Craig Westcott, a veteran Newfoundland journalist and fierce critic of Premier Danny Williams.Gary Hebbard/The Canadian PressGary Hebbard/The Canadian Press
The new spin doctor for the Liberal Opposition in Newfoundland and Labrador has apologized for an e-mail that raised the prospect that Premier Danny Williams is mentally ill or in the last stages of a venereal disease.
Craig Westcott said in a statement released Thursday that he's sorry for the "unacceptable" e-mail to the Premier's office - which was private correspondence - that asked if Mr. Williams is being treated for a mental condition or other illness.
The former journalist just signed on earlier this month as the Liberal Opposition communications director. He has criticized the Premier's policies in the past and has been labelled by the most ardent Williams supporters as a "Danny basher."
"I want to strongly apologize to everyone who, rightfully, was offended by my reference to mental health issues in such a manner," Mr. Westcott said in a five-paragraph apology sent to media.
"It wasn't my intention to disparage anyone suffering with a mental health issue, but I see now that that was the effect and I am sorry for having done so. I deeply regret that the contents of the email (have) added further stigma to an issue that needs more public support and understanding."
Mr. Westcott was editor of The Business Post when he wrote to the Premier's communications director, Elizabeth Matthews, 20 months ago. Under the subject line "A delicate matter," he asked if Mr. Williams was receiving any medical treatment.
"Please excuse the nature of this question," Mr. Westcott wrote on Feb. 27, 2009.
"I regret to have to ask it, but it may be germane given the premier's behaviour. It has been suggested to me that Mr. Williams is bipolar. Another person suggested to me that he acts as if he is suffering in the later stages of syphilis."
The Premier's office didn't respond to the e-mail at the time, but released it to media Wednesday after a cabinet minister raised it on a radio program.
Acting Liberal leader Kelvin Parsons said the overwhelmingly popular Mr. Williams released the private e-mail in an effort to bully and discredit Mr. Westcott.
Mr. Parsons initially tried to downplay the contentious e-mail as a joke, but Mr. Westcott was then accused by open-line radio callers of trivializing serious mental-health issues.
Mr. Westcott ran unsuccessfully for the federal Conservatives in 2008, when Mr. Williams made national headlines with his ABC - Anything But Conservative - campaign. The acerbic effort shut Prime Minister Stephen Harper's candidates out of all seven federal ridings in the province.
Mr. Williams accused Mr. Harper of breaking a 2006 promise to exclude non-renewable energy sources from the calculation of federal equalization payments. Relations between the two men have since improved.
Mr. Westcott wrote the 2009 e-mail to the premier's office a few weeks after Mr. Williams lambasted Ottawa for what he saw as punitive federal budget measures that he said would cost the province $1.5-billion over time.
Mr. Parsons has said Mr. Westcott was hired for his writing and communication skills, and that his job is safe despite the "distraction" of the e-mail controversy.
Mr. Westcott concluded his apology by saying he'll make no further comment on the matter.