Brazil named leader of Opposition

Ches Crosbie picks Conception Bay East-bell Island MHA to show PC unity

Conception Bay East-bell Island MHA David Brazil has been named Leader of the Opposition in the House of Assembly.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Brazil told reporters Monday.

On Saturday, Topsail-paradise MHA Paul Davis announced he would step down as leader of the Opposition, citing personal reasons for the decision.

“It was Paul’s suggestion, his idea. I didn’t prompt it at all. In fact, I would have preferred that he stay,” said Progressive Conservative Leader Ches Crosbie, who came into that role on April 28 at a convention that became necessary after Davis announced in October 2016 he would resign as leader of the PCS.

Discussions about the move took place over the last week, with the decision announced on Monday morning.

Davis says his only regret is that he didn’t make the move sooner.

“Mr. Crosbie has become a good part of the team, so I thought this was a good time to do it,” Davis said.

“But there’s never a great time to do this kind of thing.”

On Monday morning, Crosbie announced Brazil would take over the position.

Brazil was a leader on former PC leadership candidate Tony Wakeham’s campaign. Crosbie says part of the move for Brazil was to show a united PC party.

“That’s a factor that supported David as leader of the Opposition, but otherwise, you look around and see someone who’s got the experience and, frankly, the enthusiasm to do this tough job,” Crosbie said.

Davis will remain an MHA for the time being.

He says he has no intention right now of resigning as an MHA before the next election, but no decisions have been made about whether he will be on the ballot in 2019.

If Davis does remain in the House of Assembly until the next election, it means Crosbie will remain on the outside looking in at the House of Assembly. Speculation had been that Davis would resign his seat to allow Crosbie a byelection to run in, but that notion appears to have been snuffed out for now.