Ches Crosbie incident 'not helpful' for election, says David Wells

Senator David Wells says he doesn't know of any candidate in the running for the Conservative Party of Canada in the Avalon riding, following the rejection of Ches Crosbie.

According to Wells, he doesn't have any knowledge why Crosbie was denied as the party's candidate, despite claims from former cabinet minister John Crosbie that Wells had a hand in the decision.

• John Crosbie accuses N.L. Senator David Wells of sabotaging Ches Crosbie's bid
• Conservative Party rejects Ches Crosbie's candidacy for Avalon

Wells said he "really doesn't know" where Crosbie's comments are coming from.

"I've been working hard in the last number of elections to have Conservative MPs, or to have Conservative candidates elected as MPs, so to hear comments like that — they're unfounded and frankly bizarre," said Wells.

"I was surprised as anyone when Ches Crosbie was declined the opportunity to be the nominee. I heard it through the media, like everyone else, and I've said publicly that Ches is a credible person and he would make a credible candidate, so I'm not sure where that commentary would come from."

Wells added he doesn't doubt the Crosbie issue will have an impact on the Conservatives chances in the upcoming federal election.

"It's not a surprise that the Conservative Party of Canada has had a difficult time in the last number of years, in effect since the ABC campaign. It was damaging to us," he said.

"What we'd like to do is rebuild, so things like this, they're not helpful, but we're not foreign to adversity here in Newfoundland and Labrador."

Wells added he doesn't have any knowledge about who will be a candidate in the riding, but doesn't doubt there will be a Conservative candidate.