Williams to meet Harper on Friday

Danny will meet Steve after all.

Premier Danny Williams and Prime Minister Stephen Harper will meet face-to-face in St. John's Friday for the first time since Oct. 16, 2006, when relations became frosty over the Atlantic accord.

Harper is expected to spend two days in the province to make federal spending announcements, and to attend the nomination meeting of Conservative MP Fabian Manning.

Williams said hewould take the opportunity to press Harper on non-renewable resource revenue, 5-Wing Goose Bay, the fishery and the impact of the strong Canadian dollar on the province.

Earlier news reports indicated that Harper wanted to meet with Williams, but the premierwouldn't commit. However, a news release Thursday from the premier's office said the meeting had been confirmed two days earlier.

The two men last met during a Progressive Conservative convention in Gander. Afterward, Williams told delegates that he was at odds with the prime minister because Harper wouldn't back up a written promise on equalization that he had made during the federal election campaign in 2006.

"This prime minister is telling me when he comes into my province, into our town, to our convention, that he hasn't made his mind up yet," Williams told delegates.

That night he also launched what has become known as the "Anybody but Conservative" campaign, promising to deliver a "big goose egg" to Conservatives during the next federal election if they didn't honour their promise.

Harper released a statement that said he didn't expect Williams's support.

In March 2007, Williams launched attack ads in major newspapers, accusing Harper of failing to keep his election promise. Harper responded that he didn't break any promises with the equalization package included in his spring budget.

The battle escalated further in April during a scrum after Williams called Harper "Steve," a sarcastic reference to how Harper was referred to by President George W. Bush, though Williams said, "I'm not a buddy of his [Harper's]."

"By the same token, I have to basically treat him with the same disdain that he's treating [residents of Newfoundland and Labrador]," Williams said.

Williams's news release on Friday's meeting takes a gentler tone, with the premier saying he's pleased to have the opportunity to meet with Harper.

He also said he will tell Harper about"the aggressive agenda for growth and prosperity our government has been successfully implementing for Newfoundland and Labrador."