Freeland attempts to quell questions about working relationship with N.L. premier

During a stop in Mount Pearl on Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland attempted to smooth over questions of her working relationship with Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey following his repeated criticism of the federal carbon tax.

Freeland was in Mount Pearl to tout housing investments in the federal budget. Furey — Canada's only remaining Liberal premier — did not attend.

One of his MHAs, Mount Pearl North representative Lucy Stoyles, was in attendance.

"Well, you see the provincial government here with us," Freeland said as Stoyles waves behind her. "I was in touch with the premier this morning on my way here, and I know Seamus [O'Regan] and Joanne [Thompson] have a very good working relationship with him as well."

Furey has been a vocal antagonist of the tax, saying earlier this month that the tax is "not right for the people of the province." He's written to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on several occasions asking him to pause the tax or consider other options.

He has also not seen eye to eye with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the tax, who called the Newfoundland and Labrador Premier a "short-term thinker." Furey replied on April 16 by saying Trudeau was trying to bait him with name calling.

"My view is that Canada works best when we work together. And I actually think as a country … we're pretty good at the end of the day at identifying the really big issues," Freeland told reporters.

"And when we identify those and when Canadians let us know what they want, I think we're actually pretty good at rolling up our sleeves and getting things done."

Furey co-signed a letter written by Atlantic Canadian premiers sent to Freeland on April 16, voicing concerns over Ottawa's approach to how carbon tax rebates are managed for small and medium-sized businesses.

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