A Tory backbencher is breaking ranks with the Williams government over cuts to X-ray and laboratory services in the central Newfoundland community of Lewisporte, but the premier said Wednesday he won't reverse the decision.

Wade Verge, member of the House of Assembly for Lewisporte District, says he won't support the cutting of such services in his community in favour of sending people to Grand Falls-Windsor and Gander, and he's deeply disappointed by the Health Ministry's announcement Monday.

"It's obvious where I stand," he said. "I asked the people to elect me two years ago so that I could represent them, and represent their issues and advocate on their behalf. So I'm standing with the people.

"The people are disappointed and I'm sharing in that disappointment. To stand anywhere else, I think, would be ludicrous of me."

Verge said he didn't find out until Monday — just hours before a news release came out announcing cuts to the Lewisporte clinic and similar services in the Northern Peninsula community of Flower's Cove.

'Entitled to his opinion'

But Premier Danny Williams said Verge needs to check his facts since he was briefed "some time ago" by the premier's chief of staff.

"I think now his explanation to us this morning is that he didn't understand that that's what it meant. Pfff. Anyway, for what it's worth, he's entitled to his opinion. … Obviously he has to act on the behalf on what he thinks are the best interests of his district," he said.

Williams won't boot Verge out of caucus, but he said Verge's stance won't be enough to change the decision.

"We can't bring every service to the doorstep of every home in Newfoundland and Labrador, if in fact they want us to build new hospitals and they want us to provide pharmaceuticals and that. You know, there's only so many dollars to go around," the premier said.

Opposition to the cuts at the Lewisporte clinic has one doctor thinking about leaving the community and has angered the community's mayor.

Verge plans to attend a protest in Lewisporte on Thursday afternoon.