The president of Newfoundland and Labrador's Liberal party says he did not know the party's candidate in a deferred election had once accused a former Liberal minister of accepting bribes.

John Woodrow, pictured in 1998, made allegations that briefly cost a Liberal cabinet minister his post.
(CBC)

John Woodrow, a retired teacher and businessman, was announced Thursday at the party's candidate in Grand Falls-Windsor-Buchans district, where voters will elect a new member on Nov. 6.

In the late 1990s, Woodrow sparked a police investigation — and a political scandal that eventually blew over — while he was running the Paralegal Training Institute.

Woodrow, who had launched a $90-million lawsuit against the government, told a government lawyer during an interview that he had paid bribes to government officials in order to obtain a licence for the institute, which he opened in 1996.

Woodrow said he had taped conversations with Beaton Tulk, then the minister of development and rural renewal, and his staff, and that the tapes proved his claims.
 
The allegations led to an RCMP investigation, and Tulk resigned his post in December 1998. Two staff members were suspended with pay.

In March 1999, the RCMP cleared Tulk and his staff of any wrongdoing, and Tulk was reinstated to cabinet the following month, after a review by provincial conflict of interest commissioner Robert Jenkins also cleared Tulk.

Woodrow eventually recanted his story and dropped the lawsuit.

Liberal party president Danny Dumaresque said he does not see any reason to cancel John Woodrow's nomination, even though he sparked a scandal involving the Liberal government nine years ago.
(CBC)

Danny Dumaresque, the president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal Party, said he knew nothing about Woodrow's past until after the nomination papers were signed.

Dumaresque, who said he has never spoken to Woodrow, said he does not feel there is any reason for the Liberals to cancel his nomination papers. He said he wanted to speak with Woodrow before he commented further.

While Dumaresque said he was not aware of Woodrow's past, the local district campaign was.

Bruce Moores, the local campaign chair, said the district Liberal executive did not have a problem with Woodrow's background.

As well, Moores said he would appreciate it if CBC News did not discuss Woodrow's history.

Calls to Woodrow on Thursday were not returned.

Vote cancelled during campaign

The Liberals were not able to nominate a candidate until less than two weeks before the vote. The other candidates in the race are Progressive Conservative Susan Sullivan and New Democrat Junior Downey.

The election in Grand Falls-Windsor-Buchans district was cancelled during the campaign toward the Oct. 9 general election when Liberal candidate Gerry Tobin died of a heart attack.

The chief electoral office rescheduled the vote to Nov. 6.

The district, formerly known as Grand Falls-Buchans, had been represented by Liberal Anna Thistle, who retired from office this fall after serving in the legislature for 11 years.