Byelection date set for Humber West

Voters in the western Newfoundland district of Humber West will vote for a new representative on Feb. 15.

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Kathy Dunderdale announced the date Monday.

The seat was made vacant in early December when former premier Danny Williams retired from politics. Williams had held the seat for the Progressive Conservatives since 2001.

High school principal Vaughn Granter won a five-way nomination battle for the Tory nomination last week.

Lawyer Mark Watton, a former Corner Brook resident, has been acclaimed as the Liberal candidate.

The NDP has not yet announced a candidate.

Both the Liberals and the NDP had vowed to make a controversial test to burn used tires for fuel at Corner Brook Pulp and Paper an issue in the byelection.

However, government announced in a terse statement late Friday that proponent Kruger Inc. had withdrawn its proposal.

Acting Opposition leader Kelvin Parsons said Monday that the withdrawal is politically motivated, and that there may be more scenarios in the months ahead.

"It is clear that this government is in disarray and worried about their chances in the upcoming byelection," Parsons said in a statement.

"This is just the beginning of their re-election strategy with anything they perceive as controversial being buried until after the general election in October. Theyre scared and hiding from the public," Parsons said.