Roger Grimes, the former leader of the province’s Liberal Party, was the eighth Premier of Newfoundland Labrador from February 2001 until November 2003. As such, he knew his way around elections – both federal and provincial. We asked the former premier what’s his first thought are any time an election is called.

VOTER TURNOUT

“Well, it’s always an unbelievably exciting time for those that are involved in the process; candidates, their supporters, their workers, their staff that are out there that really believe in the individuals that are running and they are trying their best to get them elected,” he began. But beyond being an important time for individuals, there’s a much larger piece as well, he added

“It’s a very important time for the country. I’m always a little disappointed with numbers in terms of voter turnout, which are lower than I would like to see them be. I’m one of those people that if I get a chance to vote for the next dogcatcher, I’m going to because I’m given a chance to have my say.”

We ask Grimes what he felt the top issues are as they relate to NL this go-’round.

“There’s the continuing COVID response … with Newfoundlanders and Labradorians very much buying into the public health advice and respecting what Dr. Fitzgerald recommends in a large way, but that’s not the case right across the country where there are still some pockets of resistance to mask-wearing and vaccination, so the COVID response is still a huge thing,” he said.

The second issue is financing, he continued. “There’s the economic recovery coming from (COVID) … you hear issues now about not enough staff in restaurants, clubs and bars because they’re short-staffed, or people are not going out because they got used to not doing that … The whole getting back to the new normal stuff.”

The next issue is one that always comes up, and it relates to health care.

“Always in Canada, health care funding is a huge issue. You’ll never get away from it.”

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MUSKRAT SCABS

One thing Grimes stayed clear of was Muskrat Falls. Why?

“I think everyone’s tired of it. The assumption is that whomever wins this federal election will honour the general nature of the commitment that was made on mitigation to keep the rates down … We still have delays, there are still issues. I think it was one of those things, like a scab on your finger. After a while, you just ignore it. So I don’t think people have (Muskrat Falls) as a front of mind issue in terms of what this election is about,” he said.

We reflect back to the Danny Williams days when there wasn’t much love for the feds, especially for then Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Is it healthy for premiers to get involved with federal politics, and are things like the ABC (Anything But Conservative) campaign-wise?  “I didn’t think that the whole notion (of ABC) was healthy, though it was fairly typical of our premier at the time, Danny Williams – whom I consider a good personal friend, but have had huge political differences with. But he felt that the province was sort of poorly done by Stephen Harper at the time, who happened to be a Conservative Prime Minister. So, his way of getting back was to say, ‘OK, people, vote for anybody but those darned Conservatives.’”

A HEAVY HAND

Such a heavy hand when it comes to voting simply isn’t wise, in his opinion.

“You should vote for the people that can get the best job done. And there’s always that open question, about whether or not it’s better to be on the government side or not; to be aligned with Ottawa fully and completely like we were a couple of elections ago with every single seat being the same as the federal government.”

Even as a card-carrying Liberal, Grimes added that it’s healthy to mix things us. “At least this last election, we had Jack Harris as a lone outsider who could speak from a different point of view, if it was necessary, and if he thought it was in the best interest of the province. A balance is always good and people make their own judgments.”

We ask Grimes, when it’s time to cast a ballot, if he votes for the person of the party.

“I’ll vote for the party unless I have issues with the person. I’ve been voting since I was 18 years old. I’m in my 70s now. I’ve never missed the chance to vote on anything and everything, and I have voted for all parties in that period of time, but predominantly Liberal, because my view on liberalism is that it’s sort of the middle of the road, a group that tries to find a way to get things done for the betterment of the province or the country and tries to avoid extremes on either side, the far left or the far right. So that’s where my comfort zone is.”

But he supported Brian Peckford back into the 80s, he added.

“Even though I was basically a Liberal, I thought that the Conservative government of the province was doing the right thing at the time and why wouldn’t you vote to support that?”

On who he felt would make a better Prime Minister this go ‘round, Grimes politely takes a pass.

“I’ll leave it there. Everyone has their own opinion. I’m more of an observer and a bystander now and I’m not trying to sway anybody else’s vote or opinion.”

His thoughts on Justin Trudeau?

“I think he’s performed admirably under the circumstances he’s had. He’s gotten himself into some trouble a couple of times over personal issues, but not over big policy issues that define what kind of country Canada is. So, I’m not dissatisfied with Trudeau’s performance at all.”

We ask if, in his lifetime, there’s been a top Prime Minister.

“Jean Chrétien comes to mind for one because of the fact that he was so down to earth. He was a real person in a very important job and I think that he did some remarkable things over a 10 year career. And back earlier than that,   when I was a young fellow finishing high school and starting university, I was impressed with Lester Pearson as a great statesman and an internationally acclaimed leader. I think he gave the country credibility on the global stage and I was impressed with that as a young fellow back in the day.”

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Grimes reflects on some of the past individuals we’ve sent to Ottawa.

“Someone like a Jack Pickersgill. It was obvious that he took his role as the provincial minister in a federal cabinet very seriously, and engaged in all of the discussions about every topic that might have some impact on Newfoundland and Labrador. Don Jamieson too. John Crosbie, I think, would be the cream of the crop in terms of having so much influence in a cabinet with Brian Mulroney. Newfoundland and Labrador is a changed place because of the offshore oil and the kinds of things that John Crosbie was in a position and had enough wits about him and had a lot of support built up that he could deliver for Newfoundland and Labrador at the federal level. He punched way above his weight.”

Most importantly this election, vote!

“Most people didn’t even bother to get excited enough or weren’t concerned enough or didn’t have the opportunity, to vote for whom they wanted to lead the province for the next four years. And I hope that doesn’t happen federally, because it can make a difference.”

To learn more about Seamus O’Regan, click here. To browse all of our election 2021 coverage, including extended versions of our magazine features, click here

As The Herald’s newest intern, I’d like to introduce myself by sharing what I’ve been doing around here for the last week or so. 

So, what did my first few days look like? Running coffees and copying papers? Not exactly.

“Hi, Michael, I’m just grabbing the Premier — we’ve got about ten minutes!” A member of the Premier’s comms team tells me. Less time than I prepared for, but what odds.

Let’s talk about that!

Enter the Premier 

A couple of questions in, I’m feeling confident that everything’s going great. Well, in the “I didn’t break anything” kind of way, more so than the “I got the Premier to say words that mean something” kind of way. No surprises there. Then there was this:

Leading up to the election you had a comfortable lead in the polls, though you only won one more seat than you needed for a majority, do you think the polls had it…

“That’s not true. We have 22 plus a large plurality; I think that gets lost in the mix here. The next closest party is 13, so this is a real and firm mandate…”

I just meant that you had one more above what you needed for a majority, so 21 was what you needed for…

“A majority is a majority.” Is it though?

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The Premier talks of two things here: a majority and a plurality, both are true to some extent, but left as is that could be misleading. Initially, I thought that the Premier was suggesting I was wrong; that he had more than just one above what he needed for a majority, and he was just bad at math. Not so likely.

While this semantically holds water — compared to the next closest party they do maintain a more comfortable lead than my setup would suggest. However, the next closest party is not the only one with the power to vote no, so comparing your own party’s seats to that of the runner-up paints an incomplete picture — or more accurately, a more appealing frame.

Important enough to have its own heading, but simple enough to express in one paragraph. The difference between 22 and 13 is nine. The nine here represent the Liberals’ seat advantage over the PCs. But, 22 minus 21 is just one. One single-seat above the 21 required for a majority government. If you were the Premier, which would you lean into, and which would you slap down?

Perhaps, but would the premier be in a better position with more seats, and more room for detractors? There are two possibilities I can personally think of:

First, the Liberals may have identified a potential weakness and are trying to spin a slim majority into something I like to call “Majority Slims Plus — same slim majority, more on-brand embellishment.”

A new career

Second, to say the election was tumultuous has already become cliché — not a good start. It may be that the Premier’s election wins don’t represent his popularity and that he hopes to project a more popular appearance to hold the confidence of his electors and detractors. 

With enough effort from the opposition parties, and enough across the aisle lobbying, the potential for sabotage might be higher than his statements lead us to believe. Either that or this is a simple sign of a bone doctor seeking a new career as a spin doctor. 

Considering his assent to elected office, it seems that conclusion might be too little too late.

The longest election in the history of Newfoundland and Labrador has finally come to a close and the Premier has sworn in his new cabinet. 

As the dust following a tiring and tumultuous election settles on the ground across our beautiful province, many are wondering where we’re going from here. The Newfoundland Herald spoke with the Premier on topics from healthcare, our population, some election reflection, and more. Here’s what the Premier had to say.

Chubbs: After such a long election, what was on your mind while counts were rolling in? 

Furey: Like most Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, I wanted the election over, certainly the longest one in our history. I was hoping that I (could) get back to work as soon as I could. 

The people in Newfoundland and Labrador need a stable majority government to help navigate the rocky waters ahead. And that’s what we got. 

The election certainly was a turbulent one. And I was anxious to get back to work to start putting together a cabinet and start to lay out the vision and the strategies for the next four years to help reshape Newfoundland and Labrador.

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Chubbs: You won a majority government and unseated two party leaders. Was that the result you expected? 

Furey: “I’m not sure what I expected. To be honest, this is a very different time with the extension of the writ period. I appreciate that all candidates went through a high level of anxiety, their volunteers and their family members too. And I’ve never been one to make predictions. And so I wasn’t predicting anything,

 I was hopeful … for a majority government, again, so that we could have a stable footing to help redefine and re-imagine who we want to be as we emerge from this pandemic in this economic crisis and set the stage for a sustainable future for Newfoundland and Labrador.” 

Chubbs: COVID-19 revealed healthcare vulnerabilities in Labrador like the airstrip in Nain. Are there any plans to resolve some of those? 

Furey: So we met with the Nunatsiavut government in November and committed to working with them in concert with the federal government to provide an update on the airstrip. I’m not sure exactly where it is in the system now. But those were conversations that we had … and we’re looking forward to working with them towards that end.

Chubbs: Are there any plans to improve access to healthcare in Labrador in general?

Furey: Of course! We’re always looking at ways to improve healthcare, not just in Labrador West, but throughout the entire province. The reality of healthcare is that our communities have changed. And we need to make sure that the system is changing to meet the demands of the communities. And during the time of disruption, of course, no one wants to get COVID, but it has provided a significant disruption in all elements of our life, including healthcare, and we’ve recognized that perhaps we can … deliver care more efficiently … One example is the use of virtual care. 

It was developing all along, but it’s been catapulted to the forefront of how we can deliver different kinds of care and different services to people around the province. I think it’s also become abundantly clear, with new graduates coming from medical school, that they want to practice differently, perhaps, than people practiced before, so we need to make sure that the system is meeting the demands of all healthcare providers … so that we’re developing a team approach to providing health care. That will make it more attractive for doctors or nurses or pharmacists to go to communities, and then stay and develop a family.

Chubbs: If you had the ears of current medical students who have their eyes set on practicing elsewhere, what would you say to compel them to use their skills in Newfoundland? 

Furey: I would ask them to not consider that and to consider all that Newfoundland and Labrador has to offer. We have an incredibly bright future here – we have a good work-life balance. There’s lots of recreational activity, there’s lots that others don’t have. So if you’re attracted to downtown Toronto right now, I suggest you turn on the news and see how intense urbanization is working out there, whether it’s through the pandemic or the work-life balance. Newfoundland and Labrador, I think, provides a great opportunity for new grads to be able to practice the profession that they love … while living in sustainable communities (while raising) a family and to hit that work-life balance that many millennials in particular chase.

Chubbs: I read that you were looking to make bold, aggressive targets on immigration and re-imagining our population. What would that look like?

Furey: There’s no question that one of the biggest elements of the crisis touches on the economic crisis, and the health crisis that the province is facing … and the population/demographic crisis. And we have basically a population with almost 25 per cent approaching 65 or above, so exiting the workforce for the most part, and drawing most of the medical services that they require in retirement, but we don’t have that base of population to support them. 

So we need to make sure that we are targeting population growth through aggressive immigration strategies, in hitting not just our minimal goals, but making sure that we’re attracting immigrants from around the world to come, work here, play here, create economic opportunities here and raise a family here. But we also need to make sure that we’re developing those same opportunities for growth on our own with our youth and potentially displaced workers across the province. 

We want to make sure that we are aggressive in our immigration targets so that we can create economic opportunities in the workforce for the future of this province.

Chubbs: One driver of immigration is education. With the pandemic turning all that upon its head, are you worried that’s not going to be as reliable of a source of immigration going forward?

Furey: I think it still will be an incredible driver …  I don’t think we’ve realized the full value of that stream of potential new Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, and new Canadians bring to the province and we need to make sure that we have a more robust strategy than is perhaps in place right now to ensure that there is a pathway available for immigrants who are attending Memorial or post-secondary educational institutions across the province, to allow them to stay here. 

There are many that I know who have come here for an education as you suggest, and then are interested in staying. But often the barriers are too high to allow them to stay.

We need to, as a government, make sure that we’re doing everything we can to minimize those barriers to allow those that have been educated here to stay here and again, create economic opportunities in the diverse workforce that is needed for the future of the province.”

Chubbs: How are you going to take the bull by the horns for the next four years? 

Furey: Well, I think it’s most important that we’re bold in our thinking moving forward. I think everyone recognizes that there are challenges. But a challenge is an opportunity in disguise. And if we don’t see this time, as terrible as it’s been, as an opportunity to reinvent and re-imagine who we want to be as a people and what we want the economy to be … what we want the social fabric to be of Newfoundland and Labrador, then that will be a failure of immense proportions. 

We have tremendous challenges, but we have a tremendous opportunity to reset Newfoundland and Labrador moving forward. But we need to make sure that we’re balanced and measured in our approach. 

We need to make sure that we’re capitalizing on initiatives like transitioning to green energy. Oil and gas is incredibly important and will be for decades, but we need to use the value of that, to ensure that we can develop our capacity here to be the green battery that can potentially drive the northeastern seaboard. So those are some of the big kind of bold ideas that we were looking forward to rolling up our sleeves and getting to work on and including.

Chubbs: You’ve had the job for around eight months. Does it feel like eight years yet?

Furey: In a word, yes. But I enjoy it! I enjoy every minute of it. And I’m looking forward to the challenge. 

I’m looking forward to working with all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians so that we can really create the opportunities that we all know that are here in this province.