Newfoundland and Labrador interim Liberal leader Dwight Ball is shown in a recent photo released by his office, released on Friday Nov. 15, 2013. Ball says the addition of two former NDP members to his party is not about opportunism. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO
February 04, 2014 - 6:51 AM
ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - The leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador Liberals says the addition of two former Independent members is not about opportunism but rather reflective of his party's openness.
Dwight Ball formally welcomed Chris Mitchelmore and Dale Kirby into the party fold today during a news conference in St. John's.
Mitchelmore and Kirby both left the NDP in October in a public leadership spat to sit as Independents.
Kirby says his values such as accountability and affordable housing remain the same as they did before and the Liberals best represent those.
Two Progressive Conservative government members have also crossed the floor to the resurgent Liberals over the past year.
With Kirby and Mitchelmore, the Liberals have 11 seats in the legislature compared to 34 Tories and three New Democrats.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014