Former N.L. premier, Danny Williams, showed up at Chapters in St. John’s on Sunday for the launch of a book that bears his name. While there, he added a few more pages to his latest chapter — the rift.
When asked if it was fair to say there wasn’t a rift between himself and premier Kathy Dunderdale, Williams replied, “I wouldn’t say that.”
After announcing earlier in the week that he wouldn’t be attending a tribute dinner in his honour, rumours were flying about friction between Williams and the Progressive Conservative Party he left behind in November. The obvious suspicion was that it stemmed from how the PCs handled the failed nomination of his former director of communications, Elizabeth Matthews, to the board of the C-NLOPB. Williams was adamant that’s not the case:
“I can tell you for the record that this is not about the Elizabeth Matthews appointment.
“There’s been some issues that have been ongoing now for a couple months and from my own perspective I think it’s very clear the premier and her staff felt that it’s appropriate to distance themselves from me and, if that’s the case, so be it. That’s her right as premier of this province.”
When asked why they’d want to distance themselves from one of the most popular premiers our country has ever seen, Williams replied:
“I’m at a loss to understand — I don’t have any explanations whatsoever for their reasoning.”
An example Williams gave of the distancing he’s felt from the government leadership was, “They don’t even want me to have the cell numbers of cabinet ministers.”
Now retired from politics, Williams says he’s not made any commitments to support any particular party in the upcoming federal election.
“From my own perspective, whether it’s the PC government or a Liberal government, I will always feel passionately about the issues that are important to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, and I will always be concerned about it.
“I certainly won’t be participating in an ABC campaign. I’m not the premier anymore — so why would I?”
(L-R) Paul Daly, Russell Wangersky and Danny Williams
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The rift is mostly about our multi-billion dollar energy company NALCOR, its books that are hidden to everybody but John Crosbie, and the past administrations dealings in the whole affair.
It spans from offshore contracts to the contracts in Labrador going to SNC-LAVALIN, from blatant legislative abuse (the freedom of information act and the energy corporation act brought in by the past administration) to illegal and unexplained expropriations of private property (star lake hydro in particular), and extending all the way to the closed door takeover of the ABH 1000 year lease on Red Indian Lake.
Its more recently about the private power company EMERA being given access to our grid. It’s all a bit too cozy and the new administration doesn’t want to be tainted by it.
It’s really not that complicated
I don’t know what it is about Ms. Dunderdale, but I’m just not a fan of the Conservative government here anymore like I was when Mr. Williams was running it. As for this little ‘dispute’ (?) between them, I think we have to wait for more info before judging – whether this ‘info’ will ever be released or not is another story.
Dear Danny,
I think you are the one that should be making distance as I feel that the long swords have been drawn on levied in your direction. Lord only knows why? But, as things stand currently, you have my support, and I am confident that you have many others support too. Much more I think than currently does the sitting Premier. No one seems to have a clue, but I think that you probably deserve more respect than is being cast in your direction. I think it’s a damn shame. I hope that for the sake of your legacy going forward in high esteem, that this BS comes to a halt. As I think, you deserve much better for your contribution to our province, a place where you had a huge hand in enabling Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, to hold their heads high in this province. Thank you.
Shawn