Newfoundland and Labrador's federal cabinet representative is annoyed with provincial criticism that he is recycling old spending announcements.

'Get over it, suck it in, work with us and let's get something done,' Loyola Hearn said.
(CBC)

Loyola Hearn has been busy since late last week with a series of spending statements, but has been criticized by provincial cabinet ministers who say he is simply announcing old money.

"That's idiotic," said an irritated Hearn, who is Canada's fisheries minister but who routinely makes spending announcements in his home province on behalf of other departments and programs.

"It's just nitpicking on the part of the province."

Relations between Premier Danny Williams and Hearn — who said in December that he had "eyes and ears" within Williams's government — have been sour for months.

Moreover, Williams has threatened to campaign against Prime Minister Stephen Harper and any Conservative candidates in federal ridings, over Harper's change in the equalization policy.

In the last few days, Hearn has been criticized by Health Minister Ross Wiseman for re-announcing a program aimed at fighting smoking, while Environment Minister Charlene Johnson sniffed that a contribution for fixing bridges and trestles on the T'Railway Provincial Park was old, too.

Danny Williams accuses Loyola Hearn of misleading the public with re-announcements of old spending.
(CBC)

"My suggestion to them is get over it, suck it in, work with us and let's get something done," Hearn said.

"I just suggest to their spinners, if they want to keep up with us on announcements, they're going to be very busy."

Hearn said it's normal for any government to make a number of smaller announcements that flow out of a larger funding program. He said the provincial government does the same thing with announcements for road-work money.

Premier derides 'crumbs'

But Williams said there is a substantial difference.

"As these contracts are let, then we notify people in the communities that they are let. So there is a double process there, but it's not about getting a second bang for a buck on these things," Williams said Tuesday.

"As a matter of fact, it's about informing people early and then once the contracts are awarded is letting them know after. But to come in and double- and triple-announce money, that's giving the appearance of being new money, that's misleading," Williams said.

Hearn's announcements included $2.5 million for a housing initiative in a low-income neighbourhood of St. John's, funding for training immigrants and support for arts festivals.

Williams was not impressed.

"If Loyola Hearn wants to come down here and throw a few crumbs at us once in a while, that's just not going to fill us up," Williams said.