There will be no government money for Amelia Earhart restoration, says minister

Newfoundland and Labrador's new PC government says it will not honour a previous commitment by the former Liberal-led government to allocate thousands of taxpayers' dollars to the Amelia Earhart statue project in Harbour Grace.

What's more, the new minister of Women and Gender Equality, Helen Conway Ottenheimer, is describing attempts by Liberal Pam Parsons — the MHA for Harbour Grace-Port de Grave — to pressure and embarrass the new government as “disingenuous.”

Conway Ottenheimer would not agree to a recorded interview, but in a written statement, said "since the statue was found and is now being restored, this funding is no longer required."

The incident prompted national media attention, and various sources — including the town, businesses and anonymous donors — raised a $25,000 reward for information leading to the return of the work of art by Luben Boykov, and the conviction of those responsible.

At the time, the Liberals were the governing party and Parsons was the Women and Gender Equality Minister.