N.L.'s Williams takes political aim at Ottawa

N.L.'s Williams takes political aim at Ottawa
Updated Sun. Oct. 15 2006 11:29 PM ET

Canadian Press

GANDER, N.L. -- Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams hopes to capitalize on a growing standoff with Ottawa in his quest for provincewide dominance in next year's provincial election.

Williams rallied his party at a weekend Progressive Conservative convention in Gander, with a fiery speech that drew a deep line between himself and Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

The premier warned Saturday night that he would urge Newfoundlanders to vote against Harper in the next future federal election if the province loses out in a revised equalization formula.

Hours earlier, Williams and Harper met in an effort to resolve their differences over several thorny issues, including a revised equalization formula. But their discussion about equalization only further chilled relations between the two Tory leaders.

The meeting was "heated,'' one of the premier's staffers said Sunday.

Williams has made a political career of fighting the federal government.

In December 2004, he pulled down the Canadian flags from provincial buildings during talks for a revamped Atlantic Accord to give Newfoundland full protection against equalization clawbacks on offshore royalties.

In early January, the flags went back up, and an agreement was reached after marathon talks in Ottawa a month later.

"Fighting the enormous resources of the federal government and achieving a new deal on the Atlantic Accord is not easy, but that doesn't mean it's impossible,'' Williams told about 600 supporters Saturday, indicating he would step up his battle against Ottawa before his re-election campaign.

"Stay tuned, you might be into round two before this one is all over.''

Williams also warned the party not to take the Oct. 9, 2007 election for granted, a message echoed by party president John Babb.

"A quick clean sweep? Who knows?'' Babb said. "But from our point of view, we're not making any predictions.''

The Progressive Conservatives can make big gains in the next election, observers say.

At least two polls this year suggested Williams enjoyed an approval rating above 70 per cent, despite a government spending scandal that led to the resignation of Ed Byrne, one of his top cabinet ministers, in June.

But the Liberals have slammed Williams for neglecting rural Newfoundland and Labrador _ areas beset by waves of residents moving to Alberta for work because of mass layoffs from the forestry and fisheries industries.

Currently there are 35 Progressive Conservatives in the provincial legislature, 11 Liberal members and one New Democrat.

A byelection has been called for Nov. 1 to fill a vacant seat in the Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi riding in St. John's, where high profile criminal lawyer Jerome Kennedy will run for the Tories against NDP Leader Lorraine Michael.

The Liberals are not running a candidate.

Good for Danny, he's a scrappy little fella and he puts the good of NFL ahead of a personal agenda. NFL got screwed by Quebec via Church Hill Falls and Danny is trying to make sure his Province gets a fair deal this time. Stick it to them Danny me son.

He's such a moron. Honestly, he's a member of the CPC - I'd really like to revoke his membership. He's doing more harm than Dalton McSquinty, Lorne Calvert, and Gary Doer combined.

He's been takeing lessons from Quebec I think. I don't like the way he uses Canada for his own politics. Is he going to take down the flags like a crybaby again?

Lol....good on ya Danny boy.....if the die hard blues are po'ed then you're doing something right.

Hmmmm, yet when King Ralph said the same thing, he was Eeeeeeeevil.

Anytime a politician orders that the Canadian flag be taken down in order to get what he wants from the fed government he loses my respect.

Anytime a politician orders that the Canadian flag is not lowered to half mast for a fallen soldier.....he loses my respect.