In this corner: Danny Williams

In his resignation speech on Thursday, Danny Williams said he’s not happy unless he’s taking someone on.

The comment drew laughter, but the outgoing premier of Newfoundland and Labrador wasn’t kidding.

He has engaged in many heated battles throughout his political career.

Williams’ story began in St. John’s, where he was the eldest of four children in a family of longtime Tory supporters.

Williams studied political science and economics at Memorial University in Newfoundland, before being awarded a Rhodes Scholarship and later studying law at Dalhousie University in Halifax.

He began practicing law in St. John’s in 1972. He was also busy turning cable company Cable Atlantic into the largest communications company in Atlantic Canada.

The company was sold to Rogers Communications, earning Williams a $282-million paycheck. The deal also earned him the nickname “Danny Millions.”

Enters politics

Williams won the 2003 provincial election and quickly took on then-prime minister Paul Martin. Martin had gone back on a campaign promise to give the province royalties from offshore oil developments.

“They’re trying to make fools of us,” the premier said after walking out of a meeting with the PM. Williams was so angry that he had all Canadian flags from provincial government buildings removed.

The flags were flying again a month later as the province struck a deal to revise the Atlantic Accord.

Williams was still fighting the federal government over offshore oil revenues in 2007, this time against Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

“Steve? His buddy George Bush calls him Steve, so I can call him Steve. I’m not a buddy of his, but by the same token, I have to … treat him with the same disdain that he’s treating Newfoundlanders and Labradorians,” Williams said.

He even took on Sir Paul McCartney when the musician criticized the province’s traditional seal hunt in 2006.

The premier went on CNN’s Larry King Live, saying, “There’s a point where people who don’t respect Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, and who don’t treat us with respect, will get it back in spades from me.”

His cabinet hit turbulence in 2006 after an audit revealed excessive expense claims by Newfoundland politicians from all three house parties.

Williams shuffled his cabinet, and accepted the resignation of senior member Ed Byrne.

But the Progressive Conservatives were largely unscathed and went on to win another majority the following year.

Oil deal

In 2007, Williams made a deal with a number of major oil companies for the province to acquire a 4.9 per cent stake in the Hebron offshore oil field project in exchange for surrendering royalties.

His government delivered a budget the following spring that ended federal equalization payments to the province, shedding its “have-not” status for the first time in its history.

Williams took on Harper again with his “Anyone but Conservative” campaign before the 2008 federal election, and the federal Conservatives were shut out in the province.

The premier sparked a debate about public health care in February when he went to a private clinic in Miami for heart surgery. Williams shrugged off criticism, saying “my heart, my choice.”

Earlier this month, he announced a $6.2-billion plan to develop the proposed Lower Churchill hydroelectric project in Labrador.

Williams said Thursday that the conclusion of the deal convinced him it was time to leave politics.