CBC News is reporting this evening that the long-rumoured departure of John Efford from politics is just about confirmed.
According to CBC and the ever-informed David Cochrane, Efford is planning to check with his doctors and make a decision this week based on his health. Efford is a life-long diabetic and reports that the long hours and travel requirements of his federal job have taken a toll on his health.
Well, as you have read here before a key part of the whole issue will be the future now of Loyola Hearn. Hearn parked his name in St. John's South-Mount Pearl just to mark time. He never intended to represent the riding for longer than he had to, planning from the beginning to run in the new Avalon riding either without John Efford as the opponent or with Efford severely weakened.
Hearn and long-time political buddy Loyola Sullivan did a ruthless, unprincipled tag-team routine on Efford over the offshore oil issue, aided, sadly, by Efford himself.
Far be it from me to call Hearn either a savage, self-interested opportunist or just plain chickenshit.
Expect Hearn to announce his departure soon to Avalon. If you think about it, that explains Hearn's recent comments about post office closures in his riding.
He meant Avalon.
Not St. John's South-Mount Pearl.
As a lifelong resident of the riding, I will be glad to see the dust as his campaign office shifts back up the shore, where he lives.