On Tuesday, in an early morning interview with The Beacon, Mr. Simms confirmed he will be meeting with members of the provincial Liberal Party in Ottawa on Wednesday to hear what they have to say.
“There are a few (Liberal) people coming up to visit to pitch the idea of running and how that would play out, how the strategy would unfold, and how you could consider financing it,” he said, noting he has also received several telephone calls from provincial Liberal players over the past few days.
This is not the first time Mr. Simms’ name has been linked to a move from federal politics to the provincial arena. However, it is the first time he has had formal discussions about it and will participate in formal meetings with the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador on the matter.
“For me personally, it’s an quite an opportunity…one that I have to at least listen to, especially considering when people (who are serious people in the Liberal Party) want to talk to me about being the premier of the province…it’s not every day this is going to happen,” he said. “It’s something I have to look at as an opportunity for me...there’s going to be a lot to consider, but I will listen and evaluate all things.”
"…one that I have to at least listen to, especially considering when people (who are serious people in the Liberal Party) want to talk to me about being the premier of the province..." - — Scott Simms
Mr. Simms said, for him, it’s not a matter of what the people he will be meeting with will offer, but what will be feasible, from a number of avenues, for him, both personally and politically.
He said he will have to look at such factors as his financial future, the commitment he has to the people who elected him as their representative in Ottawa, and the commitment he has made to Justin Trudeau in his bid to become the federal Liberal Party leader in the next federal election.
“There’s a lot to consider, and I won’t be taking it lightly, but I think I should at least listen to what they have to say and then evaluate it and decide,” he said. “The big thing to remember is I have made no commitment one way or the other yet…I’m committing to listening to what they have to say…that’s all it is right now — a discussion on the possibility.”
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