Peter Penashue launches campaign, has 'zero interest' in opposition

Former cabinet minister Peter Penashue announcedFriday morning he is officially the Conservative candidate for Labrador in the upcoming federal election.

I feel terrible that Reg got himself in that trouble.- Peter Penashue

News slippedThursday thatPenashuewould be on the ticket for the Conservativeswhen his name appeared on theparty'swebsite. It was later confirmed by party sources.

Penashuequit politics in 2013 after allegations surfaced of irregularities inspending for his 2011 campaign.

• Peter Penashue to run in Labrador riding in federal election

When asked if he thought the spending controversy would hurt his election bid, Penashue said Fridayhe believes people in Labrador are ready to move on.

"This has been discussed 10,000different times and in different ways and I think people are starting to get sick of it," he said.

Reg Bowers, who managedPenashue's2011 campaign, has been charged with three counts of breachingthe Canada Elections Act, relating to allegations the campaign took illegal contributions.

According to Penashue, Bowers had taken on two roles in the 2011 campaign because they had started from the ground up with "zero dollars."

"I think one thing lead to another because after a while the campaign picked up. More and more people showed up and more and more people were interested in what we were doing," he said.

"I feel terrible that Reg got himself in that trouble."

'No interest' in being opposition

Penashue resigned his seat 2013 and ran in a Maybyelection, which he lost to Liberal Yvonne Jones.

According to Penashue, he doesn't intend to sit in an opposition seat.

They made me pay in 2013 for my sins and now I think it's going to be different.- Peter Penashue

"I have no interest, zero interest, in being in the opposition. Why? Because there is nothing to be accomplished, there is nothing that would benefit Labradorians," he said.

"I'm interested in being with the Conservative government, being right in government where I can have influence."

Penashue said he doesn't know what he will do if he wins a seat andthe Conservatives don't form the government. He said he will "cross that bridge" if he comes to it.

"I think Labradorians are smart and they're very strategic and they made me pay in 2013 for my sins and now I think it's going to be different," he said.

In an email,Jones said Penashue's announcement illustrates a tired Conservative party struggling to find support in Newfoundland and Labrador.

"The Harper Conservatives can't be trusted. They're so desperate in Newfoundland and Labrador that they will take back a discredited candidate who is at the centre of yet another Harper Conservative scandal," Jones wrote.

Penashueis one of three candidates in Newfoundland and Labrador listed on the Conservative Party'swebsite.