A day after condemning the governing Tories over their rural policies, Newfoundland and Labrador's Liberal leader took his election campaign to one of the province's most distressed regions.
Liberal Leader Gerry Reid has made rural survival a key focus of his campaign.
(CBC)
Gerry Reid, whose campaign is focusing largely on rural communities, made his pitch on Tuesday in the struggling Northern Peninsula towns of Englee and Roddickton.
In Roddickton, well-known local author Earl Pilgrim underscored the devastation caused by the fisheries collapse.
"The Wal-Mart store in Mount Pearl employs more people than is employed from Englee to St. Anthony. Just one Wal-Mart store," Pilgrim said.
Replied Reid, "It's terrible, isn't it?"
In nearby Englee, the local boat yard is busy. However, low prices and no local plant have meant the fishery has been suffering. Resident Eric Reid said those are good reasons to defeat Trevor Taylor, the Tory incumbent in The Straits-White Bay North.
"He [hasn't] done nothing for us," Eric Reid said. "I haven't seen him in Englee in four years ... I'm home every day and I haven't seen him."
Eric Reid said he had supported PC incumbent Trevor Taylor in the past, but won't this year.
(CBC)
Liberal candidate Boyd Noel intends to use that sentiment to his advantage.
"All the fishermen are saying they elected Trevor in the last election because they thought he was one of our own, as fishermen. [They] thought he would help us out," Noel said.
"But he just ignored us."
Taylor made a historic breakthrough in 2001, becoming the first Progressive Conservative ever to represent what had been a Liberal stronghold.
Gerry Reid reiterated campaign themes that the PCs are too focused on big oil deals, and are ignoring small towns — and small boats — around the province.
Reid and PC Leader Danny Williams have painted dramatically different views of rural life during the campaign toward the Oct. 9 election.
Reid has emphasized the gloom of dwindling populations, scarce economic prospects and a government bias toward urban areas.
Williams, by contrast, has said that many rural communities are more vibrant and dynamic than many people think, and that the government is spending heavily on rural infrastructure, including schools and highways.
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 »
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- 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.