
Fur flies as ex-minister picked to run N.L. elections CBC \|\| February 27, 2006 Opposition leaders in Newfoundland and Labrador are criticizing the Tory government's appointment of a former Liberal cabinet minister to run the chief electoral office. Progressive Conservative Premier Danny Williams announced Chuck Furey's selection on Thursday. Furey was a Liberal cabinet minister from 1989 to 2000. NDP Leader Jack Harris said the job of chief electoral officer traditionally goes to a non-partisan civil servant, not a career politician. "The fact that he was a former Liberal cabinet minister to me is no different than if he was a former Conservative cabinet minister," Harris said. "It just seems to me that this kind of appointment should be a non-partisan appointment." Liberal Leader Jim Bennett is not welcoming the nomination, either. "No offence to Chuck Furey himself, but this is just the wrong message to send at the wrong time," Bennett said. Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com Furey still holds Liberal membership card Despite his Liberal past, Furey has become friendly with governing Tories. He is close to Williams, and when Williams was Opposition leader, Furey even attended a Tory-organized rally against a Liberal Lower Churchill proposal. "I still hold a Liberal card and I'm still very proud to be a Liberal," Furey said. "But there comes a point in time where you have to put all that aside where you have bigger beliefs that override all that." Williams was in Ottawa on Friday to meet Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and not available to defend his choice. Deputy Premier Tom Rideout brushed aside criticism from the Opposition. "How long does it take to shed your political colours?" Rideout said. "He is eminently qualified to do the job and we think he will do a good job in the position." About KDR \| \| Home \| \| Weekly Features Archive	Weekly Weekly Features Archive
In Depth The Number 1 Reason YOU became a Slave Knowledge Driven Look at Your Favourite Canadian Political Parties
Archive December January February 2006 29 30 31 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 01 02 03 04 Weekly Features

Fur flies as ex-minister picked to run N.L. elections

CBC || February 27, 2006

Opposition leaders in Newfoundland and Labrador are criticizing the Tory government's appointment of a former Liberal cabinet minister to run the chief electoral office.

Progressive Conservative Premier Danny Williams announced Chuck Furey's selection on Thursday. Furey was a Liberal cabinet minister from 1989 to 2000.

NDP Leader Jack Harris said the job of chief electoral officer traditionally goes to a non-partisan civil servant, not a career politician.

"The fact that he was a former Liberal cabinet minister to me is no different than if he was a former Conservative cabinet minister," Harris said.

"It just seems to me that this kind of appointment should be a non-partisan appointment."

Liberal Leader Jim Bennett is not welcoming the nomination, either.

"No offence to Chuck Furey himself, but this is just the wrong message to send at the wrong time," Bennett said.

Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com

Furey still holds Liberal membership card

Despite his Liberal past, Furey has become friendly with governing Tories. He is close to Williams, and when Williams was Opposition leader, Furey even attended a Tory-organized rally against a Liberal Lower Churchill proposal.

"I still hold a Liberal card and I'm still very proud to be a Liberal," Furey said.

"But there comes a point in time where you have to put all that aside where you have bigger beliefs that override all that."

Williams was in Ottawa on Friday to meet Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and not available to defend his choice.

Deputy Premier Tom Rideout brushed aside criticism from the Opposition.

"How long does it take to shed your political colours?" Rideout said.

"He is eminently qualified to do the job and we think he will do a good job in the position."

About KDR | | Home | | Weekly Features Archive

Weekly

Weekly Features Archive

In Depth

The Number 1 Reason YOU became a Slave

Knowledge Driven Look at Your Favourite Canadian Political Parties