Premier Andrew Furey is continuing to field serious questions about the timing of the election given the recent outbreak in the metro region.

Callers on VOCM On Target yesterday questioned the timing of the election.

One man who says he’s never missed an election since he was 19 years old believes this year will be the first one in which he doesn’t cast a ballot.

Furey says while he’s running in an election, he doesn’t run the election. He deferred to the province’s Chief Electoral Officer, Bruce Chaulk.

Furey says safe and effective elections have been held in other areas with “greater burdens of infection than we currently have.” He was quick to acknowledge however that that doesn’t diminish the real fears and anxieties the public has at this time.

Meanwhile, Ches Crosbie says the Premier’s decision to call a winter election during a pandemic is proving to be a clear example of poor leadership and decision-making.

The PC leader issued a statement yesterday expressing concern and sympathy for everyone affected by the COVID-19 outbreak in the St. John’s metro area.

But Crosbie also insists the added stress and uncertainty associated with Saturday’s election could’ve been avoided, noting Furey had other options at his disposal.

He says Furey could’ve waited until the summer when more people would be vaccinated, or he could’ve accepted an offer from the House of Assembly to change the date to October. Instead, says Crosbie, “he gambled with public health and the people of Newfoundland and Labrador lost.”

Crosbie also took Furey to task for skipping yesterday’s COVID-19 all-party committee in favour of a media event.