Party leaders spar over who should replace Cathy Bennett

Hours after Cathy Bennett announced she would be resigning as the Liberal MHA for Windsor Lake, the unofficial byelection race is on, with the premier and opposition leader already throwing punches.

Progressive Conservative Leader Ches Crosbie announced he will be running in the Windsor Lake district when a byelection is held.

"I can tell you right now that's my plan — to run in Windsor Lake," Crosbie announced on CBC's St. John's Morning Show Tuesday.

Crosbie said he will run mainly on a platform of provincial issues that "have to do with our survival as a province," given his role as Tory leader.

Among those issues are Muskrat Falls and the looming hike in power rates expected when the project eventually comes online, as well as maintaining the province's finances to ensure Newfoundland and Labrador doesn't end up in insolvency.

"Those are the two big issues there," Crosbie said.

"That's the question mark over our future and that's why people worry about their kids, whether they have a future here, and why it makes it hard to persuade our young people that they should stay here."

Ball said he wants to remind people that the Liberals came to power at a time when provincial finances were already in a state of disarray, thanks to the previous PC government.

"I am looking forward to going toe-to-toe with Ches Crosbie. This will be the fifth or sixth Tory leader that I've had to deal with, and I'll be constantly reminding them of how they make decisions," Ball said.

"We're looking forward to seeing what Ches Crosbie actually stands for, except for someone who wants to celebrate a crisis."

Crosbie said he's happy to have a district to run in before the next provincial election, but it's not surprising that Bennett chose to leave political life.

"I guess in a way it can be seen as inevitable. She gave great service to her district and attempted to stave off financial trouble for the province as best she saw fit," Crosbie said.

"We might not all agree with everything she was trying to do, but she was trying to do something. And she didn't have backup from the premier [and] ended up resigning from her post as finance minister."

NDP leader reacts

In a phone interview Tuesday night, provincial NDP leader Gerry Rogers said she wishes Bennett the best in her return to private life. 

"Cathy Bennett worked hard and she really stuck her neck out in terms of talking about what she perceived as the bullying, harassment, and gas lighting in the liberal caucus," she said.

"I wish her well, she worked hard with integrity and commitment. It's a tough way for her to leave politics and it took a lot of courage to address some of these issues that were so evident in her caucus."

Rogers was quick to point out that she believes both parties hold responsibility for the state the province is in. 

"People are saying they no longer have any faith in either the [Progressive] Conservatives who brought us Muskrat Falls and the fallout of Muskrat Falls and the Liberals who just pushed on through with it and came down with two budgets that were horrendous," she said.

"We are presenting a different way of doing politics, a way of doing politics that's collaborative with other parties, but also with the people of this province."

Rogers promised that her party would have a "good, strong candidate" in place by the time a by-election is called for the Windsor Lake riding. 

'Amateur' who was 'savaged'

Cathy Bennett's time in office was "too short," according to Steve Tomblin, a political science professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

"She was a potential leader, she ran for the leadership race, but I think she was inexperienced. I don't think she fully understood the political game. It's a blood sport."

Tomblin believes Bennett was "sacrificed" to protect the premier's image after harsh criticism of the Liberal's brutal 2015 budget.

"She was an amateur. I think that she was savaged. I think that she was pushed under the bus … so I think it's really kind of a sad story because somebody who had some potential … skill sets … was basically brutalized or bullied."

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Tombin said there's a lot at stake for both parties when a byelection is called, but mostly for the Liberals.

"I think what's at stake is trust in the decision-making process or the political process, that people are equal, that people — whether they are men or women — are going to be treated with respect, so I think there is a lot on the line," he said.

I don't think she fully understood the political game. It's a blood sport.- Steve Tomblin

But Crosbie has to win a seat in the legislature to create his own "brand" and have a voice in the public arena, Tomblin said.

"If he's going to be part of the political process, he can't be sitting up or walking around the streets or tweeting trying to create your own brand. He needs to be within the legislative system. He needs to be seen as legitimate."

Byelection date not set

Ball said he doesn't believe Bennett's resignation reflects on his job as a leader.

"She just wished us well yesterday and [was] supportive of where we are and she just wants to go back into private life and spend more time with her family, and I understand that."

Bennett's official resignation will take effect Aug. 21, and Ball will have a 60-day period to set a date for the byelection.​

Crosbie hopes it will be held with enough time to allow him, if he wins, to sit in the legislature when it reopens on Nov. 5.

Crosbie was elected leader of the PCs in April, after beating Tony Wakeham for the helm of the Official Opposition.

The St. John's-based lawyer took over the leadership position from former premier Paul Davis.

The Crosbie name is no stranger to Newfoundland and Labrador politics. Crosbie's father, John, is a former lieutenant-governor and provincial and federal cabinet minister.

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