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Opposition Leader Gerry Reid says the Liberal caucus and the Executive Board
of the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador have decided to accept the
request of former New Democratic Party (NDP) Leader Jack Harris and not run
a candidate in the District of Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi in the upcoming
by-election. "Mr. Harris approached me on a couple of occasions over the
past few weeks regarding the possibility of not fielding a candidate in the
upcoming by-election," said Mr. Reid. "I have spoken with our caucus and the
Executive Board, and we have agreed to extend the opportunity for new NDP
Leader Lorraine Michael to win a seat in the House of Assembly.
"There is a parliamentary courtesy that dictates that political parties
allow leaders to win a seat in a by-election so they may represent their
party in the legislature. Last month, Quebec Liberal Leader Jean Charest
decided not to run a candidate against Parti Quebecois Leader Andre
Boisclair. While this tradition is not always followed, our party has
decided that we will not challenge Ms. Micheal’s attempt to win a seat in
the House of Assembly.
"We have spoken with our potential candidates and asked them to step
aside for this by-election. We are pleased that they have agreed to this
request and will not challenge this decision. While we are extending this
courtesy for this by-election, the Liberal Party will be running a candidate
in Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi next year in the provincial election.
"In light of the circumstance that a leader of a political party has
resigned to let another leader take his place in the House of Assembly, I am
calling on Premier Williams not to field a candidate either. While we may
not always agree with the positions or policies of the NDP, everyone in the
House of Assembly realizes the important role they play in the legislature.
It would be much more beneficial to have this voice in the discussion of
issues rather than another silent Tory backbencher."
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