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Premier Williams' confrontational approach again destroying private sector investment March 23 2007
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Opposition Leader Gerry Reid says Premier Danny Williams= confrontational approach to negotiations is not only harming relations with the federal government in dealing with important issues, it is also having a negative impact on the business sector of our province. Reid raised the concerns during today=s session of the House of Assembly. AIt=s been almost a year since the premier launched into his tirade against the oil companies and shelved the Hebron-Ben Nevis project. Instead of trying to negotiate a deal, the premier walked away leaving any chance of a project delayed indefinitely. Meanwhile, the province is expected to be last in economic growth next year, the real estate market is suffering, businesses are losing money and outmigration continues to grow. AIn today=s Telegram, an unnamed business person is quoted as saying that the premier=s confrontational approach is hurting investment in this province. In response, the premier called the individual a Agutless coward@ in the House of Assembly. This is indicative of the premier=s approach to attack people and try to silence criticism or threaten to sue. This has been the basis of his government for the past three and a half years. While he may have been successful in keeping people quiet, it has had a very negative impact on our business sector and the federal government where his bully approach has failed. AWhile the premier continues to proclaim that anyone who tries to do a deal in this province is an unpatriotic Newfoundlander or Labradorian, exploration in our offshore is taking a nosedive. In each year since 2003, exploration commitments have dropped significantly. In 2003, over $672 million was committed; 2004, $71 million; 2005, $39 million; and this past year, only $31 million was committed in new exploration bids. This is possibly a direct link to his confrontational approach. AI challenge the premier to stop the rhetoric and stop playing his games. His approach is doing nothing for the economy of the province and it has been proven that his bully tactics do not work on outside investors and the federal government. If the premier feels the only way to get support is lash out at people, I suggest his time has come to step aside.@
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