N.L. cabinet minister quits, citing health, media scrutiny

The Williams government has lost another cabinet minister.

Health Minister Paul Oramtold reporters at aquickly called news conferenceWednesday morning that he's leaving politics in part because ofhealth reasons, citing a serious problem with high blood pressure.

"My doctor had advised me on the weekend that if I don't get this under control, I will probably be using one of my facilities," Oram said, referring to two long-term care homes he co-owns with his wife.

He also saidhe hasresigned because of media scrutiny over his personal businesses.

Almost immediately after he was appointed to the health portfolio in July, there were questions about whetherOram'snew position put him in a conflict of interest over his business dealings.

He saidat the time he was placing all of his business interests, including his shares in the two personal care homes, into a blind trust to ensure there would be no conflict with his work.

On Wednesday, Oram told reportersthat the coverage he has been getting is unfair to his family.

"People need to remember and media needs to remember this:that it's all right for you to tear the strip off a member or a minister[because]that's what we go into this racket realizing is going to happen. But my little girl is home sitting down listening to the radio or watching the television, and responsible reporting is something that needs to be looked at," he said.

Opposition house leader Kelvin Parsons said he has watched Oram inside and outside the legislature over the last few years and called him "themost combative individual you will ever want to meet."

He said Oram is not someone who backsoff when there are tough issues.

"He comes from a business background, and he's used to juggling eight or 10 balls at the one time,and yet we now get this explanation," Parsons said. "But I don't think there's any doubt that there's more to this than meets the eye."

Parsons believes Oram was pushed out of cabinet and, ultimately, politics, because ofa dispute with Premier Danny Williams.

He said if stress was the issue, Oram would have been shuffled to a less demanding department.

Oram said he made his decision to quit Monday and informed the premier that evening.

Another provincial cabinet minister, Trevor Taylor,quit politics suddenly for personal reasons about two weeks ago.