Tory candidate Kevin O'Brien regrets Harper comment made in 'the heat of the moment'
Former provincial minister officially resigns as MHA to run for federal Conservatives
Kevin O'Brien resigned as MHA for Gander Friday in order to run for the Conservative Party of Canada in the upcoming federal election, while downplaying heated comments he made in the past about Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
O'Brien was named as the party's candidate for the newly-formed riding of Coast of Bays-Central-Notre Dame.
O'Brien was first elected as an MHA in 2003 and held several cabinet portfolios cabinet.
During former premier Danny Williams' notorious ABC — for Anything But Conservative — campaign in 2008 against the federal Tories in 2008, O'Brien was one of the caucus members who vocally bashed Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
In one call to a VOCM open-line radio show, O'Brien alleged Harper had "no integrity" and that Harper "made promises and he broke promises."
However, O'Brien said his outlook on Harper's political vision has changed.
Just because you say something in a given period of time doesn't mean to say you have to be archenemies all your life.- Kevin O'Brien
"That was a chapter in my life that I was fighting on a different team, with a different team, in regards to issues concerning Newfoundland and Labrador," said O'Brien.
"So when you get into the heat of the moment you say things that you possibly regret — and I've done that numerous occasions over my lifetime, personally and politically."
O'Brien added that things have changed in the political landscape since the ABC campaign and he wants to be a strong voice for Newfoundland and Labrador at the federal table.
"Just because you say something in a given period of time doesn't mean to say you have to be archenemies all your life," said O'Brien.
"I want to repair, to be quite honest with you, the present relationship that we have with the federal government and the province. I think I can do that."
O'Brien said he would be a "strong voice" for Newfoundland and Labrador at the federal lever and could help iron out disagreements surrounding current issues, like the fisheries fund associated with CETA, the trade deal with the European Union, and environmental problems connected to the Manolis L shipwreck that has been leaking oil off Newfoundland's northeast coast.