pointed questions. He seemed surprised when he met a registered nurse in Fogo who could not get more than casual work at the local health facility, for instance.
In Twillingate, lab technician Patty Roberts said she and other public-sector workers need a raise.
Williams, whose government forced through cost-cutting measures in its early years, said, "I understand that."
"We've worked short [for] too long here, and a lot of people are leaving," Roberts said.
"And I know that," Williams said.
Williams is promising that public servants will receive raises, but he has stopped short on specifics. He said those matters will be dealt with through collective bargaining.
Related
Internal Links
Audio
- PC Leader Danny Williams speaks with laboratory technician Patty Roberts at the Twillingate hospital (Runs: 2:14)
- Play: Real Media »
| 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.