August 18, 2016

For Immediate Release

Provincial Liberals Silent on Fair National Representation for NL

Paul Davis, Leader of the Official Opposition, says, "Premier Ball and the provincial Liberals are taking little action to make Newfoundland and Labrador's case nationally for Supreme Court representation."

"Why isn't the Premier challenging the Prime Minister's position that regional representation on the Supreme Court of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador's first-ever Court appointment is not a priority? If the Premier is as upset about that as most people in this province are, why doesn't he speak up?

"The Prime Minister is making it pretty clear that fair representation on the Supreme Court for Newfoundland and Labrador is not a priority.

"The decisions of the highest court in the country can profoundly change our status in the country and cost us billions upon billions of dollars. We only have to look to their 1984 decision on the Water Rights Reversion Act to find an example. The province of Quebec, because of its different legal code, has a constitutional guarantee of three of the nine judges in perpetuity, but we don't enjoy comparable clout or respect in this country, and the Premier has not been effective in making our case to change that."

"It's the same on every federal-provincial issue: the provincial Liberals are silent, and Ottawa can count on being able to do as little as they want for us, without a word of complaint from the provincial ‎Liberals.

"Our provincial government - whatever its stripe - is supposed to put Newfoundland and Labrador first when there are issues to fight for, but the Ball Liberals aren't doing that."

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Media Contact:

Heather MacLean, Director of Communications, Office of the Official Opposition,

(709) 729 6105, heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca