There is definitely a storm brewing for the local NDP. Sue's Blog mentioned the other day that Leo Puddister former NAPE boss suggested he would like to run for Danny - then Ron Smith labour rep of the paperworkers has announced he's seeking a Tory nomination in Central - now the Liberals are being represented in the Lab West by-election by a former secretary-treasurer of the Nurses Union in the person of Karen Oldford. A district that was represented by the NDP by a labour rep - Randy Collins.
As October draws closer - will we see Reg Anstey - Earl McCurdy - Lana Payne - Carol Furlong - and Wayne Lucas step to the plate for the NDP? What I found odd was while Lorraine was hard on the hustings on the West Coast - NDP Premier Lorne Calvert was in town with the Premier - and I never heard a word on whether he even called Lorraine let alone get out and shake some hands for their campaign.
Is the labour movement distancing itself from the NDP in Newfoundland and Labrador - or will we see some union movers and shakers stand next to Michael on the platform in October?
1 comment:
Sue:
The Liberals have been very busy "Poaching" New Democrat Candidates. Apparently the Liberal Party President, who is wintering in Spain with his family, is very happy with the party's successful effort to coax Carol Oldford away from the NDP. Apparently the NDP candidate to be informed Lorraine Williams on Sunday Night that she would not be seeking the New Democrat nomination. On Monday morning the word was out that she was going to run but that Yvonne Jones (Liberal Health Critic) had convinced her that she would be better off running as a liberal. So Senior Danny and the liberals feel they have a great candidate who will bring the working masses to the liberals in the upcomming vote.
The reality check is this. What if the Liberals were too smart by half? (as Roger Grimes likes to say). Yes they have a stellar candidate and the NDP are empty handed. A coup no doubt! However the power in Lab West is not the Liberal Party or the PC Party or the NDP...it has been the well organized and well funded Steel Workers union. Apparently they are not happy with this little Machiavellian stunt. So if Oldford's advantage was the labor vote, than perhaps she might find the ground beneath her may not be as firm as firm with that spoiled liberal brand lacks money, organization and support. She will be able to count on Yvonne's organizational success in the Labrador West when she ran to succeed Lawrence O'Brien. The people of Labrador West remember that the last liberal member they had sold them out (Remember the Hatch Report!) and was tossed out quite hard as a result. I predict that Oldford will regret this decision.
O yea, another note. Former Liberal Cabinet Minister and summer resident of Grand Bank Judy Foote was a little less successful in her failed attempt to poach the NDP candidate in Burin Placentia West. Apparently, Marystown Deputy Mayor Julie Mitchell was approached to seek the Liberal nod down there. Unlike Oldford she did not go for the bait and politely said no thanks.
Apparently the Liberals feel entitled to NDP candidates because they are owed one for not running a candidate in Signal-Hill. If the tories now win this seat the victim's will be the NDP who will loose most of their budgets and status in the House of Assembly.
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