Crosbie accuses Furey of flip-flopping after tweet claiming 'misinformation' on economic report

Liberal Leader Andrew Fureyis alleging "misinformation" about an impending report from his economic recovery team report, and his political opponentsare accusinghim of flip-flopping on his intentions to consult the public on its recommendations.

On Twitter on Saturday afternoon, Fureysaid he "wanted to address the misinformation outthere" about the report from the team,led by Moya Greene.

"Dame Moya Greene is not the premier. The recommendations that Dame Moya Greene and her task force will put forward are just those recommendations," Furey said in the tweet.

"Everyone will have the chance to have a say and we will table that final report in the House of Assembly."

His tweet followedcriticism from the PC Party and NDP, which are calling for the report's release beforethe Feb. 13 election. Greene has publicly discussed the need to look at public spending, particularly in the areas of rural health care and transportation.

A progress report from the recovery team, outlining recommendations for dealing with escalating debt, is not expected until the end of February. Its final report is due April 30.

But Greene's report and the decision to hold an election before its release has been a lightning rod for criticism of Furey and the Liberals.

Furey told reporters Saturday the report was being made out as "a boogeyman," but was not clear about exactly what he waslabelling"misinformation."

Andrew Furey says 'misinformation' is rampant about Moya Greene report

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PC Leader Ches Crosbie says Liberals have flip-flopped on Economic Recovery Team report

On Monday, Fureyagain did not point to any specific criticism, but instead said his statement was meant to broadly prevent incorrect assumptions about his plan.

"We've seen political campaigns and how some less-than-truthful tweets in particular, and Facebook posts, have been [put] out and how that can unduly influence campaigns," he said.

"As social media has evolved, it's changed how campaigns are run, and [we] just have to look to our neighboursto the south to see some of that. We just want to make sure that this is a campaign on ideas, and about growing the future of the province, and not one that's based on mistruths."

Fureyflip-flopping: Crosbie

PC Leader Ches Crosbie, at a press conference Monday,framedFurey'stweet as"backpedaling."

"This report from Dame MoyaGreene has gone from being the saviour of us all, with instructions given to cabinet ministers 'Your job is to implementthe Greene report' and that was how the campaign started on Friday," Crosbie said.

"Now the premier is backpedalingand it's only recommendations that he's going to debate with the public. Well, if that's the case, he should bring it out now,beforethe votes are cast."

The PCs cited a letter to Siobhan Coady, Furey's deputy premier, on Sept. 15, in which he asked her to implement the report'ssuggestions.

"I ask you to work with me to oversee and implement recommendations of the premier's economic recovery team," the letter said.

"We will bring together expertise from a variety of sectors and sources to identify opportunities to advance the development and diversification of the provincial economy."

Furey on Monday defended the language in that letter, saying his position on the report since accepting the premiership has "not at all" been contradictory.

"The recommendations are just those recommendations," he said.

"What we will do, and we're committed to [doing],and was always the intent, was to take those recommendations and we're going to do broad consultations with the public. Everyone will have a chance to have a say, and then we'll table that report to the House of Assembly and make the decisions then."

Only then, he said, would his party apply those recommendations.

"It's very straightforward:gather the evidence, do public consultation and then act," Furey said.

Recovery team facing ongoing scrutiny

In recent weeks, the recovery team has faced criticism from both without and within, as one member dropped out and critics decried what they say is a lack of transparency.Russell Williams, a professor in Memorial University's political science department, also said the team's process isflawed and secretive.

Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour president Mary Shortall abruptly resigned from the team earlier this month.

ShortallsaidMonday she took issue with the consultation process. Unlike a recent economic task force appointed in British Columbia, which Shortall says heldconsultations prior to forming recommendations, she pointed out that Furey's team is bound by non-disclosure agreements and has not made any of its research or discussions public.

Shortall said the team was operating under the impression their report would be taken seriously by the provincial government and tabled in the House of Assembly but if that report istabled by a majority government, instead of the minority Liberal government, its debate loses a sense of significance.

"It's a little bit like adding an ingredient after the cake is made," she said.

"Once government is in a position to pass recommendations either way, the consultation process may not be as effective."

Both Crosbie and NDP Leader Alison Coffin have called on the Liberals to delay an election until after the report is released publicly. Crosbiehas referred to a Liberal "secret plan" filled with cuts, while Coffin said it's not fair to voters to withhold the report's findings.

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