Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams rises in the legislature on March 22, 2010.Paul Daly/The Canadian Press
Monday marks the one-year countdown until Newfoundland and Labrador's next provincial election. So far there is no sign of the anti-incumbent mood that others argue was and/or is prevalent in places such as New Brunswick and Ontario.
One of the toughest fighters in Canadian politics is Premier Danny Williams. His scraps are legendary and often completely misinterpreted on mainland Canada.
What often goes unreported about Williams is his decency. "Dannyland" is not just kick-your-teeth-out politics; it involves good doses of genuine thoughtfulness and kindness. One recent gesture by Danny has been ongoing warm comments and well wishes for Liberal Leader Yvonne Jones, herself no wimp, as she battles breast cancer. He has also muted negative public commentary about his principal provincial opponent.
Newfoundlanders would expect no less from their Premier. Demonstrating a sensitivity to one's personal health struggles is not as much of a common-sense proposition as it used to be. Though in Danny's case, having just gone through significant heart surgery not that long ago, he is acutely aware of the value of showing warmth in tough circumstances. Yvonne Jones did the same for him during his recovery. Doses of real humanity can pay political dividends, never mind that it is the right thing to do.
As an aside for those looking for another interesting book about a successful Canadian politician, check out Bill Rowe's Danny Williams: The War with Ottawa. Rowe served as Newfoundland's man in Ottawa when Paul Martin was prime minister. He has a fascinating anecdote in there about an alleged near-punch-up between the Premier and the Liberal prime minister. Now that would have been an entirely different approach to dispute resolution - unless you are Jean Chrétien.