No appetite for ABC campaign: Marshall

A Newfoundland and Labrador backbencher known for her independent thinking has confirmed she is the only caucus member not participating in a campaign to defeat federal Conservative candidates.

Premier Danny Williams last week sent an e-mail to all members of the Progressive Conservative caucus, asking them to declare whether they would support his "anyone but Conservative" campaign designed to block federal Tory candidates.

Williams said only one of the 44 members of the PC caucus had opted to stay neutral.

Elizabeth Marshall, a former health minister who represents Topsail district in the house of assembly, confirmed to CBC News that she will sit on the sidelines during the election.

Marshall said she could not bring herself to campaign for a Liberal or a New Democrat in the election.

Marshall, a former provincial auditor general, has been known for an independent streak in the past. In 2004, she quit her post as health minister after Williams stepped in to resolve a strike involving home-care workers in Corner Brook in which Marshall had said government had no role to play.

Williams decided to campaign against Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2006, after Harper changed his mind on excluding non-renewable energy sources from the equalization formula. Williams has said that decision will cost Newfoundland and Labrador about $10 billion over time.