Furey defends Dubai recruiting trip and support for low-level flying during annual fundraiser

Premier Andrew Furey touted the Liberal government’s pragmatism during the party's annual, $500-a-meal fundraiser Wednesday night. (Danny Arsenault/CBC)

Premier Andrew Furey touted the Liberal government's pragmatism when it comes to making "long-term investments" in Newfoundland and Labrador's health-care and energy sectors during a $500-a-meal fundraiser Wednesday night.

"I think there's a lot of momentum in the province and there's a lot of people who support our agenda and our vision," Furey told reporters after the annual fundraising event at the Delta Hotel in St. John's.

In a conference hall drowned in red strobe lights, Furey boasted about how — while other parties reach toward the extremes of the political spectrum — the Liberal party maintains a "responsible" and "reasonable" position. He told supporters this has led the province to develop its clean energy sector, modernize the fishery, and pave the way for more affordable childcare, among other things.

"This isn't to say that everything is rosy, of course," Furey admitted to tables full of donors. For one, he said, the provincial government is working hard to transform the health-care sector, but it still does require "our tender love and care."

This statement comes amid ongoing health shortages and controversies regarding his trip to lure health-care workers from Dubai, as well as the provincial government's multi-million dollar expenditure on travel nurses, a move he said "may be problematic" and one he's asked Health Minister Tom Osborne to investigate.

Liberal MHA Fred Hutton hosted Wednesday's event. (Jessica Singer/CBC)

Although he admits his recent trip to attract health-care workers in Dubai was met with criticism from union leaders and others, he said these types of initiatives are necessary to show people across the globe what Newfoundland and Labrador has to offer.

He said the province has many selling points to newcomers, such as clean air and traffic-free highways. It's important to have face-to-face conversations with people from countries outside of North America, said Furey, to show them why they should live and work in Newfoundland and Labrador.

"They're almost all in immediately," he said of his conversations with health-care workers in the United Arab Emirates.

Support of low-level flying

CBC News reported Wednesday that the return of low-level flight training over Labrador was on the German army's radar, and Furey told reporters after Wednesday evening's event that he was in support of the controversial practice, "as long as it has the support of the Indigenous communities," he said.

Labrador Innu protested low-level flying — a training regimen used during the latter years of the Cold War to prepare Western pilots — when it started in the 1980s, sayting it disturbed traditional hunting grounds. In a statement to CBC/Radio Canada on Wednesday, the Innu Nation said low-level flying is still of "grave concern."

Furey called low-level flight training an "incredible asset" and a "great source of economic diversification for the people of Happy Valley-Goose Bay," but one that Indigenous communities need to be consulted on. He said the impact of the practice on traditional lands would also have to be continually monitored.

Shortly before the premier's event, federal Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan announced World Energy GH2 secured a federal loan to get a proposed wind-to-hydrogen megaproject off the ground on the province's west coast, a project that has not yet received environmental approval from the province.

When asked about the timing of the federal government's announcement, given it hasn't received provincial approval, Furey said he had no insight into how the federal government's decision was made.

Furey also told supporters Wednesday night that, despite some hiccups, he is confident the stalled Bay Du Nord project in offshore Newfoundland will move forward.

Praise from supporters

Fred Hutton — the province's newest MHA, who was the first Liberal candidate to win the byelection in Conception Bay East-Bell Island in decades — hosted Wednesday's event.

Hutton described Furey as someone who isn't afraid to roll up his sleeves to help others.

Osborne also made a speech, where he told a room full of supporters how respected Furey was and that he had the full support of his caucus.

"He's a good guy," said Osborne.

Furey and Digital Government Minister Sarah Stoodley also took a moment Wednesday night to honour former cabinet minister and MHA Derrick Bragg, who died at 59 in January.

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