Danny Williams (politician)
Encyclopedia
Daniel E. "Danny" Williams, QC
, MHA
(born August 4, 1949) is a Canadian politician
, businessman and lawyer who served as the ninth Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador between November 6, 2003, and December 3, 2010. Williams was born and raised in St. John's
, Newfoundland and Labrador. Before entering politics Williams was a highly successful lawyer and businessman.
After becoming Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
in 2001, he was elected to the House of Assembly
in a by-election for the district
of Humber West
in Corner Brook.
Williams' premiership was considered controversial outside of Newfoundland and Labrador. Events such as ordering all Canadian flags to be removed from provincial government buildings, and launching the Anything But Conservative
campaign in the 2008 federal election, garnered national attention. While Williams remains a controversial politician outside Newfoundland and Labrador, he was continuously ranked as one of the most popular premiers in Canada, with approval ratings in the province consistently in the high seventies and eighties.
, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, the eldest of four children to Thomas Williams and Teresita (Galway). He received his early education from Saint Bonaventure's College
and then Gonzaga High School
. The Williams family have been Progressive Conservatives since the province's confederation with Canada; Williams handed out brochures and put up signs in support of John Diefenbaker
's campaign to be Prime Minister.
Williams went on to study at Memorial University of Newfoundland
, where he received a degree in political science
and economics. In 1969, he was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship
and went to Keble College, Oxford
, United Kingdom to read Arts in Law. Whilst at Oxford he played hockey for the Oxford University Ice Hockey Club
. He then attended Dalhousie University
, Halifax where he earned a Bachelor of Laws
degree.
s.
While still in law school, Williams led a consortium of businesspeople that was granted one of Newfoundland's first cable television licenses and started the company "Avalon Cablevision". Through major acquisitions and the very early adoption of the Internet ISP business (via theZone dial-up and later RoadRunner high-speed cable Internet services), he built Cable Atlantic
into one of the largest communications companies in Atlantic Canada
. As the principal owner, he sold the telecommunications portion of the business for $76 million dollars in April 2000, to GT Group Telecom Inc. The cable TV portion of Cable Atlantic was sold to Rogers Cable Inc. for $152 million in November 2000. This sale plus the success of his extensive law practice gave him the nickname of "Danny Millions" during the early 2000s.
Williams has been practising law since 1972, becoming a financially successful lawyer, and was appointed Queen's Counsel
in 1984. His firm represented many of the abused altar boys and orphans who sued the Roman Catholic Church, the Christian Brothers and the province of Newfoundland following the Mount Cashel Orphanage
scandal.
Williams served as president of OIS Fisher, an oil and natural gas company (later renamed Spectrol Group), and has invested in golf courses and resorts throughout the province. He has also served as the Chairman of the Canadian Parliamentary Channel (CPAC), the Newfoundland and Labrador Film Development Corporation as well as the Provincial Government Offshore Oil Impact Advisory Council.
While he was the owner of Cable Atlantic
Williams purchased the naming rights to a sports complex in St. John's for $600,000 from Molson
. Before the centre opened, however, Williams had sold Cable Atlantic to Rogers Communications
to pursue his political career, but retained the naming rights. Ultimately he chose to name the centre Mile One Centre
, based on the venue's location at the beginning of the Trans Canada Highway.
(PC), and was returned uncontested on April 7, 2001. On June 19, 2001, he won a by-election in the Corner Brook district of Humber West
.
Support for the PC party saw a big bounce when Williams became leader. Four by-elections were held during the two years he was the Opposition Leader and each seat was won by a PC candidate. In September 2001, Liberal Assemblyman (MHA) Ross Wiseman
crossed the floor of the House of Assembly
to join the Progressive Conservative caucus. During his time as Opposition Leader, Williams donated his legislative salary to charity.
Since succeeding Brian Tobin
as Premier of Newfoundland
in February 2001, Premier Roger Grimes
had been under opposition pressure to legitimize his mandate at the polls after winning the leadership of the Liberal Party (Liberals). On September 29, 2003, Grimes called an election for October 21, 2003.
Polls leading up to and during the election showed that the Progressive Conservatives under Williams had a substantial lead over their main competitor the Liberals, as well as the New Democratic Party (NDP). Williams campaigned for change and promised to control spending, streamline the public service and create jobs.
The Progressive Conservatives captured nearly 59% of the vote and won 34 of the 48 seats in the in the 2003 general election
. This win marked only the third change of government in the 54 years since the province joined Canada, and ended nearly 15 years of Liberal Party rule. As party leader, Williams became the province's ninth Premier.
, the province's cultural facility that was under construction. Spurred by the administration's announcement of pay-freeze and plan to eliminate 4,000 public sector jobs, a strike was declared among the 20,000 public sector employees two days following the announcement, at midnight April 1, 2004. The strike ended nearly a month later when Williams reneged on a campaign promise and legislated the employees back to work. Later that year the Williams government compressed health and education boards in an attempt for a more efficient delivery of services, a move that still receives criticism in the province.
An opinion poll conducted in June 2004 showed that support for the Premier and the Progressive Conservatives had plunged. From its nearly 60 percent share of the vote in the general election seven months earlier, support had shrunk to 41 percent, almost tied with the Liberals at 39 percent. His personal support as choice of Premier fell to 39 percent, a marked fall from 65 percent he enjoyed just six months earlier.
Williams' popularity increased when he fought with then Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin
over a campaign promise Martin had made that would lead to a revised Atlantic Accord
. Martin proposed an eight-year deal that the province would keep 100 percent of offshore oil revenues, but with an expenditure a cap to keep the province from surpassing the per capita tax revenue of Ontario
. Williams, supported by leaders of the other provincial leaders, walked out of talks with Martin, saying that cap would cost the provincial government billions of dollars in lost revenue over the life of its three oil fields. Williams along with Nova Scotia
Premier John Hamm
, who also wanted the same deal as Newfoundland and Labrador, met with the Prime Minister on several occasions but a deal between Ottawa and the two provinces could not be reached. Williams raised the temperature on December 23, 2004, when he ordered the removal of all Canadian flags from provincial government buildings. On January 10, 2005, Canadian flags started flying once again in the province, and several weeks later Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia reached a deal with Ottawa. A March opinion poll indicated that support for the Williams government had rebounded to 86 percent.
On March 3, 2006, Williams appeared on Larry King Live
where Paul McCartney
and then wife Heather Mills argued the seal hunt was inhumane because seal cubs were being clubbed to death. Williams said the annual hunt is supported by scientists, veterinarians and organizations like the UN and the World Wildlife Fund, and that 90% of cubs are killed by bullet. Williams accused the McCartneys of being used by IFAW, Greenpeace
and PETA
to help them raise funds. He then invited the McCartneys to visit Newfoundland and Labrador.
On August 21, 2007, Williams signed a Memorandum of understanding
for the Hebron offshore oilfield with several major oil companies in which government royalties were exchanged for a 4.9 percent equity stake in the project. On September 17, 2007, Williams called a provincial election. Williams' popularity was riding at 75%, and polls during the campaign showed the Conservatives reaching up to 86 percent of voter support.
After the vote count, the Progressive Conservatives emerged with nine more seats than they held at the dissolution of the previous legislature. The party had won 69.5 percent of the popular vote, the highest popular vote share ever attained by the PC party in the province. Three Liberal incumbents, as well as NDP leader Lorraine Michael
, successfully held their seats. Notably, however, Liberal leader Gerry Reid
was not reelected in his own district. The next month Williams' Progressive Conservatives increased their seat count to 44 out of 48, after winning a deferred election in Grand Falls-Windsor-Buchans following the death of Liberal candidate Gerry Tobin on October 1.
During the 2008 Canadian Federal election
, Williams hit out at incumbent Prime Minister Stephen Harper
and the federal administration for reneging on a 2006 election pledge to exclude non-renewable energy sources from the equalization formula. In order to thwart Harper's reelection, Williams launched a "ABC" campaign: Anything But Conservative
. According to The Globe and Mail, the federal Conservatives' loss of all representation in Newfoundland and Labrador may have been as a result of Williams' campaign. Harper was also narrowly denied majority government status.
On June 16, 2009, Williams announced the government had concluded an agreement with oil companies to expand the Hibernia oil field in which the province would have a 10 percent equity stake in the "Hibernia South" extension. The deal promised to add $13 billion to the province's coffers.
Williams has been outspoken about the Québec Government and their crown corporation Hydro-Québec
. On September 3, 2009, Williams accused Hydro-Québec of trying to block the Lower Churchill hydroelectric project to protect its own dominance in the marketplace by making a deal with New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham
to buy NB Power's
nuclear and hydro generating stations, the transmission system and other assets in a massive deal. On October 29, 2009, the premiers of New Brunswick
and Québec
signed a memorandum of understanding to transfer most assets of NB Power to Hydro-Québec. In the end the deal between New Brunswick and Québec fell apart, Williams dissatisfaction with the deal is thought to have played a role., in a speech given on June 9, 2010, Williams strongly denounced "Québec's self interest is harming the provinces, the nation and our country's international reputation"
On February 2, 2010, it was reported that Williams would travel to the United States to have heart surgery. The move raised questions about the quality and availability of health care services and procedures in Canada's health care system. According to Deputy Premier Kathy Dunderdale
, "It was never an option offered to him to have this procedure done in this province." Dunderdale refused to answer how the procedure would be paid for, or whether the procedure could have been scheduled to be performed in another province of Canada. On February 8, 2010, it was reported that Williams' surgery had been successful. On his return, Williams later defended his choice saying: "I did not sign away my right to get the best possible health care for myself when I entered politics". Williams said although he had "the utmost confidence" in his own province's health care system, his decision was to go to Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami
to undergo "a very specialized piece of surgery [by] somebody who's doing this three or four times a day, five, six days a week."
On November 18, 2010, Williams was joined by Premier of Nova Scotia
, Darrell Dexter
, in announcing a $6.2 billion agreement to develop the first phase of the Lower Churchill Project
. Nalcor Energy
, a Newfoundland and Labrador Crown corporation, signed a partnership agreement with Emera Inc. of Nova Scotia to develop the 824 megawatts Muskrat Falls
. The hydro development would see power from the falls transferred from Labrador
to the island of Newfoundland via an underwater transmission link through the Strait of Belle Isle. Another underwater transmission link across the Gulf of St. Lawrence would bring power to Nova Scotia. Newfoundland and Labrador will use 40 percent of the hydro power itself and will be able to shut down the oil burning Holyrood Thermal Generating Station
. Emera Inc. will get 20 percent of the power for $1.2 billion to sell to customers in Nova Scotia. The remaining 40 percent will be sold by Nalcor Energy to markets in Atlantic Canada
and the Northeastern United States.
During his first year in office Williams and his government suffered low approval ratings. However, approval for Williams and his government dramatically improved in 2005. A poll showed support for the Williams government was at 86 percent after Williams secured a deal with Federal Prime Minister Martin over equalization payments. The CRA poll in March 2006 showed 82 percent satisfaction with his government and 71 percent in William's premiership. Polling conducted throughout 2007, showed that support for Williams and his government remained high. In August 2007, the CRA found that 86 percent were satisfied with the government's performance; 77 percent supported Williams as premier, and 76 percent endorsed the PC party.
A mid-term poll by CRA in November 2009 showed that 77 percent of decided voters backed Williams' Progressive Conservatives. His popularity had been in the seventies according to polls conducted by the CRA earlier in 2009. Two other polls conducted in late 2009 showed similar results, the first of which was by Global News
and Ipsos
and the second was by Angus Reid. The Angus Reid poll surveyed Canadians in nine provinces and found that Williams was by far the most popular premier in Canada. 78 percent of respondents in the province approved of Williams' performance, the only other premier to receive the support of more than half of respondents in their province was Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall
with 58 percent.
A CRA poll released in March 2010 showed public support for Williams' Progressive Conservative Party that had extended to a record 80 percent of decided voters, up from 77 percent from February. Satisfaction with the government was 93 percent voters. After controversies arose surrounding the accidental expropriation of the Grand Falls-Windsor paper mill and the province's readiness to react to a possible oil spill, the Williams led government as well as his personal popularity took a slight hit. A CRA poll conducted in May 2010, showed that satisfaction with the government was at 87 percent down from 93 percent in March, the party's support had fallen five percent to 75 percent and Williams own support fell to 79 percent down from 81 percent. Even with the slight loss in support Williams remains by far the most popular provincial or federal leader in the country.
The week following Williams' departure from politics, CRA released a poll conducted during November showing that 90 percent of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians were either completely or mostly satisfied with the performance of the PC government. 75 percent of the respondents supported the Progressive Conservatives, while 76 percent thought Williams was the best choice to be premier.
, who was the PC Candidate for the Humber West
by-election to succeed him.
In March 2011, Williams announced that he had decided not to attend a Progressive Conservative tribute dinner in his honour, held in conjunction with a party meeting scheduled for April 1.
In May 2011, Williams became a major figure in an effort to bring an American Hockey League
(AHL) team back to St. John's. The provincial government rejected St. John's Sports and Entertainment's request for a $500,000 anuual subsidy, in a move that "shocked" Williams. However, on June 1, Williams announced tentative deals with St. John's Sports and Entertainment and True North Sports and Entertainment, the current owner of the AHL Manitoba Moose
. On June 10, a formal announcement was made confirming the deal to move the Manitoba Moose to Mile One Centre
. On July 29, Williams held a second event at Mile One Centre where he announced that the team would be named the St. John's IceCaps
, and unveiled the team's logo.
On September 5, 2011, Williams campaigned with Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta
leadership candidate
Gary Mar
in Fort McMurray, Alberta
.
|- style="background:#ccc;"
! rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|Party
! rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|Party leader
!rowspan="2"|Candidates
! colspan="4" style="text-align:center;"|Seats
! colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|Popular vote
|- style="background:#ccc;"
| style="text-align:center;"|2003
| style="text-align:center;"|Dissol.
| style="text-align:center;"|2007
| style="text-align:center;"|Change
| style="text-align:center;"|#
| style="text-align:center;"|%
| style="text-align:center;"|Change
|align=left|Progressive Conservative
|align=left|Danny Williams
|align="right"|48
|align="right"|34
|align="right"|34
|align="right"|44
|align="right"|+10
|align="right"|155,943
|align="right"|69.59%
|align="right"|+10.88%
|align=left|Liberal
|align=left|Gerry Reid
|align="right"|46
|align="right"|12
|align="right"|11
|align="right"|3
|align="right"|-9
|align="right"|48,598
|align="right"|21.69%
|align="right"|-11.36%
|align=left|New Democratic
|align=left|Lorraine Michael
|align="right"|36
|align="right"|2
|align="right"|1
|align="right"|1
|align="right"|No Change
|align="right"|19,028
|align="right"|8.49%
|align="right"|+1.63%
| colspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|Independent and no affiliation
|align="right"|3
|align="right"|-
|align="right"|-
|align="right"|-
|align="right"|-
|align="right"|446
|align="right"|0.20%
|align="right"|-%
|align=left|Labrador Party
|align=left|Ron Barron
|align="right"|1
|align="right"|*
|align="right"|-
|align="right"|-
|align="right"|-
|align="right"|68
|align="right"|0.03%
|align="right"|-%
|-
|
| style="text-align:left;" colspan="4"|Vacant
|align="right"|2
|colspan=5|
|-
| style="text-align:left;" colspan="3"|Total
| style="text-align:right;"|132
| style="text-align:right;"|48
| style="text-align:right;"|48
| style="text-align:right;"|48
| style="text-align:right;"|-
| style="text-align:right;"|224,083
| style="text-align:right;"|100.00%
| style="text-align:right;"|
|}
Newfoundland and Labrador general election, 2003
|- style="background:#ccc;"
! rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|Party
! rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|Party leader
!rowspan="2"|Candidates
! colspan="4" style="text-align:center;"|Seats
! colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|Popular vote
|- style="background:#ccc;"
| style="text-align:center;"|1999
| style="text-align:center;"|Dissol.
| style="text-align:center;"|2003
| style="text-align:center;"|Change
| style="text-align:center;"|#
| style="text-align:center;"|%
| style="text-align:center;"|Change
|Progressive Conservative
|Danny Williams
|align="right"|48
|align="right"|14
|align="right"|19
!align="right"|34
|align="right"|+15
|align="right"|162,949
|align="right"|58.71%
|align="right"|+17.94%
|align=left|Liberal
|align=left|Roger Grimes
|align="right"|48
|align="right"|32
|align="right"|27
!align="right"|12
|align="right"|-15
|align="right"|91,729
|align="right"|33.05%
|align="right"|-16.57%
|align=left|New Democratic
|align=left|Jack Harris
|align="right"|34
|align="right"|2
|align="right"|2
!align="right"|2
|align="right"|-
|align="right"|19,048
|align="right"|6.86%
|align="right"|-1.37%
| colspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|Independent and no affiliation
|align="right"|13
|align="right"|-
|align="right"|-
!align="right"|-
|align="right"|-
|align="right"|3,812
|align="right"|1.38%
|align="right"|-%
|-
! style="text-align:left;" colspan="3"|Total
!align="right"|143
!align="right"|48
!align="right"|48
!align="right"|48
!align="right"| -
!align="right"|277,538
!align="right"|100.00%
!align="right"|
|}
|Progressive Conservative
|Danny Williams
|align="right"|3755
|align="right"|87.92%
|align="right"|+19.20%
|-
|Liberal
|Maurice Budgell
|align="right"|516
|align="right"|12.08%
|align="right"|-15.48%
|}
|-
|Progressive Conservative
|Danny Williams
|align="right"|3823
|align="right"|68.72%
|align="right"|
|-
|Liberal
|Edward Buckle
|align="right"|1533
|align="right"|27.56%
|align="right"|
|-
|NDP
|Matthew Robbins
|align="right"|207
|align="right"|3.72%
|align="right"|
|}
}
|-
|Progressive Conservative
|Danny Williams
|align="right"|3606
|align="right"|72.01%
|align="right"|
|-
|Liberal
|June Alteen
|align="right"|1215
|align="right"|24.26%
|align="right"|
|-
|NDP
|Kris Watton
|align="right"|186
|align="right"|3.71%
|align="right"|
|}
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
, MHA
Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly is one of two components of the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, the other being the Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Newfoundland and Labrador General Assembly meets in the Confederation Building at St...
(born August 4, 1949) is a Canadian politician
Politics of Canada
The politics of Canada function within a framework of parliamentary democracy and a federal system of parliamentary government with strong democratic traditions. Canada is a constitutional monarchy, in which the Monarch is head of state...
, businessman and lawyer who served as the ninth Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador between November 6, 2003, and December 3, 2010. Williams was born and raised in St. John's
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
, Newfoundland and Labrador. Before entering politics Williams was a highly successful lawyer and businessman.
After becoming Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
For pre-1949 Conservative parties see Conservative parties in Newfoundland The Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is a centre-right provincial political party in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Originally founded in 1949 the party has formed the Government of...
in 2001, he was elected to the House of Assembly
Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly is one of two components of the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, the other being the Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Newfoundland and Labrador General Assembly meets in the Confederation Building at St...
in a by-election for the district
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
of Humber West
Humber West
Humber West is a provincial electoral district for the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. As of 2011, there are 8,403 eligible voters living within the district....
in Corner Brook.
Williams' premiership was considered controversial outside of Newfoundland and Labrador. Events such as ordering all Canadian flags to be removed from provincial government buildings, and launching the Anything But Conservative
Anything But Conservative
Anything But Conservative , also known as the ABC campaign, was a political campaign in the 2008 Canadian federal election encouraging voters to support any party other than the federal Conservative Party...
campaign in the 2008 federal election, garnered national attention. While Williams remains a controversial politician outside Newfoundland and Labrador, he was continuously ranked as one of the most popular premiers in Canada, with approval ratings in the province consistently in the high seventies and eighties.
Early life and education
Daniel E. Williams was born in St. John'sSt. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, the eldest of four children to Thomas Williams and Teresita (Galway). He received his early education from Saint Bonaventure's College
Saint Bonaventure's College
St. Bonaventure's College is an independent kindergarten to grade 12 Catholic School in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is located in the historic centre of North America's oldest city, adjacent to the Roman Catholic Basilica of St...
and then Gonzaga High School
Gonzaga High School
Gonzaga High School is an educational establishment located in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. The school began as a Jesuit sponsored all-boys school from grades 9 to 11...
. The Williams family have been Progressive Conservatives since the province's confederation with Canada; Williams handed out brochures and put up signs in support of John Diefenbaker
John Diefenbaker
John George Diefenbaker, PC, CH, QC was the 13th Prime Minister of Canada, serving from June 21, 1957, to April 22, 1963...
's campaign to be Prime Minister.
Williams went on to study at Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland, is a comprehensive university located primarily in St...
, where he received a degree in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and economics. In 1969, he was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
and went to Keble College, Oxford
Keble College, Oxford
Keble College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its main buildings are on Parks Road, opposite the University Museum and the University Parks. The college is bordered to the north by Keble Road, to the south by Museum Road, and to the west by Blackhall...
, United Kingdom to read Arts in Law. Whilst at Oxford he played hockey for the Oxford University Ice Hockey Club
Oxford University Ice Hockey Club
Oxford University Ice Hockey Club, sometimes known as Oxford Blues, is one of the world's oldest ice hockey teams. Tradition places the origin of the club in 1885, when a match is said to have been played against Cambridge University Ice Hockey Club at St Moritz...
. He then attended Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
, Halifax where he earned a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
degree.
Professional and business career
All currency is in Canadian dollarCanadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
s.
While still in law school, Williams led a consortium of businesspeople that was granted one of Newfoundland's first cable television licenses and started the company "Avalon Cablevision". Through major acquisitions and the very early adoption of the Internet ISP business (via theZone dial-up and later RoadRunner high-speed cable Internet services), he built Cable Atlantic
Cable Atlantic
Cable Atlantic Inc. was a cable television provider serving much of the population of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador...
into one of the largest communications companies in Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
. As the principal owner, he sold the telecommunications portion of the business for $76 million dollars in April 2000, to GT Group Telecom Inc. The cable TV portion of Cable Atlantic was sold to Rogers Cable Inc. for $152 million in November 2000. This sale plus the success of his extensive law practice gave him the nickname of "Danny Millions" during the early 2000s.
Williams has been practising law since 1972, becoming a financially successful lawyer, and was appointed Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1984. His firm represented many of the abused altar boys and orphans who sued the Roman Catholic Church, the Christian Brothers and the province of Newfoundland following the Mount Cashel Orphanage
Mount Cashel Orphanage
The Mount Cashel Orphanage is a former Canadian orphanage that was operated by the Congregation of Christian Brothers. It was located in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador....
scandal.
Williams served as president of OIS Fisher, an oil and natural gas company (later renamed Spectrol Group), and has invested in golf courses and resorts throughout the province. He has also served as the Chairman of the Canadian Parliamentary Channel (CPAC), the Newfoundland and Labrador Film Development Corporation as well as the Provincial Government Offshore Oil Impact Advisory Council.
While he was the owner of Cable Atlantic
Cable Atlantic
Cable Atlantic Inc. was a cable television provider serving much of the population of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador...
Williams purchased the naming rights to a sports complex in St. John's for $600,000 from Molson
Molson
Molson-Coors Canada Inc. is the Canadian division of the world's fifth-largest brewing company, the Molson Coors Brewing Company. It is the second oldest company in Canada after the Hudson's Bay Company. Molson's first brewery was located on the St...
. Before the centre opened, however, Williams had sold Cable Atlantic to Rogers Communications
Rogers Communications
Rogers Communications Inc. is one of Canada's largest communications companies, particularly in the field of wireless communications, cable television, home phone and internet with additional telecommunications and mass media assets...
to pursue his political career, but retained the naming rights. Ultimately he chose to name the centre Mile One Centre
Mile One Centre
Mile One Centre is an indoor arena and entertainment venue located in downtown St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The centre's name comes from it being located at the beginning of the Trans-Canada Highway. At full capacity the arena can seat 7,000 people.The arena opened in May 2001, as...
, based on the venue's location at the beginning of the Trans Canada Highway.
Leader of the Opposition
In 2000, after years of speculation Williams announced his candidacy for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and LabradorProgressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
For pre-1949 Conservative parties see Conservative parties in Newfoundland The Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is a centre-right provincial political party in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Originally founded in 1949 the party has formed the Government of...
(PC), and was returned uncontested on April 7, 2001. On June 19, 2001, he won a by-election in the Corner Brook district of Humber West
Humber West
Humber West is a provincial electoral district for the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. As of 2011, there are 8,403 eligible voters living within the district....
.
Support for the PC party saw a big bounce when Williams became leader. Four by-elections were held during the two years he was the Opposition Leader and each seat was won by a PC candidate. In September 2001, Liberal Assemblyman (MHA) Ross Wiseman
Ross Wiseman
Ross Wiseman is a politician from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Wiseman represents the district of Trinity North in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly...
crossed the floor of the House of Assembly
Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly is one of two components of the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, the other being the Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Newfoundland and Labrador General Assembly meets in the Confederation Building at St...
to join the Progressive Conservative caucus. During his time as Opposition Leader, Williams donated his legislative salary to charity.
2003 election
Brian Tobin
Brian Vincent Tobin, PC is a Canadian businessman and former politician. Tobin served as the sixth Premier of Newfoundland from 1996 to 2000. Tobin was also a prominent Member of Parliament and served as a Cabinet Minister in Jean Chrétien's Liberal government.- Early life, education, and family...
as Premier of Newfoundland
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador is the first minister, head of government and de facto chief executive for the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Before 1964, the position's official title was Premier of Newfoundland...
in February 2001, Premier Roger Grimes
Roger Grimes
Roger D. Grimes is a Canadian politician from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Grimes was born and raised in the central Newfoundland town of Grand Falls-Windsor....
had been under opposition pressure to legitimize his mandate at the polls after winning the leadership of the Liberal Party (Liberals). On September 29, 2003, Grimes called an election for October 21, 2003.
Polls leading up to and during the election showed that the Progressive Conservatives under Williams had a substantial lead over their main competitor the Liberals, as well as the New Democratic Party (NDP). Williams campaigned for change and promised to control spending, streamline the public service and create jobs.
The Progressive Conservatives captured nearly 59% of the vote and won 34 of the 48 seats in the in the 2003 general election
Newfoundland and Labrador general election, 2003
The 46th Newfoundland and Labrador general election was held on October 21, 2003, to elect the 48 members of the 45th General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, the 17th general election for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada...
. This win marked only the third change of government in the 54 years since the province joined Canada, and ended nearly 15 years of Liberal Party rule. As party leader, Williams became the province's ninth Premier.
First term as premier
Soon after being elected, Williams announced the province's debts were so burdensome that he had no choice but to cut spending and freeze wages. Based on the projected $840 million budget deficit for 2004, the government announced swingeing cuts. A number of projects would be cut, and others delayed. Cuts included three health care facilities and a school; delayed projects included, most notably, the opening of The RoomsThe Rooms
The Rooms is a cultural facility in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The facility opened in 2005 and houses the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Provincial Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador.On a hill overlooking...
, the province's cultural facility that was under construction. Spurred by the administration's announcement of pay-freeze and plan to eliminate 4,000 public sector jobs, a strike was declared among the 20,000 public sector employees two days following the announcement, at midnight April 1, 2004. The strike ended nearly a month later when Williams reneged on a campaign promise and legislated the employees back to work. Later that year the Williams government compressed health and education boards in an attempt for a more efficient delivery of services, a move that still receives criticism in the province.
An opinion poll conducted in June 2004 showed that support for the Premier and the Progressive Conservatives had plunged. From its nearly 60 percent share of the vote in the general election seven months earlier, support had shrunk to 41 percent, almost tied with the Liberals at 39 percent. His personal support as choice of Premier fell to 39 percent, a marked fall from 65 percent he enjoyed just six months earlier.
Williams' popularity increased when he fought with then Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin
Paul Martin
Paul Edgar Philippe Martin, PC , also known as Paul Martin, Jr. is a Canadian politician who was the 21st Prime Minister of Canada, as well as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
over a campaign promise Martin had made that would lead to a revised Atlantic Accord
Atlantic Accord
The Atlantic Accord is an agreement signed in 1985 between the Government of Canada and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to manage offshore oil and gas resources adjacent to Newfoundland and Labrador....
. Martin proposed an eight-year deal that the province would keep 100 percent of offshore oil revenues, but with an expenditure a cap to keep the province from surpassing the per capita tax revenue of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. Williams, supported by leaders of the other provincial leaders, walked out of talks with Martin, saying that cap would cost the provincial government billions of dollars in lost revenue over the life of its three oil fields. Williams along with Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
Premier John Hamm
John Hamm
John Frederick Hamm, is a Canadian physician and politician and was the 25th Premier of Nova Scotia, Canada.Hamm, a graduate of the University of King's College and Dalhousie University, was a family doctor in his hometown of Stellarton, Nova Scotia, and the president of the Nova Scotia Medical...
, who also wanted the same deal as Newfoundland and Labrador, met with the Prime Minister on several occasions but a deal between Ottawa and the two provinces could not be reached. Williams raised the temperature on December 23, 2004, when he ordered the removal of all Canadian flags from provincial government buildings. On January 10, 2005, Canadian flags started flying once again in the province, and several weeks later Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia reached a deal with Ottawa. A March opinion poll indicated that support for the Williams government had rebounded to 86 percent.
On March 3, 2006, Williams appeared on Larry King Live
Larry King Live
Larry King Live is an American talk show hosted by Larry King on CNN from 1985 to 2010. It was CNN's most watched and longest-running program, with over one million viewers nightly....
where Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
and then wife Heather Mills argued the seal hunt was inhumane because seal cubs were being clubbed to death. Williams said the annual hunt is supported by scientists, veterinarians and organizations like the UN and the World Wildlife Fund, and that 90% of cubs are killed by bullet. Williams accused the McCartneys of being used by IFAW, Greenpeace
Greenpeace
Greenpeace is a non-governmental environmental organization with offices in over forty countries and with an international coordinating body in Amsterdam, The Netherlands...
and PETA
Peta
Peta can refer to:* peta-, an SI prefix denoting a factor of 1015* Peta, Greece, a town in Greece* Peta, the Pāli word for a Preta, or hungry ghost in Buddhism* Peta Wilson, an Australian actress and model* Peta Todd, English glamour model...
to help them raise funds. He then invited the McCartneys to visit Newfoundland and Labrador.
2007 election
Memorandum of understanding
A memorandum of understanding is a document describing a bilateral or multilateral agreement between parties. It expresses a convergence of will between the parties, indicating an intended common line of action. It is often used in cases where parties either do not imply a legal commitment or in...
for the Hebron offshore oilfield with several major oil companies in which government royalties were exchanged for a 4.9 percent equity stake in the project. On September 17, 2007, Williams called a provincial election. Williams' popularity was riding at 75%, and polls during the campaign showed the Conservatives reaching up to 86 percent of voter support.
After the vote count, the Progressive Conservatives emerged with nine more seats than they held at the dissolution of the previous legislature. The party had won 69.5 percent of the popular vote, the highest popular vote share ever attained by the PC party in the province. Three Liberal incumbents, as well as NDP leader Lorraine Michael
Lorraine Michael
Lorraine Michael, MHA is a social democratic Canadian politician from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Since 2006 Michael has been the leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party . She is a former nun, teacher, and social activist...
, successfully held their seats. Notably, however, Liberal leader Gerry Reid
Gerry Reid
Gerry Reid was the Leader of the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador. He initially served as interim leader from 2005 to 2006, until Jim Bennett replaced him in February 2006...
was not reelected in his own district. The next month Williams' Progressive Conservatives increased their seat count to 44 out of 48, after winning a deferred election in Grand Falls-Windsor-Buchans following the death of Liberal candidate Gerry Tobin on October 1.
Second term as premier
On August 20, 2008, Williams and a consortium of oil companies led by Chevron Canada signed a deal to develop the Hebron oil field – the second largest oil field off the coast of the province with an estimated 700 million barrels of oil reserves, worth some $20 billion in royalties and up to 3,500 jobs from the project. Construction is scheduled to start in 2012, with oil extraction by 2017.During the 2008 Canadian Federal election
Canadian federal election, 2008
The 2008 Canadian federal election was held on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 40th Canadian Parliament after the previous parliament had been dissolved by the Governor General on September 7, 2008...
, Williams hit out at incumbent Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
and the federal administration for reneging on a 2006 election pledge to exclude non-renewable energy sources from the equalization formula. In order to thwart Harper's reelection, Williams launched a "ABC" campaign: Anything But Conservative
Anything But Conservative
Anything But Conservative , also known as the ABC campaign, was a political campaign in the 2008 Canadian federal election encouraging voters to support any party other than the federal Conservative Party...
. According to The Globe and Mail, the federal Conservatives' loss of all representation in Newfoundland and Labrador may have been as a result of Williams' campaign. Harper was also narrowly denied majority government status.
On June 16, 2009, Williams announced the government had concluded an agreement with oil companies to expand the Hibernia oil field in which the province would have a 10 percent equity stake in the "Hibernia South" extension. The deal promised to add $13 billion to the province's coffers.
Williams has been outspoken about the Québec Government and their crown corporation Hydro-Québec
Hydro-Québec
Hydro-Québec is a government-owned public utility established in 1944 by the Government of Quebec. Based in Montreal, the company is in charge of the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity across Quebec....
. On September 3, 2009, Williams accused Hydro-Québec of trying to block the Lower Churchill hydroelectric project to protect its own dominance in the marketplace by making a deal with New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham
Shawn Graham
Shawn Michael Graham, MLA is a New Brunswick politician, who served as the 31st Premier of New Brunswick. He received a Bachelor of Physical Education Degree in 1991 and a Bachelor of Education Degree in 1993, he worked for New Brunswick's civil service before being elected to the Legislative...
to buy NB Power's
NB Power
NB Power , formerly known as New Brunswick Power Corporation and New Brunswick Electric Power Commission is the primary and former monopoly electrical utility in the Canadian province of New Brunswick...
nuclear and hydro generating stations, the transmission system and other assets in a massive deal. On October 29, 2009, the premiers of New Brunswick
Premier of New Brunswick
The Premier of New Brunswick is the first minister for the Canadian province of New Brunswick. They are the province's head of government and de facto chief executive....
and Québec
Premier of Quebec
The Premier of Quebec is the first minister of the Canadian province of Quebec. The Premier is the province's head of government and his title is Premier and President of the Executive Council....
signed a memorandum of understanding to transfer most assets of NB Power to Hydro-Québec. In the end the deal between New Brunswick and Québec fell apart, Williams dissatisfaction with the deal is thought to have played a role., in a speech given on June 9, 2010, Williams strongly denounced "Québec's self interest is harming the provinces, the nation and our country's international reputation"
On February 2, 2010, it was reported that Williams would travel to the United States to have heart surgery. The move raised questions about the quality and availability of health care services and procedures in Canada's health care system. According to Deputy Premier Kathy Dunderdale
Kathy Dunderdale
Kathleen Mary Margaret "Kathy" Dunderdale MHA is a Canadian politician and the tenth and current Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, having served in this capacity since December 3, 2010...
, "It was never an option offered to him to have this procedure done in this province." Dunderdale refused to answer how the procedure would be paid for, or whether the procedure could have been scheduled to be performed in another province of Canada. On February 8, 2010, it was reported that Williams' surgery had been successful. On his return, Williams later defended his choice saying: "I did not sign away my right to get the best possible health care for myself when I entered politics". Williams said although he had "the utmost confidence" in his own province's health care system, his decision was to go to Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami
Mount Sinai Medical Center & Miami Heart Institute
Mount Sinai Medical Center & Miami Heart Institute is a hospital located at 4300 Alton Road in Miami Beach, Florida, and is the largest independent non-profit teaching hospital in the state. The institution was incorporated on March 11, 1946, and opened on its current location on Sunday, December...
to undergo "a very specialized piece of surgery [by] somebody who's doing this three or four times a day, five, six days a week."
On November 18, 2010, Williams was joined by Premier of Nova Scotia
Premier of Nova Scotia
The Premier of Nova Scotia is the first minister for the Canadian province of Nova Scotia who presides over the Executive Council of Nova Scotia. Following the Westminster system, the premier is normally the leader of the political party which has the most seats in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly...
, Darrell Dexter
Darrell Dexter
Darrell Dexter is a Canadian lawyer, journalist and former naval officer who is serving as the 27th and current Premier of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. A member of the New Democratic Party, he has led the Nova Scotia NDP since 2001. He was elected Premier in 2009 after defeating...
, in announcing a $6.2 billion agreement to develop the first phase of the Lower Churchill Project
Lower Churchill Project
The Lower Churchill Project is a planned hydroelectric project in Labrador, Canada, to develop the remaining 35 per cent of the Churchill River that has not already been developed by the Churchill Falls Generating Station...
. Nalcor Energy
Nalcor Energy
Nalcor Energy is a provincial energy corporation which is headquartered in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. A provincial Crown corporation under the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Nalcor Energy was created in 2007 to manage the provinces energy resources...
, a Newfoundland and Labrador Crown corporation, signed a partnership agreement with Emera Inc. of Nova Scotia to develop the 824 megawatts Muskrat Falls
Muskrat Falls
Muskrat Falls is a natural 15 metre waterfall located on the lower Churchill River about 25 kilometers west of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador....
. The hydro development would see power from the falls transferred from Labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
to the island of Newfoundland via an underwater transmission link through the Strait of Belle Isle. Another underwater transmission link across the Gulf of St. Lawrence would bring power to Nova Scotia. Newfoundland and Labrador will use 40 percent of the hydro power itself and will be able to shut down the oil burning Holyrood Thermal Generating Station
Holyrood Thermal Generating Station
The Holyrood Thermal Electric Generating Station built by Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro Corporation is located near the community of Holyrood, in Conception Bay, Newfoundland, Canada.-Overview:...
. Emera Inc. will get 20 percent of the power for $1.2 billion to sell to customers in Nova Scotia. The remaining 40 percent will be sold by Nalcor Energy to markets in Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
and the Northeastern United States.
Popularity
Williams' popularity is said to be unmatched in Canadian political history; his high approval ratings lasted right up until his retirement. Although Williams' premiership was considered quite controversial in Canada at large, except for his first year in office, his own provincial approval ratings and those of his government have been consistently in the seventy to eighty percent range for the majority of the time he was in office. According to polling organisation Corporate Research Associates (CRA), Williams remains by far the most popular provincial or federal leader in the country.During his first year in office Williams and his government suffered low approval ratings. However, approval for Williams and his government dramatically improved in 2005. A poll showed support for the Williams government was at 86 percent after Williams secured a deal with Federal Prime Minister Martin over equalization payments. The CRA poll in March 2006 showed 82 percent satisfaction with his government and 71 percent in William's premiership. Polling conducted throughout 2007, showed that support for Williams and his government remained high. In August 2007, the CRA found that 86 percent were satisfied with the government's performance; 77 percent supported Williams as premier, and 76 percent endorsed the PC party.
A mid-term poll by CRA in November 2009 showed that 77 percent of decided voters backed Williams' Progressive Conservatives. His popularity had been in the seventies according to polls conducted by the CRA earlier in 2009. Two other polls conducted in late 2009 showed similar results, the first of which was by Global News
Global News
Global News is the news and current affairs division of Global Television Network in Canada, overseeing all local and national news programming on the network's eleven owned-and-operated stations .-National programs:...
and Ipsos
Ipsos
Ipsos S.A. is a global market research company headquartered in Paris, France. The Company was founded in 1975 and has been publicly traded on the Paris Stock Exchange since 1 July 1999...
and the second was by Angus Reid. The Angus Reid poll surveyed Canadians in nine provinces and found that Williams was by far the most popular premier in Canada. 78 percent of respondents in the province approved of Williams' performance, the only other premier to receive the support of more than half of respondents in their province was Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall
Brad Wall
Bradley John "Brad" Wall, MLA is a Canadian politician who has been the 14th Premier of Saskatchewan since November 21, 2007....
with 58 percent.
A CRA poll released in March 2010 showed public support for Williams' Progressive Conservative Party that had extended to a record 80 percent of decided voters, up from 77 percent from February. Satisfaction with the government was 93 percent voters. After controversies arose surrounding the accidental expropriation of the Grand Falls-Windsor paper mill and the province's readiness to react to a possible oil spill, the Williams led government as well as his personal popularity took a slight hit. A CRA poll conducted in May 2010, showed that satisfaction with the government was at 87 percent down from 93 percent in March, the party's support had fallen five percent to 75 percent and Williams own support fell to 79 percent down from 81 percent. Even with the slight loss in support Williams remains by far the most popular provincial or federal leader in the country.
Resignation
On November 25, 2010, Williams announced that he would step down as premier on December 3, 2010, and that Deputy Premier Kathy Dunderdale would serve as the premier of the province until a new party leader is elected in 2011. On December 3, 2010, Williams tendered his resignation as Premier and Dunderdale was sworn in as the tenth Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, becoming the first woman to hold the office.The week following Williams' departure from politics, CRA released a poll conducted during November showing that 90 percent of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians were either completely or mostly satisfied with the performance of the PC government. 75 percent of the respondents supported the Progressive Conservatives, while 76 percent thought Williams was the best choice to be premier.
Activities post-political career
In December 2010, Williams publicly campaigned with Vaughn GranterVaughn Granter
Vaughn Granter is a provincial politician and former high school principal from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. He was elected to serve in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly on February 15, 2011 and is a member of the Progressive Conservatives...
, who was the PC Candidate for the Humber West
Humber West
Humber West is a provincial electoral district for the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. As of 2011, there are 8,403 eligible voters living within the district....
by-election to succeed him.
In March 2011, Williams announced that he had decided not to attend a Progressive Conservative tribute dinner in his honour, held in conjunction with a party meeting scheduled for April 1.
In May 2011, Williams became a major figure in an effort to bring an American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
(AHL) team back to St. John's. The provincial government rejected St. John's Sports and Entertainment's request for a $500,000 anuual subsidy, in a move that "shocked" Williams. However, on June 1, Williams announced tentative deals with St. John's Sports and Entertainment and True North Sports and Entertainment, the current owner of the AHL Manitoba Moose
Manitoba Moose
The Manitoba Moose were a Canadian professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba that played in the International Hockey League from 1996 to 2001 and American Hockey League from 2001 to 2011. The team moved to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador in 2011 to become the St...
. On June 10, a formal announcement was made confirming the deal to move the Manitoba Moose to Mile One Centre
Mile One Centre
Mile One Centre is an indoor arena and entertainment venue located in downtown St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The centre's name comes from it being located at the beginning of the Trans-Canada Highway. At full capacity the arena can seat 7,000 people.The arena opened in May 2001, as...
. On July 29, Williams held a second event at Mile One Centre where he announced that the team would be named the St. John's IceCaps
St. John's IceCaps
The St. John's IceCaps are a professional ice hockey team based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the American Hockey League and are the AHL affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League .From...
, and unveiled the team's logo.
On September 5, 2011, Williams campaigned with Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta
Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta
The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta is a provincial centre-right party in the Canadian province of Alberta...
leadership candidate
Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta leadership election, 2011
The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta leadership election, 2011 was prompted by Ed Stelmach's announcement that he would not be seeking re-election in the 28th general election and therefore would be resigning as leader of the Progressive Conservatives...
Gary Mar
Gary Mar
Gary Glen Mar QC, is a Canadian politician in Alberta, Canada. He served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1993 to 2007. On December 3, 2007, he was appointed as the Official Representative for Alberta in Washington, D.C., and worked in the Canadian Embassy with the official...
in Fort McMurray, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
.
As party leader
Newfoundland and Labrador general election, 2007Newfoundland and Labrador general election, 2007
The 47th Newfoundland and Labrador general election was held on October 9, 2007 to elect members of the 46th General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, the 18th general election for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.-Campaign:...
|- style="background:#ccc;"
! rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|Party
! rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|Party leader
!rowspan="2"|Candidates
! colspan="4" style="text-align:center;"|Seats
! colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|Popular vote
|- style="background:#ccc;"
| style="text-align:center;"|2003
Newfoundland and Labrador general election, 2003
The 46th Newfoundland and Labrador general election was held on October 21, 2003, to elect the 48 members of the 45th General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, the 17th general election for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada...
| style="text-align:center;"|Dissol.
Dissolution of parliament
In parliamentary systems, a dissolution of parliament is the dispersal of a legislature at the call of an election.Usually there is a maximum length of a legislature, and a dissolution must happen before the maximum time...
| style="text-align:center;"|2007
| style="text-align:center;"|Change
| style="text-align:center;"|#
| style="text-align:center;"|%
| style="text-align:center;"|Change
|align=left|Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
For pre-1949 Conservative parties see Conservative parties in Newfoundland The Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is a centre-right provincial political party in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Originally founded in 1949 the party has formed the Government of...
|align=left|Danny Williams
|align="right"|48
|align="right"|34
|align="right"|34
|align="right"|44
|align="right"|+10
|align="right"|155,943
|align="right"|69.59%
|align="right"|+10.88%
|align=left|Liberal
Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is a political party in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada and the provincial wing of the Liberal Party of Canada. It is the Official Opposition and currently holds six seats in the provincial legislature.-Origins:The party originated in...
|align=left|Gerry Reid
Gerry Reid
Gerry Reid was the Leader of the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador. He initially served as interim leader from 2005 to 2006, until Jim Bennett replaced him in February 2006...
|align="right"|46
|align="right"|12
|align="right"|11
|align="right"|3
|align="right"|-9
|align="right"|48,598
|align="right"|21.69%
|align="right"|-11.36%
|align=left|New Democratic
New Democratic Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party is a social-democratic provincial political party in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The party is the successor to the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and the Newfoundland Democratic Party...
|align=left|Lorraine Michael
Lorraine Michael
Lorraine Michael, MHA is a social democratic Canadian politician from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Since 2006 Michael has been the leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party . She is a former nun, teacher, and social activist...
|align="right"|36
|align="right"|2
|align="right"|1
|align="right"|1
|align="right"|No Change
|align="right"|19,028
|align="right"|8.49%
|align="right"|+1.63%
| colspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|Independent and no affiliation
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
|align="right"|3
|align="right"|-
|align="right"|-
|align="right"|-
|align="right"|-
|align="right"|446
|align="right"|0.20%
|align="right"|-%
|align=left|Labrador Party
Labrador Party
The Labrador Party was a political party in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The party was founded in 1969, and it won its first seat in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly in 1971. The newly elected Labrador Party Member of the House of Assembly soon defected, and...
|align=left|Ron Barron
|align="right"|1
|align="right"|*
|align="right"|-
|align="right"|-
|align="right"|-
|align="right"|68
|align="right"|0.03%
|align="right"|-%
|-
|
| style="text-align:left;" colspan="4"|Vacant
|align="right"|2
|colspan=5|
|-
| style="text-align:left;" colspan="3"|Total
| style="text-align:right;"|132
| style="text-align:right;"|48
| style="text-align:right;"|48
| style="text-align:right;"|48
| style="text-align:right;"|-
| style="text-align:right;"|224,083
| style="text-align:right;"|100.00%
| style="text-align:right;"|
|}
Newfoundland and Labrador general election, 2003
Newfoundland and Labrador general election, 2003
The 46th Newfoundland and Labrador general election was held on October 21, 2003, to elect the 48 members of the 45th General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, the 17th general election for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada...
|- style="background:#ccc;"
! rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|Party
! rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|Party leader
!rowspan="2"|Candidates
! colspan="4" style="text-align:center;"|Seats
! colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|Popular vote
|- style="background:#ccc;"
| style="text-align:center;"|1999
| style="text-align:center;"|Dissol.
Dissolution of parliament
In parliamentary systems, a dissolution of parliament is the dispersal of a legislature at the call of an election.Usually there is a maximum length of a legislature, and a dissolution must happen before the maximum time...
| style="text-align:center;"|2003
| style="text-align:center;"|Change
| style="text-align:center;"|#
| style="text-align:center;"|%
| style="text-align:center;"|Change
|Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
For pre-1949 Conservative parties see Conservative parties in Newfoundland The Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is a centre-right provincial political party in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Originally founded in 1949 the party has formed the Government of...
|Danny Williams
|align="right"|48
|align="right"|14
|align="right"|19
!align="right"|34
|align="right"|+15
|align="right"|162,949
|align="right"|58.71%
|align="right"|+17.94%
|align=left|Liberal
Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is a political party in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada and the provincial wing of the Liberal Party of Canada. It is the Official Opposition and currently holds six seats in the provincial legislature.-Origins:The party originated in...
|align=left|Roger Grimes
Roger Grimes
Roger D. Grimes is a Canadian politician from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Grimes was born and raised in the central Newfoundland town of Grand Falls-Windsor....
|align="right"|48
|align="right"|32
|align="right"|27
!align="right"|12
|align="right"|-15
|align="right"|91,729
|align="right"|33.05%
|align="right"|-16.57%
|align=left|New Democratic
New Democratic Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party is a social-democratic provincial political party in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The party is the successor to the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and the Newfoundland Democratic Party...
|align=left|Jack Harris
Jack Harris (politician)
John James "Jack" Harris MP is a Canadian lawyer and politician from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Harris is the New Democratic Party Member of Parliament for St. John's East and is a former leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party...
|align="right"|34
|align="right"|2
|align="right"|2
!align="right"|2
|align="right"|-
|align="right"|19,048
|align="right"|6.86%
|align="right"|-1.37%
| colspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|Independent and no affiliation
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
|align="right"|13
|align="right"|-
|align="right"|-
!align="right"|-
|align="right"|-
|align="right"|3,812
|align="right"|1.38%
|align="right"|-%
|-
! style="text-align:left;" colspan="3"|Total
!align="right"|143
!align="right"|48
!align="right"|48
!align="right"|48
!align="right"| -
!align="right"|277,538
!align="right"|100.00%
!align="right"|
|}
As MHA
|-|Progressive Conservative
|Danny Williams
|align="right"|3755
|align="right"|87.92%
|align="right"|+19.20%
|-
|Liberal
|Maurice Budgell
|align="right"|516
|align="right"|12.08%
|align="right"|-15.48%
|}
|-
|Progressive Conservative
|Danny Williams
|align="right"|3823
|align="right"|68.72%
|align="right"|
|-
|Liberal
|Edward Buckle
|align="right"|1533
|align="right"|27.56%
|align="right"|
|-
|NDP
|Matthew Robbins
|align="right"|207
|align="right"|3.72%
|align="right"|
|}
}
|-
|Progressive Conservative
|Danny Williams
|align="right"|3606
|align="right"|72.01%
|align="right"|
|-
|Liberal
|June Alteen
|align="right"|1215
|align="right"|24.26%
|align="right"|
|-
|NDP
|Kris Watton
|align="right"|186
|align="right"|3.71%
|align="right"|
|}