Then and Now

Anyone could have been forgiven for thinking in recent weeks that a Christmas provincial writ had been dropped or something.

What, with Diane Whalen, ex-minister John Hickey, and Glorious Leader himself lending their melifluous voices to heavy-rotation radio ads, exhorting the masses to drive safely, have a wonderful holiday season, and think of the soldiers in Afghanistan, you'd almost think they were turning government ad space to, oh how you say, "polish their pre-election profile":

Taxpayers continue to
foot Liberal election bill:
Ministers plunder public purse
to polish pre-election profile

ST. JOHN'S, September 3, 2003 - Opposition Finance critic Loyola Sullivan says Liberal cabinet Ministers heading into the election are sparing no public expense to increase their profile.

"Ministers have been purchasing radio ads by the porkbarrelful over the past couple of weeks, splashing their voices and names across the airways in heavy rotation under the pretense of wishing everyone a happy Labour Day and a wonderful start to the new school year," he said.

"With the election call just weeks or days away, the Ministers are following the Premier's reckless lead by wasting the scarce tax dollars of hardworking Newfoundlanders and Labradorians in order to promote themselves leading into an election," he said, referring to the following ads running in recent days:

• Joan Marie Aylward piggybacked her name and voice on a Labour Day ad.
• Percy Barrett also piggybacked his name and voice on a Labour Day ad.
• George Sweeney piggybacked his name and voice on not one but two ads about driving laws.
• Gerry Reid piggybacked his name and voice on an ad about school opening.
• Judy Foote piggybacked her name and voice on an ad about a trade exposition.
• Bob Mercer piggybacked his name and voice on an ad about vehicle emissions.

Sullivan said, "If only the Liberals had learned their lesson the last time they raided the public purse to polish their own image. Roger Grimes ran enormously-expensive ads featuring jumbo photos of himself touting the 'good things' that he said were happening in Newfoundland and Labrador. He even promised to run the ads right up to the election campaign until he was shamed into backing off. The Liberals also raided the public treasury to campaign against physicians and to whitewash their flawed Voisey's Bay deal. Their leaked spin document on auto insurance reform proved they were planning to blanket the airwaves with yet more taxpayer-funded ads promoting Roger Grimes."

"The same Grimes government that has been cutting vital social programs for lack of funding has had no problem finding the hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars they have spent on self-promoting advertising since Roger Grimes came to office. Clearly, their first priority is not to serve the people of the province but rather to help themselves," said Sullivan.

"Voters hearing these radio ads should remember who is really paying for them and what the Liberals have sacrificed in public services in order to put their names and voices on the air."

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For more information:
Loyola Sullivan, MHA Ferryland
(709) 729-4884