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Reid says premier's confrontational approach damaging potential investment in Newfoundland and Labrador October 16, 2006 |
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Opposition Leader Gerry Reid believes Premier Danny Williams confrontational
approach to negotiations is damaging investment opportunities in this
province and could jeopardize future development projects such as the Lower
Churchill. Reid was commenting on remarks made this weekend by Premier Williams at the Progressive Conservative convention where he lashed out once again in an angry tirade. This time the premier was in disagreement with his political colleague Prime Minister Stephen Harper. "The premier’s confrontational approach is certainly doing nothing to attract investment in this province," said Mr. Reid. "Instead of approaching issues from a conciliatory negotiating stance, the premier always launches into a tirade when he doesn’t get his own way. We have already lost the Hebron-Ben Nevis project and the Abitibi mill in Stephenville because of this approach. I now fear that any chance of having federal involvement in the Lower Churchill project is also dead. Will Stephen Harper come to the table while our premier is hurling insults? "The premier promised in his 2003 election platform to improve relations with the federal government. This has certainly not happened, and are probably at a new low. Instead of trying to work out a new agreement on equalization at the negotiating table, the premier decided to launch another personal attack on the prime minister through the media. This will do nothing to ensure that a new equalization deal benefits Newfoundland and Labrador, and may have done the exact opposite by encouraging the prime minister to win favour in other provinces. "The premier may think that his confrontational approach is best because it worked on a weak minority prime minister during the Atlantic Accord debate. However, since that time there has been absolutely nothing achieved by this premier’s negotiating style. All we have seen are missed opportunities, lost economic development, and a damaged investment climate. Once the shine of the Atlantic Accord wears off and people are trying to find new opportunities, I firmly believe the people of the province will judge Premier Williams leadership to be an absolute failure."
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