David Wells was appointed as the newest senator for Newfoundland and Labrador in late January. While he is new to this role, Wells is a well-known name with the provincial conservatives and with the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board.

He said he got the first call asking if he was interested in being considered for a senate seat back in early January.

"It was an easy response for me," Wells said. "I said I would, and over the next week or 10 days, they did some follow-up."

There were some negative responses to his appointment to the Senate – many members of the provincial NDP and Liberal party called it patronage.

Wells said that this criticism is just another part of being a public figure.

"People in groups are going to have negative comment about things like that, and you have to accept it when you become part of a public life."

Wells was a featured guest on this week's On Point with David Cochrane to discuss his plans going into this new role.

Liberal MP not seeking provincial party leadership

In late January, speculation surfaced that Liberal MP Scott Simms was being courted by a group of provincial Liberal party organizers to convince him to seek the provincial party leadership.

Simms was on this week's On Point when he told David Cochrane that he would not be trying for the leadership.

He said that while it was a good opportunity for his career, he decided it was not the right time to pursue the role.

"I have a young son who lives with me, and I still have things to do on the federal side," Simms said.

"And the third priority is I'm hoping to get Justin Trudeau elected as not just the leader, but the Prime Minister."

According to Simms, the next person to lead the party will have to be someone who can be totally committed to the role.

"The next leader has to be tangible to people," Simms said. "In other words, they have to get out there and meet everybody."