Patronage politics of the worst old-fashioned sort is alive and well in Newfoundland and Labrador.
VOCM posted a story online within the past 24 hours (hopefully it won’t be disappeared too soon) that makes it pretty clear:
A cabinet minister is unapologetic for the rash of pre-election spending announcements coming from the government. The MHA for Grand Bank, Darin King, announced some money for health care recently. There has been a steady stream of news releases, most announcing money that had already been allocated in the budget, over the past several months.
On VOCM Open Line with Randy Simms, King said he is dedicated to bringing in as much money as he can to his district.
Where patronage thrives, paternalism can’t be too far away.
- srbp -