Labradorians weigh in on looming byelection

Labradorians are preparing togo tothe polls Monday in a much-anticipated federal byelection.

It was triggered by former MP Peter Penashue's resignation following revelations that he overspent on his 2011 election campaign and also accepted illegal corporate donations.

Now, there's word thatpeople who previously supported Penashue are switching partiesthis time around.

Penashue won the seat by just 79 votes in 2011. He hopes to winit backon Mondayagainst Liberal candidate Yvonne Jones, the NDP's Harry Borlase, and Libertarian candidate Norman Andrews.

From blue to red

Agnes Pike, who owns Ocean View Resort in West St. Modeste, voted for Penashue in the last electionbut she said this time she's votingLiberal.

"I've known Peter for quite a long time, and I wasn't happy with the former (Liberal) representation ... from Ottawa. So in the last election, two years ago, I got out and I supported Peter Penashue," she said.

"[But] I haven't been happy with what the Harper government [has] been doing, looking at some of the policies and the cuts, how it's affecting rural communities; moreover coastal, remote, isolated communities where I live, it has taken its toll on our communities."

Pike said while she's supporting Jones, some business people in Happy Valley-Goose Bay seem to stand behind Penashue.

"They're probably seeing some major results of the economic movement, and with the commitment and promises that Peter has made, and the Harper government is makingto the base in Goose Bay, which affects all [of] the business community," she said.

"I'm in a totally different situation. I live in coastal Labrador, along the south coast, in the district from Cartwright to L'Anse au Clair, and to see what [was] after happening with the Harper government over the last year or so in terms of the cuts on the ACOA money, the economic development boards, the EI system ... and all of these things, I don't think you'll get people in rural communities supporting the Harper government like they did maybe even two years ago."

NDP support

Like Pike, Tony Anderson voted for Penashue in the last election. But this time he's backing the NDP and Borlase.

Anderson, who lives in the Inuit territory of Nunatsiavut and heads the Combined Councils of Labrador, said he can't support Penashue any more.

"I did vote for Peter in the last election, because Peter was a recognized aboriginal leader in Labrador, and I like to think of Peter as a friend," he said.

"[I] no longer support the Conservative party. And I think, as well, some of the things that have happened ... Peter blamed his inexperienced staff. But he was the boss, and he has the responsibility and has to accept that responsibilty, and it took him some time before he did resign his seat. So it was a bit of the same old politics for me."

Anderson said he voiced his concerns in person to Penashue.

"He came to my door in Nain a couple of weeks ago, and I said, 'Peter, I don't particularly like your government, and given that you've had two years, I can no longer support you,' and I told him that I was supporting the NDP," he said.

"A lot of people in my area feel very much the same way I do, and that's become evident by the number of NDP posters we see in windows. I remember two years ago it was difficult to find an NDP poster on someone's property. And now, they're widespread."

Playing for Penashue

Katie Rich, a curriculum advisor for the Mushua Innu Natuashish school, said she continues to support Penashue.

"He has delivered in placing Natuashish and Sheshatshiu on the map and he put his heart into helping the Innu," she said.

Defense Minister Peter MacKay has promised that Penashue will be re-appointed to the federal cabinet if he wins re-election. Rich said that has influenced her vote.

"I believe that Labrador will be best served when we have somebody at the [cabinet] table, rather than someone always knocking at the door."

Rich said Penashue is popular in Natuashish.

"There are quite a number of posters in every window in houses of the community of Natuashish," she said.

Put Labrador before Newfoundland

Penashue recentlyboasted thathe held upa major projectforNewfoundland until funding for the Trans-Labrador Highway was approved.

Pike was not impressed.

"I feel that if you're sitting at the cabinet table representing your province, Newfoundland and Labrador, everybody should be treated equally. And to come out and say that, 'I will not give money to Newfoundland unless I get some for Labrador'... I certainly wouldn't come out and say what I did to get that money," she said.

"With most people you speak to around the communities, it was kind of a joke. I don't believe the people that I'm around felt really good about that statement."

Meanwhile, Rich said Penashue has been working hard for the region, and more needs to be done for Labrador.

"I think it's about time that monies are being spent in Labrador," she said. "Labrador has been left out in Ottawa ... and I think that he has done a tremendous job over the last two years, and that he will do more for Labrador."

Anderson said Penashue'sboast offavouring Labrador over the island may have had some impact in central and southern Labrador, but not in northern communities.

"In my region in Nunatsiavut, we're not connected by road. There is no plan to connect Nunatsiavut by road. There is no plan to bring power from Upper Churchill to Nunatsiavut at this time. If there was big money, we haven't seen those projects in northern Labrador,"he said.

"Two years have come and gone. Even for the marine transportation, there is a plan in place that will bring a roll-on, roll-off ferry for the first time to northern Labrador in 2016three summers away. Whether or not that will happen ... it's hard to trust that government."

Trudeau helps Jones

Federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau paid a visit to Labrador in April to boost Jones' campaign.

Pike said she thinks the visit sured-up Liberal support in the area from young people.

"I think Justin, where he's young, got a lot of young ideas, (and he's) hoping to be the next prime minister of this country. Yvonne may have picked up a lot of support from the young population," she said.

Rich, however, said the Trudeau name doesn't mean anything to her.

"[He] was treated more like a movie star rather than a candidate," she said.

'Winds of change'

Anderson said he believes Labrador's political landscape has changed.

"This is no longer the two-party race as it has been for so many years," he said.

"The winds of change have arrived in Labrador, like it has in many other parts of the country. This is now a three-party race. The NDP, I expect, will have huge impacts on this election."

Anderson said he expects young people will get out and vote on Monday.

"I see that a lot of young people are concerned about the old way politics are done, and I believe we will see change coming."