First, we should extend congratulations to Premier Furey on his election victory and wish his new Administration every success. It remains to be seen if he is ready for the challenge that awaits. This is a matter to which we will return.
Opposition leader Ches Crosbie and NDP leader Alison Coffin,
both having lost their Seats, deserve our appreciation for the important work
of Opposition, too. It is the end of the road for Mr. Crosbie’s undistinguished
political career. As to Ms. Coffin, the loss of a “core” NDP Seat must hurt.
Other pundits may wish to analyse why the “rubber booters” voted heavily
Liberal this time, but the Party might also want to reflect on their relevancy
in a Province with three left-wing Parties, a situation — for the other two — born
less out of ideology than opportunism.
Premier Furey told reporters that the election is about “Who
you want to lead the province through the pandemic. Who you want to lead it
through the economic challenge. Who you want to sit at the table with the
federal Liberal government…” His election call disregarded the pandemic and
gave little reference to the debt crisis. That left only the “Feds”.
From this perspective, it isn’t so much that Furey won more Seats than either Ches or Alison. In the end, it was “hope” that prevailed. Having failed to offer a “hundred days of decision”, the electorate were content with another four years of dither, not that Crosbie had a different agenda.
