Five Liberal MHAs, including three cabinet ministers, have thrown their support behind John Abbott for leadership of the provincial party.
There was a stark difference in the campaign announcements of Abbott and his cabinet colleague and opponent John Hogan.
Abbott announced his candidacy in the lobby of Confederation Building with no supporters from within the party in tow. Hogan, meanwhile, had all the bells and whistles at his campaign launch at the Hampton Inn & Suites, with several caucus colleagues and party executives there in support or attendance.
Hogan is shown with his family during launch of his leadership bid. (VOCM News)
Since then, cabinet ministers Lisa Dempster, Sarah Stoodley and Scott Reid, along with MHAs Perry Trimper and Lucy Stoyles, have all publicly declared they’ll be backing Abbott in the race.
Trimper says he has known Abbott for a decade through his time as a senior civil servant and as an elected official, adding he has watched him balance both of those aspects to provide “great depth.”
Stoodley described choosing who to support in the race as one of the “most emotionally difficult decisions” she has had to make as an MHA.
But she says she’s been impressed by Abbott’s policy work, fiscal restraint and problem-solving abilities.
“He’s helped me as an MHA, and my constituents of Mount Scio, as well as residents across the province with very unique solutions to challenging, complicated problems,” said Stoodley. “And he just cuts through the noise and works towards a solution. So I’ve been very impressed.”
