Apology and retraction

On February 29th, Telegram columnist Peter Jackson published a piece entitled "The percolated jumping frog of Dunderdale county".

In response, this corner published a posting entitled "Name game".

Since April 24th, the Dunderdale Government has issued at least 21 press releases containing the phrase "Dunderdale Government", almost half of which start with the phrase "The Dunderdale Government...".

All nineteen such press releases issued since July 27th have been put out by the Hon. Kevin O'Brien, Minister of Whatever Kevin O'Brien is Minister Of.

I hereby retract said posting of February 29th (though it will be retained for posterity) and apologize whole-heartedly and without reservation to Mr. Jackson.

Seven of nine

Since the Government Formerly Known As Provincial revived the Cult of Personality as a standard communications tool in July, nine releases have issued forth containing that immortal phrase, "Dunderdale Government".

Of those nine, seven have come from the Department of Municipal Affairs. Which is kinda strange. During the entire WilliamsGovernment era, a grand total of 16, out of nearly 600 "Williams Government" releases, originated at Municipal Affairs.

Odd.

Sorted another way, however... the DComms who were by far and away most likely to be the lead contact on a "Williams Government" release were David Salter (85 releases), long-time flunky at the Williamsgovernmentiest department of all, Dansportation and Williams; Jacquelyn Howard (58); Elizabeth Matthews (52); and... Tansy Mundon, at 47 WilliamsGovernments to her score.

Jacquelyn Howard is now Director of Strategic Communications, Planning and Priorities.

And Tansy Mundon, whose WilliamsGovernment-fluffing career was mostly at Health, is now chief media fluffer at... Municipal Affairs.

Fealty

From the Globe and Mail's rather embarassing - to the subjects of the story - coverage of The Snit:

In her statement Thursday, Ms. Dunderdale stressed that the former premier had “the full support and loyalty of caucus, cabinet and the party.”

On another, totally unrelated note, did you know that Kim Il-sung is the "Eternal President" of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and has held the position for the seventeen years since his death?

Maybe Kevin O'Brien is, metaphorically, if not literally — yet — getting his wish.

Closing the books (II)

The sycophancy story of 2010 — at least until the game came crashing to a spectacular end — was the rise and rise of Jerome Kennedy.

Sure, Susan Sullivan started the year strong, taking two monthly titles in a row to start the year. And in March, April, and June, Tom Hedderson showed some promise.

But the rest of the year, from his tie in March to the five consecutive titles between July and November, Jerome was the man to beat. And no one did.


Where once Dansportation and Works was the preferred Ministry of Toadies, under Jerome, Health muscled in and muscled the rest out.

As with Trevor Taylor's career-finishing tally last year, with nearly 30% of the goals standing in his name, Jerome Kennedy, heir apparent, was responsible for a similar ratio of WilliamsGovernmentiness between January and that sad, sad, November day when it all came tumbling down.

And as with 2009, 2010 saw some interesting episodes of sycophancy off the playing field. Whether it be a remarkably prescient press release in July, the official Williams Government paddywagon, the Western Star's remarkable editorial, or the contorted logic used to justify Our Dear Christmas Card, the suckuppiness reached a crescendo that will never again be matched.

One can only hope.

Perhaps next year Jerome will be the object of such affection. Can we look forward to five months of "Kennedy Government"? Do we dare?

Your Sycophant of the Year for 2010, and for all time or at least for now — whichever comes first — Jerome Kennedy. Congratulations! And best wishes!

Closing the books (I)

Another lose end to tie up: here is the chronological graph of the total number of WilliamsGovernment-y press releases since the magic words first made their appearance in 2005, showing the remarkable upswing in WG activity in 2010, when levels peaked at more than one per government business day. It's almost as if someone was afraid people would forget whose government it was or something:

And here's the same data, shown as a percentage of all press releases for the month. Dark blue columns represent budget months, when WGiness tended to spike above background levels:

Sycophant of the Month: November 2010

Total number of ProvGov press releases issued in November: 181 (-15 from October).

Total number with the phrase "Williams Government": 9 (no change from October).

Sycophancy index: 5.0% (+0.4% from October).

Well.

What now?

For the second month in a row, the number of WilliamsGovernmenty releases was unchanged at nine, and for the second month in a row, the Sycophancy index went up as total pressreleasey output slumped again by 15 to 181. And for a second month in a row, Jerome Kennedy, defending his title, was first out of the gate, on November 3rd, then the 4th, then the 5th. On that latter date, Tom Hedderson blocked JK from the shut-out.

On the 10th, Himself WilliamsGovernmented Himself without a hint as to what would follow.

On the 13th and 15th, Jerome cemented his lead.

On the 18th, Felix Collins became just the fourth name on the monthly board.

On the 22nd, Jerome rubbed everyone noses in it.




And then it happened.

Game over. Forever!

For the fifth month in a row, and for the final time, your November Sycophant of the Month, Jerome Kennedy!

Sycophant of the Month: October 2010

Total number of ProvGov press releases issued in October: 196 (-24 from September).

Total number with the phrase "Williams Government": 9 (no change from September).

Sycophancy index: 4.6% (+0.5% from September).


The index rose in October due to weakness in the denominator, not any strength in the numerator: the number of WilliamsGovernmenty releases was unchanged at nine.

September champ Jerome Kennedy was taking no chances in defending his title, opening the month’s scoring on the first day. After such a promising start, though, it was a full week before he answered himself to make it two.

Ross Wiseman, Kathy Dunderdale and Tom Hedderson each got on the board within three days of each other mid-month. It looked for a moment as if Kennedy might have a fight on his hands, but none of the others could quite build up a head of steam.

The cludgy rhythm of the game was further disrupted on the 22nd with an unorthodox play by Sullivan and King. Their strangely out-of-place name-dropping didn’t involve the Magic Phrase. The replay went upstairs, but unfortunately for both of them, the goal was disallowed.

Kennedy went on and tipped in two more on the 25th and 27th. Marshall was late to the game on the 28th, but it was all over then but the counting. Which was good, since Kennedy knocked in another on the final Williams Government business day of the month.

At Kennedy five, everyone else one, and the Mercy Rule on the edge of invocation, your Sycophant of the Month, for the fourth month running and the fifth of the past six, is Jerome Kennedy!

Sycophant of the Month: September 2010

Total number of ProvGov press releases issued in September: 220 (+33 from August).

Total number with the phrase "Williams Government": 9 (-5 from August).

Sycophancy index: 4.1% (-3.4% from August).


Dilution, thy name is Igor. With a very large proportion of ITAR-DAN’s output in September being devoted to public and media advisories related to the historic weather disaster, it’s remarkable that the overall number only increased by 33. Either The Provincial Williams Government is running out of things to announce, or they have deferred the Happy News until closer to CRA’s field dates in November, or both.

Yeah, both.

Felix Collins started the month right, putting one in on the first to get things going early. But last month’s champ Kennedy wasn’t about to let anyone get to close to his trophy, and answered his Justice portfolio successor right away.

Danny Williams-Government himself muscled Kennedy away from the net to personally announce Happy Hospital Money on the ninth, followed right after by Schroedinger’s Minister

Felix Collins took a lead the next day, only to end up sharing it almost immediately, when His Premierosity, with nothing better to do, delivered more Hospital Happiness, this time in Labrador West.

Former perennial ex-officio contender Hedderson, who has lately fallen on hard luck, got himself on the board on the 13th.

And then it started to blow. And rain.

It would be another eleven days before anyone had the energy to resume the game, which Jerome Kennedy did, making it a three-way tie, on the auspicious date of September 24th.

And five days later, Kennedy would seal the deal, taking the lead, and taking the prize. Your September Sycophant of the Month, for the third month running, Jerome Kennedy!

Sycophant of the Month: August 2010

Total number of ProvGov press releases issued in August: 187 (+26 from July).

Total number with the phrase "Williams Government": 14 (-4 from July).

Sycophancy index: 7.5% (-3.7% from July).



Someone got the memo that August is polling month, and, unsurprisingly, the sheer output of ProvGov press releases jumped in August, driven in part by TCR and Health’s ongoing efforts to cheerfully announce every penny that they ever spend on anything.

Surprisingly, however, it was a quiet month from a WilliamsGovernment perspective.

It was fully nine days into the month before Jerome Kennedy and Diane Whalen got things moving, and another week before Tom Hedderson joined them on the big board.

That week would turn into a flurry with Hedderson, Sullivan, Collins, Jackman, Collins again, and Kennedy crowding the goalposts.

The month that started sleepy ended with a flourish. The final week saw Kennedy knock in two in one day, followed by another Collins, another Hedderson, and another Jackman.

Sullivan and Whalen end up on the board with one apiece, Jackman has two, and Hedderson, tied with Collins at three, falls just short in his effort to reclaim the title he last held in June.

Retaining his crown from July, your sycophant of the month for August, and for the third month of the last four, Jerome Kennedy! Congratulations, Minister!

Dansportation and Williams

Now seems like as good a time as any to take a retrospective look, on a go-backwards basis, at the theory and practice of personality cultism.

This clever bar chart shows the number of releases, by primary* department, which have dropped the phrase "Williams Government" or "Williams Administration", since the dawn of time:

Executive Council, of course, includes the Premier's office, but Exec not infrequently takes it upon itself to announce stuff that would, in a sane universe where cabinet and other organs of government actually mattered, be announced by a line minister and his or her department. (Exhibit A.)

We obviously enjoy having Our Good Name associated, as often as possible, with the Big Three: roads, schools, and hospitals. TW, Exec, Health, and Edu between them account for 60% of all the WilliamsGovernmentalness to date. The Department of Highroads alone has dropped Our Good Name over 130 times, for fully one quarter of the total.

* The department that did the announcing, or the department in whose sub-site the press release was published, if more than one department was involved in the happy news.

Sycophant of the Month: July 2010

Total number of ProvGov press releases issued in July: 161 (-62 from June).

Total number with the phrase "Williams Government": 18 (+8 from June).

Sycophancy index: 11.2% (+6.7% from June).

The numerator goes up, the denominator goes down, and so for the fourth time in eight months, the monthly sycophancy index nudges north of 10%. Happy times!

Danny Williams-Government Himself kicked things off on the very first business day of the month, when he, not his long-suffering Minister of Fisheries, whoever that is, got to bask in the reflected glory of fisheries scienticians.

Before the day was out, the entire Tom Committee of Cabinet had joined DW-G on the big board. Jerome Kennedy knocked in his first of the month on the fifth, followed the next day by Clyde Jackman – that’s the guy’s name – who was finally allowed issue a press release, a weird, weird, press release, under his own portfolio. (Given the number of times it name-drops you-know-who, that may have been just a formality.)

Felix Collins added another name to the scoreboard later that day, complete with potentially unfortunate visual. Terry French and Jackman each tipped one in the next day, Jackmans’s making him the first to break from the pack of singletons.

The next day Susan Sullivan, with another triple-dollop of WilliamsGovernment, announced that DWG “invests” in youth, perhaps in the same way some people “invest” in derivatives or Beanie Babies, while SuperJerome, tying Jackman for the lead, made sure the day after that didn’t go WilliamsGovernment-free.

It was a breathtaking start, with at least one does of WilliamsGovernmenty goodness for every working day of the month to date. The whirlwind of Williamsosity could not go unrecognized, as this corner obligingly did on the eighth, and the anti-Newfoundland Premier-Negative Quebec Daily Newspaper on the twelfth.




















It is, of course, entirely coincidental that the match promptly went into a lull that was not broken until the 16th, when Tom H., on behalf of something called “Newfoundland Labrador Housing”, put one between the posts.

SuperJerome consolidated his lead on the 20th, with some happy health-care related news for St. Anthony. Heck, he may have even started returning the Northern Pen’s calls in his exuberant state. French, Jackman, Hedderson, and SuperJerome again turned the third week of the month into another in-your-face every-day barrage of WilliamsGovernmentium.

The final week of the month started off quiet, but Jerome on the 28th, and Felix Collins on the 29th saw to it that Our Dear Ego got stroked to a happy month-ending.

Final tally: Sullivan, Tom M., and DWG Himself, one each; French and Collins, two; Tom H. and Jackman, three, and Kennedy, five. Snatching the title back from Hedderson, and owning or co-owning the podium for the third time in five months, your July sycophant of the month is Jerome! Kennedy! Congratulations!

The cult goes into overdrive. Why?

Just in case you were starting to forget whose government it is...

WILLIAMSGOVERNMENT!

So far for the month of July — and, admittedly, there's more July to come than has already transpired — the golden boys and girls who communicate, 24/7, on behalf of the Regime, have worked that magical phrase, "Williams Government", into nearly one quarter of the very important news releases that have been issued on the ITAR-DAN wire.

That, at least provisionally, would give July 2010 the highest sycophancy index of any month since ever.

Dark columns indicate budget months, traditionally the WilliamsGovernmentiest months of the year. The Williamsification of Government only began in earnest in 2005, so a few outlying early examples from 2003 and 2004 are disregarded here.

You'd think there was some kind of campaign on, or something.

Marketing

Just so you know who's bringing you the new paddywagon:

The Williams Government has invested $134,000 in a new prisoner transport vehicle that is designed specifically for the transfer of inmates. The Honourable Felix Collins, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, unveiled the new equipment today.

Good ol' Williams Government. Have we mentioned Williams Government. Williams Government did this. Williams Government. Williams Government. Williams Government, Williams Government, Williams Government.

WILLIAMS GOVERNMENT!

Strangely, even while branding this announcement with His Good Name — Williams Government! — it would appear that someone forgot to include Our Dear Pitcher Plant Logo in Our Dear PTV's livery.

Special sycophancy statement (V)

All joking aside [When did we agree to that? - ed.] Lori Lee Oates' clumsily-headlined Tuesday-morning effort went a long way towards making up for the relative WilliamsGovernment drought last month:

On the heels of the announcement of significant investment by the Provincial Government for fisheries science research, the Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, today outlined multiple investments and initiatives which demonstrate the high level of commitment of the Williams Government to the province’s fishing industry, including the fact that the budget for the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture has increased by approximately 360 per cent since 2003.

...

A summit with fishing industry stakeholders was held by the Honourable Danny Williams, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2006.

...

In 2007, Premier Williams appeared on Larry King Live to address false information on the province’s sealing industry.

...

In 2010, the Autonomous Tariff Reduction Quota (ATRQ) was reduced to no tariffs on the first 20,000 metric tonnes of shrimp entering the European Union (EU). This followed an extensive lobby of the European Union on the part of the Williams Government which included several trips to the EU and Ottawa by Premier Williams.
...

The continued growth and development in this sector has been largely in response to the high level of investment on the part of the Williams Government.

Boy, there sure are a conspicuously large number of verbs in the past tense in that 1179-word retrospective...

Sycophant of the Month: June 2010

Total number of ProvGov press releases issued in June: 223 (+21 from May).

Total number with the phrase "Williams Government": 10 (-18 from May).

Sycophancy index: 4.5% (-9.4% from May).


It would have been hard to top last month's epic blowout... so they didn't even try. Despite the total number of ITAR-DAN releases climbing to a staggering 223 — certainly the highest on record since January 2005; possibly the highest monthly total ever — the WilliamsGovernmenty ones dropped back to below April levels, resulting in the largest month-over-month drop in the sycophancy index, ever.

Oh? CRA was in the field in May? Really. Wow. Did not know that.

Anyway... reliable Tom Marshall kicked things off for the month on June 2nd, reminding everyone of the Williamsy Awesomeness of Budgetosity 2010, answered almost immediately by his talented colleague Ms. Johnson.

Then, nine days of nothing, not unlike an international soccer game. (Incidentally, anyone know why so many of those soccer guys are named Fifa? Some of them should start going by Fifalito, Fifino, Fiforetto; anything to tell them apart.)

Recent high-roller Tom Hedderson got himself on the board, the traditional place of the Minister of Pavement, on the 11th, followed by none other than DWG himself, who, for good measure, WilliamsGovernmented himself three times in one release.

Then, eleven more days of nothing. Not even the buzzing of a vuvuzela.

The socceresque tedium was finally broken with a natural hat-trick by Tom Hedderson, with three consecutive days of Roadwork Rolling into Central Region, Roadwork Heads West, and the concluding episode of the trilogy, Road Improvements Coming to the Burin Peninsula. Jerome Kennedy capped the third week of the month with a single.

Susan Sullivan got on the board on Canada Eve, and unlike last year, was careful to credit this July 1st hike in the minimum wage to You-Know-Who Government. And Tom Marshall made good and sure that anyone earning that higher minimum wage, or any other wage, would know who to thank for the take-home pay, with his second of the month, and the second triple-WilliamsGovernmenting to boot.

But it was academic at this point. With his hat-trick plus one, Tom Hedderson handily defeats the other five scorers to reclaim the monthly title after Jerome Kennedy rudely interrupted his streak in May.

Congratulations, Tom!

Train 'em early (XXII): Sandy Collins

And finally — for now? — the other Mr. Collins, as if to outdo Mr. Davis, polishes the apple very, very vigorously, on May 6th. Curiously, he too invokes the polls:

Last, and certainly not least, I would like to thank the Premier and the entire caucus for the support during the by-election, but more importantly, since taking my seat. Upon being elected, I was openly welcomed in the caucus. As a member of this team I am given equal opportunity to pass opinions and participate. The Premier always says that each voice around that table brings a different perspective and therefore should be heard. Our newest voice, the Member for Topsail, will undoubtedly prove to be an invaluable addition to this team. I would like to again welcome our newest member and look forward to working with him in the future.

We have a strong caucus with a clear vision and it is a tremendous thing to witness this group working together. A team cannot be measured on any one individual’s ability, and while we have the most dynamic Premier this Province has ever seen, the group around him must also be equal to the challenge. Mr. Speaker, the saying, "No one can whistle a symphony. It takes an orchestra to play it," certainly describes this caucus.
…

This Province suffered from years of neglect under the former Administration. It is so easy for them now to say: It was neglected because we did not have the funds that exist today.

True, they did not have the funds that are available, but the money they did have was mismanaged and squandered. Furthermore, and more notable, the reason we currently have the funds available is due to sound decisions by this government and the persistence, dedication and strength of our Premier.
…

I am surrounded by forty-three Progressive Conservative members, most of whom represent rural districts, and that simply says it all. These men and women, under the leadership of this Premier, work tirelessly for the benefit of the Province. People see and people appreciate this and are overwhelmingly satisfied with the job that has been done, and look forward to even brighter days ahead.

If the members of the Opposition are not convinced, I would suggest they look at the results from the latest opinion polls. Time after time after time after time, the numbers grow and seem to keep getting better.
…

The Premier did not give us greatness; he summoned it. It was due to hard work and determination of this government and our Premier to implement a plan, a blueprint for success. As a result of that successful plan, this Province has taken its proper place in Confederation: among the top. It is safe to say that Newfoundland and Labrador has arrived.

Train 'em early (XXI): Paul Davis

Paul Davis, newly minted trained seal for Topsail, with abundant help from trained seals for other districts, manages to not lose his voice in his stellar performance as maiden speaker on May 4th:

MR. DAVIS: Mr. Speaker, campaign candidates are afforded the opportunity not only to meet but also to listen to what is on the minds of residents. It is a very important aspect of election campaigns. There was one message that was heard so frequently that it was a level all to itself. That message is what I refer to as the respect factor, the support factor, and the absolute unprecedented backing that the people of Newfoundland and Labrador had for our leader, the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DAVIS: Mr. Speaker, as a candidate, what more could any person, an aspiring politician, what more could I ever ask for, what more could I ever hope to experience, than an opportunity to work alongside with, and learn from, a leader with such vision, such drive, such determination, such ability, such passion and such dedication?

Mr. Speaker, the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador is truly blessed to have a Premier of the calibre of Premier Williams.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DAVIS: As well, Mr. Speaker, the strong results of this by-election speak volumes to the great job this government is doing in leading and governing Newfoundland and Labrador, and to the confidence that residents have in the leadership of Premier Williams.

This confidence has also been evident in in-depth research polls, such as those conducted by Corporate Research Associates, and we heard these during the campaign. Their latest poll suggested that 93 per cent of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are satisfied with the job this government is doing today.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DAVIS: The polling firm said satisfaction with the government is the highest recorded in Atlantic Canada in more than twenty years. Mr. Speaker, these results are remarkable. Our Premier and this government have made and continue to make a significant impact on the Province and its future.

…

Mr. Speaker, the people of the District of Topsail have placed their faith in me, and I am committed to working hard, working as part of this government, the best government –

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DAVIS: - and working with this Premier, the best Premier –

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. DAVIS: - to make Newfoundland and Labrador better than it ever has been before.

Train 'em early (XX): Kevin Parsons

And on December 16, 2008, it was the turn of the other Kevin P., MHA, one of the first to invoke the power of the poll. And if you had pride before Danny Williams came along, then, well, obviously you don't exist:

Mr. Speaker, I was at a seniors’ function recently, and I spoke to a senior. A gentleman eighty-two years old. We talked about the economy. He felt Newfoundland and Labrador was in a fortunate position, for the simple fact that we have such a great leader. What he said to me was, whenever the waters get rough, you need a good Captain at the wheel, and he feels confident Newfoundland and Labrador will weather any storm. Obviously, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians feel the same way, with the recent showing of our Premier with 80 per cent approval.
…

Mr. Speaker, since 2003, each year following, not only did Newfoundlanders and Labradorians change here but Canadians have changed in how they see our people. Mr. Speaker, this is a direct result of this government’s policies and planning. Finally, we have a Premier who is not afraid to stand up and ensure that we get maximum benefits for our resources. The days of the giveaways are no longer.

I feel very fortunate to be part of this government with such a great leader and such a strong team. That is why Newfoundlanders and Labradorians here and away have the pride that they do in our Province today.

Mr Speaker, do your job (XXIV)

From Monday, the regular dose of fealty by Tom Marshall, uninterrupted by the occupant of the chair:

MR. MARSHALL: The Budget that we released, Mr. Speaker, on March 29 was the seventh Budget of the Williams government, continuing our substantial investments in economic stimulus in health care and in education. ... Mr. Speaker, this would be a good time for us to go back and look at the situation we found ourselves in when the Williams government first came into office. We had many, many years of deficits; many, many years of deficit after deficit after deficit. ... Smart investment, strategic planning and the resolve of Premier Williams to fight for the people of this Province is paying off for you and me today, but it will pay off more importantly for our children tomorrow. ... Premier Williams’ vision is a vision of self-reliance for this Province.

And from today, the scripted bit of unparliamentary flattery from some Minister or another. Really, at this point, does it matter what their names are? It would make it easier on everyone if we just started referring to them by number; here's good ol' 42:

This year’s Hall of Fame inductees: Mr. Fred Cahill, Mr. Gordon Manstan, and Great Big Sea were acknowledged for their business excellence and their contribution to Newfoundland and Labrador. They also joined an impressive list of the who’s who from the Province’s business community - a list of more than sixty prominent Newfoundlanders and Labradorians such as the Lieutenant-Governor, John Crosbie, the late Craig Dobbin, Susan Patten, Paul Johnson, Angela Cantwell-Peters, and our Premier, the hon. Danny Williams.

And here's No. 19:

Mr. Speaker, we have never gotten our fair share of the Upper Churchill. I can tell you what, under the leadership of Premier Williams and this government, we plan on getting our fair share out of the Lower Churchill. ... We are sending the message loud and clear to the people of Quebec, to the Régie, to the Quebec government, to Hydro-Quebec that this Province, under the leadership of Premier Williams and this government, we are going to get our fair share from our resources in our homeland for the best benefit of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. ... You know, when we looked at the translation of the Régie decision, there were a couple of things there which were very glaring, and Premier Williams has already identified these, but I think it is important for the people of the Province so that they can hear them again.

Train 'em early (XIX): Kevin Pollard

The current legislature's first by-election victor named Kevin P. makes his maiden speech on December 8, 2008, invoking, for perhaps the last time, Our Dear Campaign Slogan from 2007. Sadly, his rhetorical flourish came at a price for his larynx:

I was delighted and honoured to have several MHAs and ministers, along with Premier Williams, visit the district during the by-election. They injected confidence, spark, energy, and flavour into my rigorous campaign. Knowing how busy they really were, I thought they made a big sacrifice. It meant a whole lot to me. It meant that I was not alone in this race. It demonstrated to me and to the entire District of Baie Verte-Springdale, that I had a team who was cheering me on, for which I am sincerely grateful. It gave me the assurance that I, should I be elected, would have a supportive and a helpful team, a team led by a strong, visionary, capable leader. That leader, Mr. Chair, is none other than Premier Williams.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. POLLARD: Thank you, Premier, for accepting me as part of this formidable team, a competent team, a winning team, a proactive team, a solid team.

…

I believe that we are indeed bold, strong, proud and determined people. With every ounce of energy, with every fibre in our being, with the strongest voice possible, this government, under the strong leadership of Premier Williams, will continue to implement sound fiscal management practices that will continue to take us through not only the good times, but also the hard times.

I am proud to be a part of this government, Mr. Chair. I am proud to be a voice for the people of Baie Verte-Springdale. I am proud to be a Newfoundlander and Labradorian.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am losing my voice.