The Newfoundlander with the ear of the prime minister

Almost a year after the Liberals took power in Newfoundland and Labrador the party has pulled itself out of a nose dive, with polls showing the party is in a narrow lead, but behind the scenes many Liberals aren't giving credit to Premier Dwight Ball.

"Without her we'd be screwed," one Liberal delegate said at the party's meeting in Gander over the weekend.

The "her" is Judy Foote, the MP for Bonavista-Burin-Trinity, minister for Public Services and Procurement, and arguably the most powerful politician in the province.

• Dwight Ball touts election success ahead of party leadership vote

• Ottawa approves additional $2.9B loan guarantee for Muskrat Falls

As the federal minister for Newfoundland and Labrador, Foote has become the "Mrs. Fixit," giving the province some financial breathing room as it deals with a crushing deficit, unpopular taxes and the ballooning costs of Muskrat Falls.

Just last week, Ottawa extended the Muskrat Falls loan guarantee, saving the province hundreds of millions of dollars in interest payments and taking debt off the provincial books.

We want more than our fair share, we've been in the wilderness for 10 years, so bring it on.- MP Judy Foote

"How about that $2.9 billion loan guarantee extension? That is a game changer for us," John Allan, chair of the N.L. Liberals, told the convention.

The province had to push hard for the agreement, and Foote hinted the deal only came together after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stepped in to make it happen.

"A lot of what we do on behalf of Newfoundland and Labrador would not happen without the prime minister's intervention," Foote told party members Friday night.

'We're a team'

But Foote is quick to share the credit, praising the premier and other Liberal MPs from this province.

"Nothing happens because of one person on behalf of this province," said Foote, who said she hates the title "minister."

"The only minister I know is the one at my church."

But behind the scenes, senior Liberals credit her close relationship with the prime minister for getting action on some key files.

Long before the Liberals formed government last fall, Trudeau trusted Foote to investigate sexual assault allegations surrounding two MPs — including Scott Andrews.

Insiders said it's not coincidental that Foote sits at Trudeau's right hand in the House of Commons, where they share a desk.

Trudeau has also handed her some of the more difficult federal files, like the procurement of new fighter planes, Canada Post home delivery and sorting out the new federal payroll system that's left tens of thousands of public servants with pay problems.

People at all levels of the Newfoundland and Labrador Liberals are convinced her influence has helped secure money for the province, but that's not the way she sees it.

"When they say, 'Judy you're doing a really good job,' it is the MHAs, it is the provincial ministers, it is all of the MPs," she said.

"We're a team and we're going to continue to be a team."

'We actually talk every Sunday'

Many of the positive stories for Ball and the provincial Liberals wouldn't have happened without federal support.

Ottawa chipped in $100 million for the new core sciences building at Memorial University, freeing up cash for the province to divert towards other infrastructure.

When the premier was looking for a solution to the unpopular deficit reduction levy, it was Foote who announced a break on a federal loan, freeing up cash so the province could reduce the levy for lower income taxpayers.

Both Ball and Foote tout how close their relationship is.

"We actually talk every Sunday and, as Dwight will tell you, many times in between," she said.

"But that's the relationship that we have."

More than financial help

But the provincial Liberals don't just want money from their federal party — they're hoping to pick up some popularity.

While support for the N.L. Liberals is about half of what it was on election day, the federal Liberals in this province have maintained sky-high support following the election.

The latest poll by MQO released last week showed 72 per cent of decided voters would vote Liberal federally, compared to 40 per cent for the provincial party.

He is a friend of this province and he understands the situation.- Dwight Ball, on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

It also shows Prime Minister Trudeau has immense popularity in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Every time the federal Liberals sell the Liberals as a package deal, it helps boost Ball, who's one of the least popular premiers in the country, without hurting the federal Liberal brand in the province.

"I spoke to [Trudeau] this week, I spoke to him many many times over the last few weeks," Ball told reporters Saturday, when he was asked about the help the province has received from the federal government.

"He is a friend of this province and he understands the situation."

Foote made it clear over the weekend she's got more money in the works.

"We don't just want our fair share," she told Liberal delegates. "We want more than our fair share, we've been in the wilderness for 10 years, so bring it on."