(March 18, 2021) – PC Leader Ches Crosbie says yesterday’s revelation that Andrew Furey misled the public about using non-existent COVID-19 modeling to justify his risky election call demonstrates dangerously poor judgement and should give all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians pause.

Despite initially suggesting he relied on secret modeling, Furey yesterday revealed that he personally used information posted on a federal government website to assess the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak before calling his self-serving snap election.

“The Premier’s most sacred duty is to make informed decisions in the best interests of the public,” said Crosbie.

“Yesterday’s events serve as further proof that Andrew Furey, in a desperate rush to avoid the public learning the details of the Greene Report, put his own political interests ahead of the health and safety of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. It’s outrageous.”

Crosbie says the whole episode calls into question the Premier’s decision-making abilities.

“Right now, people in every corner of our province are teetering on the edge of their seats, wondering whether their jobs will be slashed or the services they depend on will but gutted,” said Crosbie.
“Yesterday’s revelations will be cold comfort for all of them. Newfoundlanders and Labradorians deserve a Premier they can trust to put them first – always.”

Crosbie says the consequences of Furey’s self-serving and dangerous judgement are reverberating throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, citing the bait-and-switch Greene Report fiasco, the delay in awarding paving and infrastructure projects, the revelations of an American company bring hired to cut healthcare in our province, and a projected record low voter turnout.

The PC leader says he will continue to promote his positive plan to Bring Back Jobs and reiterated his commitment to always put the people of Newfoundland and Labrador first.

Contacts:

David Maher

Director of Communications

(p) (709) 769-2216

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