The last time (II)

On June 12, 2000, Kilbride MHA Ed Byrne, Leader of the Opposition, announced his intention to resign as leader of the PC Party of Newfoundland and Labrador.

On July 6, the party office issued the following press release:

Provincial PC Executive establishes Leadership Convention Committee

ST. JOHN'S, July 6, 2000 — The Executive of the Newfoundland and Labrador Progressive Conservative Party met Wednesday, July 5 to set in motion the process to choose a new Party leader.

At the outset of the meeting, PC Party president Kevin O'Brien informed the provincial executive that effective immediately he is withdrawing himself from the process and taking a leave of absence as Party president while he considers whether he will seek the leadership of the Party. He said he does not want to be in a conflict of interest, or to put the Party Executive in a conflict of interest, in this regard. He immediately left the meeting.

The executive then chose Party vice-president Paula Hayes to serve as acting president.

The executive also moved to establish a leadership Convention Committee, pursuant to the Party's constitution, choosing past Party president Jim Oxford to serve as committee co-chair. The second committee co-chair and other committee members will be announced in the weeks ahead.

Under the Party's constitution (Appendix A, Part I, Section 4), "The Convention Committees shall have the general responsibility for all matters pertaining to the Convention. The Convention Committee shall establish the dates and times for the following milestones:

• the official start of the leadership campaign,
  
• the Convention,
  
• the close of nominations,
  
• the withdrawal of candidates,
  
• the submission of association executive lists,
  
• the submission of association delegate lists,
  
• the pre-registration of automatic ex-officio delegates,
  
• the pre-registration of other delegates and alternates,
  
• the registration of delegates and alternates at the Convention,
  
• the opening of hospitality suites at the Convention."
  

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For more information:

Jim Oxford, co-chair of the PC leadership Convention Committee
Telephone: (709) [REDACTED]

Paula Hayes, acting Party president
Telephone: (709) [REDACTED]

Email: [REDACTED]