Liberal candidate calls for resignation of Nalcor chair for endorsing his opponent

John Abbott, one of two men running to lead the province's Liberal party, is calling for Nalcor chair Brendan Paddick to resign over a tweet endorsing Abbott's opponent.

Paddick used social media to voice his support of Andrew Furey, his friend and fellow founder of the Dollar A Day Foundation, on the day he launched his campaign.

Abbott said the endorsement was an overstep of Paddick's role as a public official and Siobhan Coady, minister responsible for Nalcor, should step in.

"Mr. Paddick needs to resign or the minister needs to call for his resignation. That should happen today." Abbott told The St. John's Morning Show on Friday.

"He has violated any ethics principle that I am aware of when it comes to political interference by a public official in politics. I have chaired public boards — have never gone there, should never go there."

On Friday morning, Furey told CBC News that Paddick's statement wasn't on behalf of Nalcor, and he didn't do anything wrong.

"He did that as a friend. I didn't ask him to do it. He did it in supporting any friend," said Furey said.

In a statement Thursday evening to CBC News, Paddick said he "was simply sending best wishes to a friend who had made a generous and courageous step forward to offer his services to the people of the province."

"I would do this for any friend of mine who announces their intention to bravely enter public service."

Abbott said he was taken aback by the tweet.

"I was surprised that had happened and I know that they are friends, because I know the two gentlemen," he said. "But you know, you have to know where your loyalties are and your loyalties here in his role is to the people of the province and not to any particular politician." 

PC leader also concerned by tweet

Tory Leader Ches Crosbie also spoke out about his concerns on Thursday after question period.

Crosbie said Paddick's support is "totally inappropriate."

"He was appointed through the independent appointments commission process to exercise a duty to represent the best interests of the corporation of Nalcor," Crosbie said.

"For him to be intermeddling in Liberal politics right now is undermining the confidence the public can have in him that he is focused on, entirely on, the interests of the corporation and not on getting involved in provincial politics."  

Co-founders

Paddick and Furey founded A Dollar A Day Foundation along with singer-songwriter Alan Doyle.

The foundation, a registered charity, uses its donations from members — a dollar a day — to fund front-line mental health and addictions programs.

Coady told reporters Thursday she wasn't aware of the situation.

"I'm not familiar with what he has done or not done, but I do know that they are working together in a foundation," Coady said.

Coady said she would have to investigate whether chairs of Crown corporation boards are even allowed to publicly support political members.

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