N.L. premier to stay on election sidelines
Last Updated: Tuesday, November 29, 2005 | 6:09 PM ET
CBC News
Williams made his demand to renegotiate the Atlantic Accord – and allow Newfoundland and Labrador to retain its offshore oil royalties – a key issue in the 2004 campaign.
After drawing support from Conservative Stephen Harper and New Democrat Jack Layton, Williams pressured Prime Minister Paul Martin to follow suit.
Martin made a verbal pledge during the campaign, as the Liberals were fighting for political survival and attempting to hold Atlantic seats.
After the election, however, Williams said he was unable to get Martin's support in writing, triggering an often contentious drama that culminated in a new deal that was negotiated in January.
Williams said Monday he plans to watch the new campaign from the sidelines.
"I'm a Progressive Conservative and I think my politics [are] quite obvious, so, you know, I certainly wouldn't stand up here and say I'm supporting the Liberal Party of Canada to form the next government," said Williams.
"But I don't think it helps for the premier to actually get down in the trenches, in the nitty-gritty of an election campaign. My member is [St. John's East MP] Norm Doyle and, of course, I support him fully."
Williams has written a letter to Martin, Harper and Layton, seeking their views on issues he described as key to Newfoundland and Labrador.
The premier's office says those responses will be made public once they are received.
