ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — The Andrew Furey campaign finally released two policy positions on Monday: one on appointing an economic recovery adviser and another on preventing amateur sports organizations from being sued if players contract COVID-19.
The Furey campaign announced on Monday morning they would introduce protections for amateur sports organizations from lawsuits should any player contract COVID-19 while playing an amateur sport. Furey says such organizations will be protected from any liability, assuming they follow the appropriate health measures outlined by public health officials.
“As we see other jurisdictions take this step, we hope that the federal government will see this as a national issue and take appropriate action,” Furey stated in a news release.
“Taking this step will allow local organizations, and their many volunteers, to get back to play without fear of liability, as long as they follow the guidelines to do so safely.”
Furey’s opponent in the Liberal leadership race, John Abbott, says Furey needs to get his priorities in order.
“My primary concern is putting measures in place to prevent children from getting COVID-19, whether it be while playing sports, attending school, playing with friends and acquaintances, or anywhere else,” Abbott stated in a news release.
“To say that protecting sports organizations from being sued is his top priority among his first policy statements is baffling, and alarming. I would have expected better from a doctor, parent and leadership hopeful.”
In another Monday announcement, the Furey campaign says the plan to get the economy of the province back up and running after the COVID-19 pandemic will be led by a chief economic recovery officer. The position would function similarly to the chief medical officer of health, but instead of being focused on public health, the person would focus on economic recovery, Furey stated.
The economic officer would advise the premier and “a group of non-partisan experts with diverse business backgrounds” on the economic recovery plan, he stated.
“The team will have a clear mandate to develop ideas to address economic growth, job creation, diversification, debt management and strengthening our fiscal position, allowing the Department of Finance to focus on the day-to-day running of the province,” a release from the Furey campaign stated.
The Abbott campaign says it would have a different approach in the first 100 days on the job.
“In my first week as premier, I will create a volunteer, multi-sectoral economic task force comprised of business leaders from throughout the province to speed our economic recovery,” Abbott stated.
“The task force will report to me and to an all-party committee on the economy in real-time and provide advice on the actions needed to speed recovery and get people back to work.”
The next Liberal leader and 14th premier of the province will be announced on Aug. 4.
Twitter: @DavidMaherNL
