Have byelection, will travel. More cabinet ministers visited The Straits-White Bay North in one day this week than during an entire 365-day period from mid-2008 through mid-2009.

That's according to an analysis of expense claims by cabinet ministers posted on the government's website.

On Thursday, no fewer than eight ministers were knocking on doors and meeting with residents of The Straits-White Bay North.

But from May 2008 to May 2009, only four cabinet ministers other than the sitting MHA travelled to the district, according to a review of online expense claims.

Environment Minister Charlene Johnson attended a municipal stewardship signing agreement in St. Anthony in June 2008.

Dave Denine made two visits - in September 2008, for a Northern Peninsula joint councils meeting and Roddickton-Bide Arm regionalization agreement, and in November to speak at the St. Anthony fire department supper.

Municipal Affairs Minister Dianne Whalen was in the district in January for the signing of the amalgamation agreement between Roddickton and Bide Arm.

And then-finance minister Jerome Kennedy was in St. Anthony for pre-budget consultations in February.

The current influx of interest in the district comes as voters prepare to elect a new MHA on Tuesday.

The former member, longtime Conservative cabinet minister Trevor Taylor, announced his abrupt departure from politics a month ago.

Since then, a constant flow of cabinet ministers has been circulating through the district. Premier Danny Williams has visited four separate times.

The premier's office declined an interview request on the topic.

Spokeswoman Andrea Nolan did indicate that none of the premier's visits to the Northern Peninsula have been at the government's expense.

Nolan said The Telegram would have to contact individual departments for details on their ministers' travel expenses.

Most replied. Six departments said their ministers have not been in the district over the past month.

Nine ministers, including the premier, have been in The Straits-White Bay North at least once during the past few weeks.

Officials indicated the PC party will pick up the tab for those visits.

Liberal Leader Yvonne Jones said the swirl of appearances means the Tories know they are in trouble.

"They've got all (these) ministers here, they've got the chequebooks open," Jones said. "Hopefully, it will pay off for the people of the Northern Peninsula, but the reality is if (government) didn't want something from these people, they would not be here."

And Jones said voters are not fooled.

"We've had people and groups and organizations and doctors and everyone who've been trying for the last year to get meetings with these cabinet ministers and have not been able to get a meeting," she said.

"Some of them have even gone to St. John's expecting to meet with them, but when they got there were pushed off to meet with bureaucrats."

NDP Leader Lorraine Michael said people in the town of St. Lunaire-Griquet have been trying for three years to meet with the education minister or Taylor about the possible closure of the local school.

That meeting - with Education Minister Darin King - didn't take place until this week.

"It's not lost on the people here that this is happening because of the byelection and no other reason," Michael said.

"They're using everything to try to convince people to vote for them. The whole desperate action is pretty pathetic, actually. That's the only word I can use for it, and I hope the people in this district will finally be a group who will say, 'You're not fooling us.'"

Innovation Minister Shawn Skinner was one of the eight ministers on the Northern Peninsula Thursday.

He said the district had a strong advocate when Taylor was in politics, which resulted in fewer other ministers visiting.

"They've had a very, very, senior, informed cabinet minister at the table who brought forth the concerns of that district," Skinner noted. "And this is an opportunity for the district to make sure that their concerns are still first and foremost with the government."

He defended the presence of the current octet of cabinet ministers in the area.

"This is a very special situation - it's an election, it's a byelection," Skinner noted.

"And the people who are voting need to know that government understands their concerns and supports them. The best way to do that is for us to be here and say that - show that by our presence and talk to the people about their issues."

While ministerial expense claims since May have yet to be posted, there have been at least of a couple of more recent trips to the region.

In August, the Williams administration announced a $10-million investment in Holson Forest Products of Roddickton.

Two ministers - Taylor and deputy premier Kathy Dunderdale - were in town for the announcement.

And last month - the week before Taylor publicly disclosed his departure from politics - the premier flew to St. Anthony to announce plans for a new school and arena for the town.

The arena project - then called the Polar Centre - was first announced by the government in January 2007.

rantle@thetelegram.com

dbartlett@thetelegram.com