Premier Andrew Furey is reflecting on what he calls the “incredibly steep learning curve” he faced upon entering politics five years ago.

Furey’s time as Premier comes to a close tomorrow when the party will elect either John Abbott or John Hogan as his successor.

While he grew up around politics, Furey had never been a politician until he became premier.

As such, he admits that there were some “serious lessons learned” during his first year in office.

Furey says his administration learned from some early mistakes, and he believes they had a better tenure because of it.

He says he learned that there needs to be a balance between the agenda they wish to pursue, and understanding how it impacts people at the local and personal level.

For example, he says that during the rate mitigation process they didn’t engage the Innu in the way that they should have. Furey says that wasn’t done by design, but he takes responsibility for that and he has been trying to rebuild that relationship ever since, noting that the Innu Nation played a key role in Churchill Falls.