Don't be left in cold, MacKay warns N.L. voters
Conservative heavyweight Peter MacKay warned Newfoundland and Labrador voters to mind the risks of following Danny Williams's advice to boycott the federal Tories.
Williams, a Progressive Conservative, has been waging what he calls an "anything but Conservative" campaign against Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, accusing Harper of breaking written election promises and harbouring a far-right political agenda.
MacKay campaigned on Sunday in St. John's for local candidates Craig Westcott and Merv Wiseman, and warned voters of the perils of shutting out the Conservatives in local races.
"I'm the regional minister for Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island — you don't want a mainlander representing you here [in] Newfoundland and Labrador," MacKay said.
"You got to have a member sitting at the caucus table, in cabinet."
Avalon MP Fabian Manning is the only Conservative incumbent running in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the party's best chance for winning a seat.
MacKay said Williams's ABC campaign — launched after Harper dropped his position of excluding non-renewable energy revenues from the equalization formula — could mean Newfoundland and Labrador is at risk of being isolated from the rest of the country.
MacKay said local Conservatives should consider their own ABC campaign.
"'Always back Conservatives' is the ABC campaign happening in Newfoundland and Labrador," MacKay said. "That's what we're saying. There's a chance here to have government members sitting with the cabinet in Ottawa."
Campaign 'just crazy,' retiring minister says
Williams has shown no signs of backing down on his own ABC campaign. Over the weekend, ads were purchased in weekend newspapers.
Federal Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn, who is retiring from politics and not running in St. John's South-Mount Pearl, said the campaign may backfire.
"People are completely disgusted with how the premier has gotten on and more so his cabinet ministers and caucus — they're like a little bunch of elves running around following directions," Hearn said.
"It's just crazy."