PC’s win majority government in Newfoundland and Labrador

Tony Wakeham’s Progressive Conservative party of Newfoundland and Labrador has won a majority government, forming the first PC government in the province in more than a decade.

Source: Facebook

Tony Wakeham’s Progressive Conservative party of Newfoundland and Labrador has won a majority government, forming the first PC government in the province in more than a decade.

Wakeham’s PCs won a narrow majority Tuesday night, securing 21 of 40 seats. This ends nearly a decade of Liberal rule under former premier Andrew Furey, who served for nearly five years. Conservatives gained seven seats compared to the previous legislature, capturing 44.3 per cent of the popular vote.

The election was called at 11:03 p.m. NT, marking the first time the Progressive Conservatives have won a general election since 2011.

Furey resigned in 2024 and was replaced by John Hogan, who called the election on Sept. 15 to secure a mandate from the province. Hogan’s Liberals lost six seats, ending the night with 15.

Wakeham’s campaign, which he characterized as “spirited but respectful,” focused on the promise of “change,” vowing to tackle public safety and issues within the province’s public healthcare system.

“It was only a couple of months ago. A whole lot of people were looking at the half time score and thinking this election was over. Pollsters and pundits were saying it was going to be another liberal majority, but we knew, all of us, in our PC team that the game was not over,” Wakeham said during his victory speech. “We know that a lot of people in Newfoundland and Labrador were ready for a change, if they heard a real, serious plan for it from a team that listened, learned and acted on their priorities.”

He thanked his family and everyone who worked on the campaign, as well as those who put their names forward, keeping with the hockey metaphor, saying “politics is a team sport.”

“We kept working hard and we kept working together. We didn’t quit. We kept believing in each other because we knew it wasn’t over until that final buzzer and all the votes are counted,” he said. “and tonight, we all know it because we all feel it. There is nothing quite like a comeback.”

Wakeham vowed to improve healthcare by bringing nurses to underserved communities, investing in more healthcare technology and equipment, and incentivizing medical students to stay in the province.

“I want to build a future that includes lower taxes for all of us. That means increasing the basic personal exemption to $15,000 Meaning nobody pays a cent of provincial tax on the first $15,000 you earn the biggest exemption in Atlantic Canada,” he said. “It also means permanently reducing the gas tax and paying back the tuition of graduates who choose to stay and work in Newfoundland and Labrador.”

He also proposed increasing the number of RCMP and police, fixing bail laws, and investing in addiction recovery centres. Wakeham also stated that a priority would be the economy, creating jobs, and advocating for national defence spending to be used in the province and to develop natural resources.

Hogan congratulated Wakeham and the PCs on their victory, vowing to help the PCs whenever the new government attempts to make progress and “good progress is made.”

“Democracy is not just about tonight. It’s a living, breathing process, and we’re lucky to live in a place where the free will of the people is expressed and respected.the free will of the people is expressed and respected,” Hogan said during his speech. “The challenges we face as a province are real, and they’ll require everyone across party lines and throughout our province to work together.”

Jim Dinn’s New Democrat Party will remain a recognized party without official party status, holding only two seats, the same number the NDP held before the election. Dinn was one of two NDP MHAs to hold his seat.

Humber-Bay of Islands and Mount Pearl North both elected independent candidates, Eddie Joyce and Paul Lane, respectively.

Ontario’s PC Premier Doug Ford congratulated Wakeham and his PC party on Tuesday.

“I look forward to working together to build a stronger, more united Canada from coast to coast,” Ford said in a post on X. “I also want to thank John Hogan for his collaboration as premier and his years of public service to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.”