News Release
Office of the Official Opposition

Williams' government 3rd anniversary

marred by lack of accomplishments and action
November 6, 2006

Percy Barrett, MHA for the District of Bellevue and Opposition Critic for Labour, says the third year in office of the Williams= government blazes more as a hallmark for what has not been accomplished by the administration, than a celebration of any achievements for the province by the Conservatives.

Today marks the third-year anniversary of the administration led by Premier Williams, following the election in October 2003.  Williams campaigned on the promise that he had spent the previous two years growing a team and formulating solid policies he believed would create jobs and unleash unprecedented economic activity. 

AMany are starting to openly acknowledge that despite the strong promises made  to woe voters in 2003, the sad reality is that this government has accomplished little or nothing during its first term in office,@ says Barrett.   AIt would appear that Premier Williams set out large footsteps for himself that he has not even come close to filling; and unfortunately, while this may be smarting the Premier=s ego and pride, the larger issue here is that our province and our people have taken the licking for his lack of action and  progress on just about every issue he has tried to kick start.@

Barrett says one has only to recall the extraordinary number of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who have shown up for the recent job fairs promoting employment in other province to highlight the abysmal failure by the premier and his cabinet ministers to create any meaningful economic progress, particularly in the rural regions.  AThe high level of out-migration in the past year reinforces the ineffectiveness and unproductivity of this government.

"On his first anniversary in 2004, the premier boasted through an inflated press release that he had implemented aggressive steps to kick the economy into high gear.   Massive out-migration and massive turn-outs at other provinces= job fairs certainly have dispelled that massive illusion.   In his Bluebook, he branded himself as a leader who was used to success, expected success and got success.  It is time for the premier to broaden his self-admitted naivety to the whole spectrum of provincial politics - that what worked in business is not working in government.  This third anniversary should prompt the premier to refocus his direction. With only one year left before an election, the people of the province will soon be judging his unflattering record the way the people of Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi did this past week.@

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Media Contact:
Kim Ploughman
Caucus Communications
Office of the Official Opposition
709-729-6427