ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - In a startling change in tone, Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams has extended an olive branch to the prime minister after months of icy relations between his province and Ottawa.
In a letter dated Feb. 7, Williams applauds Stephen Harper on his first anniversary in office.
"Congratulations on your first anniversary as Canada's prime minister and best wishes as you continue with your mandate," Williams writes.
"I know from my own experience that running Newfoundland and Labrador is not an easy task, and it demands a great deal of personal sacrifice and hard work. So I can only imagine the magnitude of running our country, and I commend you on your accomplishments over the past year."
Williams says his government is appreciative of Harper's decision to reinstate the weather office in Gander, N.L., adding that he is pleased with the relationships his government has formed with several of Harper's cabinet ministers.
The premier's letter is at striking odds with repeated warnings and ultimatums he has issued to Harper over equalization since they discussed the federal wealth-sharing program on Oct. 14 during the provincial Tory convention.
Hours after the two leaders met, Williams, in a fiery speech, urged party supporters to give Harper "a big goose egg" in the next federal election if Newfoundland lost out in a new equalization formula.
Williams has expressed fears that Harper will include non-renewable resource revenues in a new equalization formula, expected to be unveiled in the federal spring budget on March 19. For months, he has argued that the inclusion of such revenues would eat into the province's coffers.
Williams has also repeatedly accused Harper of pandering to the interests of foreign oil companies, calling him "a big buddy of Big Oil." In September, he said it was "disgusting, disgraceful and shameful" that Harper did not support Newfoundland's fight against a consortium of oil companies that has stalled development of the Hebron offshore oilfield.
A spokeswoman in the premier's office declined comment, saying the letter is self-explanatory.
In a response 20 days later, Harper thanks Williams for his congenial words, but does not indicate what a new equalization formula would entail.
"As part of its commitment to restoring fiscal balance, my government will put equalization and other federal transfers back on a long-term, predictable and principle-based track, while respecting offshore accords," Harper wrote.
A source in Ottawa speaking on condition of anonymity said the premier's shift in attitude was somewhat puzzling and "fascinating."
"They've been pre-conditioning the public for a year to expect failure, and now, I don't know if they've convinced themselves that maybe now Harper is going to keep his word or what," the source said, calling Williams's letter a good starting point to thaw relations.
"Now he's got a lot of distance to make up."
