Williams government mum on federal coalition

A coalition deal brokered by opposition parties in Ottawa provoked little reaction Monday from the Williams government in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The plan, which would see the Liberals and the NDP forming a coalition government, only earned a passing mention during question period in the house of assembly by Finance Minister Jerome Kennedy

"In case the honourable the leader of the opposition has missed it, there appears to be an insurrection going on in Ottawa right now," he said.

While sources told CBC News that MPs have been calling the premier to talk about the battle brewing in Ottawa and to get his opinion, a spokesperson for the premier's office said his government wouldn't be commenting on a constitutional issue.

Opposition Leader Yvonne Jones said she would like to see at least one Liberal from this province in a coalition cabinet, and Williams's silence is not surprising.

"If you look at how things unfold with them, they usually sit back, they take a day, they take a couple of days, they see which way the wind is going to blow, and then they make a statement," she said.

In the meantime, provincial NDP Leader Lorraine Michael already has visions of St. John's East MP Jack Harris, a New Democrat, being in a coalition cabinet.

"Jack has been there before, and I think having a strong voice like Jack's from Atlantic Canada is something that Mr. Layton [federal NDP Leader Jack Layton] would certainly be interested in," she said.

Williams has had a rocky relationship with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, leading Williams to urge Canadians to vote anything but Conservative in the last federal election.

Conservatives lost all seven seats in Newfoundland and Labrador, with the Liberals taking six and the NDP taking one, but leaving the province without a representative in cabinet.

Shortly after the election was over, Williams held out an olive branch to Harper, saying he would work with the new government.