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Osborne to leave PC Party; will sit as an independent

St. John's South MHA Tom Osborne gets a hug from a supporter today after he announced he is leaving the PC party to sit as an independent. — Photo by James McLeod/The Telegram

St. John's South MHA Tom Osborne gets a hug from a supporter today after he announced he is leaving the PC party to sit as an independent. — Photo by James McLeod/The Telegram

Published on September 13, 2012
Published on September 13, 2012
Topics :
PC Party

St. John's South MHA Tom Osborne just announced he is leaving the province's PC party to sit as an independent in the House of Assembly.

"I haven't been able to support the leadership of our party," he told reporters. "Deep down in my gut I didn't believe in what I was doing."

Osborne criticized the provincial government for centralized control. He said he is not able to contact bureaucrats directly, but has to go through a minister.

He said he didn't support the new access to information law privately, though he voted for Bill 29 at the time.

Osborne said he can't "pretend to support the leadership" anymore and added he "never" supported Premier Kathy Dunderdale, even before she became premier.

He will be consulting with supporters and constituents about the future. He will sit as an independent, but will entertain joining the Liberal or NDP parties.

About 40-50 people showed up for the announcement at St. Patrick's parish hall in downtown St. John's.

Osborne received applause and hugs following the announcement.

Full coverage in Friday's print edition of The Telegram.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

  • Username
    jarge
    - September 14, 2012 at 01:56:18

    Why don't they all do the same - band together, overthrow the current government and get a new PC leader. We all know there is no one in the Liberal or NDP so come on PC's you can do it. . . and do it before its too late. why wait for full on calamity?

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  • Username
    Liam
    - September 14, 2012 at 01:40:09

    I don't think Tom Osborne should be congratulated for voting Yes on a bill when he knew at the time he should have voted No. He should've just voted No. And for the record it doesn't take "guts" to stand up to Kathy Dunderdale. The only people in this province foolish enough to be afraid of the PC Party are the PC backbench, of which Osborne was a miserable part. For admitting that he voted against his better instincts, he should resign his seat altogether and cause a by-election in which he does not take part.

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  • Username
    common sense voter
    - September 13, 2012 at 23:50:35

    Tom you truly are to be commended for your actions. It would be much easier to hide in the shadows and collect a salary and pension. Finally an honest politician who tells it like it is. The PC government are self destructing and I hope the NDP can attract some good candidates next election and turf them out . Dunderdale and fat boy will have to deal with the unions yet !!! They are dictators who will create their own demise. As for the other PC Mha's who spoke out on this issue ,the are yes men and #$oles with no bacbone who represent what we don't need in government.

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  • Username
    Scott Free
    - September 13, 2012 at 23:32:20

    Good ship Tory is sinking and the coat-tail politicians are jumping ship. More to follow.

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  • Username
    shorty
    - September 13, 2012 at 23:27:16

    Well, at least he eventually had the guts to speak out. The first guy I've seen in a long time to do so. Maybe he should give a thought to running for the leadership. This is not partisan because the Liberals are no better.

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  • Username
    DJ
    - September 13, 2012 at 23:16:06

    Way to go Tom. Finally someone with the guts to do what many would like to. Watch for her cronies to surface and two-facedly support KD through this when they'd throw her under the bus if they weren't so afraid. Susan is lobbying for another post and Boy Wonder Kent is just proving what a suck he really is. PCs just lost one of their best. Time for more to bail, she's sinking the ship. He'll go in again with flying colors if he runs. His constituents are smart enough to vote for the person.

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  • Username
    Kubota
    - September 13, 2012 at 22:57:09

    Kudos to Mr. Osborne. Finally some had the "balls" to follow his convictions. I only wish some of the other high paid "clowns" would follow his example. Tom has proven himself over and over that he's leader who had a conscious. When ate the others going to follow his example I wonder? Remember Christ the ultimate leader said, "Come, follow me!". Way to go Tom. You give a whole new meaning to term "politician". Go forward, young man, and don't look back. God bless.

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  • Username
    Just Because...
    - September 13, 2012 at 21:25:14

    Having a "moral compass" in politic's is irony in itself. Nepotism and patronage have always plagued this ridiculous arena. "The "Road Not Taken" may well have been later than ethically sound by this one decent MHA...but at least it was chosen...as to the rest? I'll expect nothing...and accept what is given.

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  • Username
    georgina benoit
    - September 13, 2012 at 21:06:41

    Osbourne voted for that bill hoping for a cabinet seat. He took his toys and went home.

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  • Username
    Duffy
    - September 13, 2012 at 20:59:15

    It is evident that Ms. Blunderdale is losing all support and rightly so after she abandoned NL for the Harper Crew and a loan for the Musk"rat" Falls.

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  • Username
    sonya
    - September 13, 2012 at 20:43:56

    WAY TO GO TOM!!!!

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  • Username
    Skeptical Cynic
    - September 13, 2012 at 19:41:19

    Dunderdale's PCs post-Williams remind me of Pocklington's Oilers post-Gretzky.

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  • Username
    FYET
    - September 13, 2012 at 19:00:21

    Good on you Tom. I'd be ashamed to be a part of the current PC administration under Dunderdale as well. I'd be curious to know what your take is on the impending Muskrat Falls trainwreck??

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  • Username
    Ed. A.
    - September 13, 2012 at 18:43:04

    it is refreshing to finally see a politician stand up for what he believes in. my advice to tom would be to take your time and see what happens to the leadership reviews in the other parties. i can assure you that most of the MHAs that got in on danny's coattails will be defeated in the next election. good riddance to the sheep. it is time for the PC party to stand up and get rid of the baggage or go down in defeat like mulrooney.

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  • Username
    Stevie
    - September 13, 2012 at 18:42:45

    Just goes to show Tom Osbourne is a jellyfish! He was given the same instruction from PREMIER Danny WIlliams but didn't have the guts to do something like this to DW. You don't need him Premier Dunderdale

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  • Username
    Ger
    - September 13, 2012 at 18:37:18

    Thw World is going to end b/c Tom Osbourne crossed the floor.Gimme a break.

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  • Username
    Opportunist
    - September 13, 2012 at 18:35:28

    It strikes me that Mr. Osbourne is simply hedging his bet for the next election. Since Danny turfed him from the cabinet he has been stewing in the backbenches. I don't think this was a decision based on principles, but rather one of opportunity.

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  • Username
    Yoda
    - September 13, 2012 at 18:25:29

    A cabinet schuffle in the near future I see. Passed over again Tom Osborne will be.

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  • Username
    Whaddaya At ?
    - September 13, 2012 at 18:22:51

    Tom Osbourne is an honest, very well respected politician whose first priority is the people he represents. He's the exception rather than the rule these days and that's why the PC's loss will be another party's gain. And guess who was first off the mark to take a shot at Tom Osbourne for leaving the PC Party ?. No surprise that it was Dunderdale's Chief lapdog, Steve Kent, who'd jump into St. John's Harbour naked if he thought it would get him a Cabinet post.

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  • Username
    Political Watcher
    - September 13, 2012 at 18:13:17

    Surprise, surprise, Steve Kent is the first out of the blocks to condem and criticize Osborne for his actions. Kent even goes as far as to question the fact that Osborne ran the last election for the Tories and now wants to look at another party. Wasn't it Steve Kent who agreed to be the first candidate in the Province for the REFORM party? (Give me a break) The only reason he didn't run was that they refused to pay all Steve's expenses for the election and what next? Steve runs for the Liberals. Or tries to until the Reformers relased information on Steve's original plans and loyalities. Tobin went crazy and pulled the plug. This move by Kent is to again kiss up to the Premier; everyone who knows Steve is fully aware that he is tired of being on the back bench and will do anything to move to the front. Ask Danny why he is there and was never offered a Cabinet position. I work in the oil and gas sector and can remember that is wasn't that long ago when Steve was a mayor travelling to the Oil & Gas shows; when the current Premier was then Minister of natural Resources Kent would regularly crack jokes and even had a nice little pet-name for her. Get real Steve, we all know who you are and what you are after.

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  • Username
    roy
    - September 13, 2012 at 17:14:35

    Someone with guts, not one of those who stands behind the Premier when pictures are take with a big smile on their faces sucking up to her. The ones i'm talking about know who they are and the people do to. Come election time i hope the voters see you for what you are.

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  • Username
    Tilley
    - September 13, 2012 at 17:11:51

    Lets see who else in the PC party has what it takes to do the right thing. How about Ross Wiseman? Show us what your made of sir or are you just another yes man like the others?

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  • Username
    DON II
    - September 13, 2012 at 16:56:29

    It appears that the Government of Newfoundland has a revolving door leading to Minsters offices where lobbyists, come from away con artists, local movers, shakers, schemers and scammers can walk right in and talk to a Minister about land planning zoning changes, grants, contracts, projects approvals, expropriation of somebody's land for their projects, getting money for archaeological digs, unauthorized marinas and anything else they want to discuss in secret behind closed doors. A fellow bureaucrat whom I know very well recently told me that some lobbyists whether registered professional lobbyists, not for profit "volunteers" that are exempt from the Act or certain folks who just come to see a Minister whenever they want to spend so much time at Confederation Building that he mistakenly thought these lobbyists and not for profit types worked in the building! He told me that they wander around from office to office and meeting to meeting just like they own the place. Indeed they do! It appears that some of them also regularly head over to the best restaurant/bars in the City to wine and dine with the Ministers. It appears that the Ministers give the bureaucrats advice and not the other way around! In years past, Premier Joey Smallwood controlled every decision that was made in every department of the Government of Newfoundland and ignored the bureaucrats, now every Minister runs his/her department in the Government of Newfoundland and ignores the bureaucrats. Instead of having ONE dictator like in the past, now we have a dozen dictators running the Government of Newfoundland! Finally, an ethical politician has surfaced who could not take any more abuses of the rights of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, listened to his conscience and has done the right thing. Perhaps other like minded members of the PC Party will follow Mr. Osborn's example and leave the unethical and corrupt administration that passes for a democratically elected Government in Newfoundland and Labrador. If Premier Dunderdale is wise she will cause a Cabinet shuffle to happen soon and remove certain Ministers, and she knows who they are, and replace them with people of Tom Osborn' s caliber. Of course that will never happen. It appears that the movers, shakers, scammers and schemers and their cronies run the Cabinet and the Government of Newfoundland! The NDP would do well to acquire Mr. Osborn's services as soon as possible. Mr. Osborne did the right thing but unfortunately no good deed ever goes unpunished in Newfoundland and Labrador!

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  • Username
    Watchdog
    - September 13, 2012 at 16:55:40

    The pc party has no one to blame for their downspin but themselves. They've had little credible opposition, they just self-destructed.

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  • Username
    Shelly
    - September 13, 2012 at 16:40:36

    Way to go Tom!! I know it was a hard decision but you made the right one. We need more politicians like you to stand up for what they believe in and who are not afraid to stand on their own two feet!! You will get support regardless of what party you join and will always be the best MHA ever. The PC party lost the best thing that ever happened to them today. Hopefully a move like this will wake them up!!

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  • Username
    Concerned
    - September 13, 2012 at 16:32:45

    Actions speak louder than words. Hopfully this is only the beginning, I'm so happy with this news.

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  • Username
    Pierre Neary
    - September 13, 2012 at 16:21:14

    Mr. Osborne should have spoken out before he voted for Bill 29. Johnny come lately. If he was ineffective then what makes him so effective now ??

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  • Username
    Saucy Face
    - September 13, 2012 at 16:08:29

    .. And the rats have begun to abandon the supposedly unsinkable Titanic of governments.

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  • Username
    Graham
    - September 13, 2012 at 16:00:12

    Finally an MHA with the guts to do the right thing....Hopefully others will follow. The PC party is washed up in my humble opinion and has lost what little credability it may have had. Hopefully some others will follow thw example set by Tom. I wont however hoid my breath.

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    • Username
      Eli
      - September 13, 2012 at 16:19:57

      I'd be surprised if any others surface. Surely they've had a bundle of opportunities to do so. They're too cushy in the high-paying jobs (and I use the word loosely) to worry about anybody but themselves. Would my MHA please stand up!

  • Username
    concerb citizen
    - September 13, 2012 at 15:53:37

    Finally someone with balls to leave that clown of a premier. Hopefully they will all follow Tom out the door and dump that stupid %^&*( on her face!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  • Username
    Don
    - September 13, 2012 at 15:50:52

    Now, maybe the party will wake up and see we need a new leader. How about Tom Marshall.

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    • Username
      Eli
      - September 13, 2012 at 16:24:25

      Out of the frying pan into the fire?

    • Username
      skipper
      - September 13, 2012 at 17:31:14

      Thank god there is a polition out there with the guts to do what he think is right for the people that voted for him.

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