Premier Danny Williams

I visited Newfoundland last year and was absolutely amazed at the affection and respect that the average person on the street had for their Premier. I wish we were all so fortunate in Canada. As he resigns, I thought he was worthy of a posting here and of a small tribute to a man who loves and served his home province.

Early life and education


Williams was born in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. He first attended Saint Bonaventure's College then Gonzaga High School in St. John's, before studying at Memorial University of Newfoundland, where he received a degree in political science and economics. In 1969, he was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship and went to Keble College, Oxford University, earning a Degree in Arts in Law and playing for the Oxford University Ice Hockey Club. He then earned a Bachelor of Laws degree from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Career in law and business

Williams practised law from 1972, becoming a financially successful lawyer, and was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1984. While still in law school, Williams led a consortium of businesspeople that was granted one of Newfoundland's first cable television licenses and started the company "Avalon Cablevision". Through major acquisitions and the very early adoption of the Internet ISP business (via theZone dial-up and later RoadRunner high-speed cable Internet services), he built Cable Atlantic into one of the largest communications companies in Atlantic Canada. As the principal owner, he sold the telecommunications portion of the business for $76 million dollars in April 2000 to "GT Group Telecom Inc." (who were bought by Bell Canada Inc. in 2006). Then 8 months later the cable TV portion of Cable Atlantic was sold to Rogers Cable Inc. for $152 million in November 2000. This sale plus the success of his extensive law practice gave him the nickname of "Danny Millions" during the early 2000s.Williams also served as president of OIS Fisher, an oil and natural gas company (later renamed Spectrol Group). He also opened three golf courses in Eastern Newfoundland.

While he was the owner of Cable Atlantic Williams purchased the naming rights to Mile One Centre in St. John's for $600,000 from Molson. Before the centre opened, however, Williams sold Cable Atlantic to Rogers Communications in order to pursue his political career, but retained the naming rights. Ultimately he chose to name the centre based on the venue's geography, which is at the begining of the Trans Canada Highway.

 Leader of the Opposition

Williams became the Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador in April 2001. In June 2001, he won a by-election in the Corner Brook riding of Humber West.Support for the Tories saw a big bounce when Williams became leader, four by-elections were held during the two years he was the Official Opposition Leader with each seat being won by a Progressive Conservative candidate, as well in September 2001, Liberal MHA, Ross Wiseman crossed the floor of the house to join the Progressive Conservative caucus. During his time as Opposition Leader, Williams donated his legislative salary to charity.

Map showing the ridings, which party they supported and by how muchOn September 29, 2003 Premier Roger Grimes called for an election to be held on October 21, thirty months after succeeding Brian Tobin as Premier of Newfoundland. The opposition had been demanding that Grimes call a snap election after winning the leadership of the Liberal Party, after the resignation of Tobin, saying that his government was not legitimate.

Since 2001 when Williams took over the leadership of the Progressive Conservatives the party's popularity rose, polls leading up to and during the election showed that his party had a substantial lead over the Liberals and New Democrats.Williams campaigned for change and promised to control spending, streamline the public service and create jobs.In the general election Williams led his party to victory becoming the province's ninth Premier, this win marked only the third change of government in the 54 years since the province joined Canada. The Tories took nearly 59% of the vote, winning 34 of the 48 seats in the House of Assembly, ending nearly 15 years of Liberal Party rule.