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News
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Two year anniversary of the Williams Government nothing to
celebrate October 21, 2005
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Opposition Leader Gerry Reid says the two year anniversary of the Danny
Williams government is nothing to celebrate. Reid says the lack of action
and a heavy-handed approach by this government highlight their first two
years in power. "In the first two years, Premier Williams accomplished very few of the commitments promised during the election," said Mr. Reid. "We have witnessed broken commitments, cutbacks, service reductions, a lack of a rural plan, the giveaway of FPI, a lack of commitment to unions and female public servants, and a heavy-handed approach to government that would reflect the actions of a dictator. "It appears that this government seems content to make their way through their first term in office on the receipt of a $2 billion cheque from Ottawa, one of their few accomplishments. In addition to this money, the province has hundreds of millions of extra dollars in their coffers from unexpected royalties from the high price of offshore oil and gas taxes. Instead of reinvesting this money back into the people of the province, government is content to continue picking the pockets of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians at the gas pumps and through the HST on electricity and home heating oil. A recent rebate program did nothing to help the vast majority of residents in the province. "Under the Danny Williams regime we currently have the worst labour relations climate in the province in decades; people have to pay more for almost every fee in the province; services have been reduced, especially in rural Newfoundland and Labrador; promised action on a rural development plan has been notably missing; and the government is living off the benefits of Hibernia, Terra Nova, White Rose and Voisey’s Bay without creating any new economic development projects of their own. Economically speaking, this government has not generated any opportunities for the people of the province. "One of the most notable aspects of this government is their inability to take criticism. Whether it be the Official Opposition, interest groups or private individuals, the Premier and ministers take every opportunity to lash out in an effort to discredit these people. This is not the approach of an open and accountable government, but the actions of a government that is feeling the pressure of their inaction. "While the Premier may currently feel he has the support of a majority of people in the province, this government’s decisions, inaction and arrogance will catch up to them fairly quickly. I suggest the Premier remember these points as he enters into the third year of his mandate."
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