Tidal Wave Rolls Over Newfoundland and Labrador
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It may not have been a tsunami, but the big blue wave that swept over Newfoundland and Labrador on Tuesday will certainly be felt for years to come.
The provincial election in Newfoundland and Labrador was expected to be an easy win for the reigning PC party and that’s exactly how it played out with the conservatives capturing 70% of the popular vote.
Going into the election the PC’s held 34 seats, the Liberals 11, the NDP 1 and there were 2 vacancies. When the ballots were counted Danny William’s PC government increased its majority to 43 seats, the Liberals dropped to 3 and the NDP retained its lone seat.
Immediately before the polls closed former federal cabinet minister, John Crosby, predicted the result when he said to Liberal senator George Baker, “The only safe Liberal in Newfoundland and Labrador tonight is one with a senate seat.â€
In addition to the 47 members elected, there remains one vacancy. The voters of Grand Falls-Windsor-Buchans did not go to the polls in the general election as a result of the untimely passing of Liberal Candidate, Gerry Tobin. Tobin, 41, passed away during the campaign leaving only the PC candidate on the ballot. A special by-election will be held in that district on November 6.
The election results, as much as at any time in the province’s history, serve as an example of how the will of the people can and was expressed in shaping government. Throughout the weeks leading up to the vote 3 key factors were easily recognizable across the province and they were clearly reflected in the final results.
1) The Williams government’s popularity throughout the Island portion of the province led to an increase in seats and a stronger mandate from the people;
2) A chronic lack of organization displayed by the Liberal party ever since losing the previous provincial election resulted in a lack of confidence among the electorate and a loss of most of their districts, including that of the party leader, Gerry Reid by a mere 7 votes. An automatic recount will be undertaken in that district.
3) The calm yet effective leadership shown by NDP party leader Lorraine Michael and displayed during the provincial leader’s debate resulted in a small, yet important, gain for the perennial third party; and
Leading up to the election there was some talk of the need to ensure a strong opposition in the province in the wake of Williams’ popularity. That concern appears to have been a non-factor in the election outcome. The enhanced mandate given to premier Williams indicates that a desire for strong local opposition was outstripped by the desire to present a strong united front to the province’s true opposition in Ottawa.
By Myles Higgins
The Legislature of Newfoundland and Labrador now has the following members:
Jim Baker
PC
Labrador West
Ed Buckingham
PC
St. John’s East
Joan Burke
PC
St. George’s-Stephenville East
Roland Butler
Lib
Port de Grave
Jack Byrne
PC
Cape St. Francis
Felix Collins
PC
Placentia-St. Mary’s
Tony Cornect
PC
Port au Port
Derrick Dalley
PC
The Isles of Notre Dame
Dave Denine
PC
Mount Pearl South
John Dinn
PC
Kilbride
Kathy Dunderdale
PC
Virginia Waters
Roger Fitzgeraald
PC
Bonavista South
Clayton Forsey
PC
Exploits
Terry French
PC
Conception Bay South
Harry Harding
PC
Bonavista North
Tom Hedderson
PC
Harbour Main
John Hickey
PC
Lake Melville
Ray Hunter
PC
Grand Falls-Windsor-GBS
Keith Hutchings
PC
Ferryland
Clyde Jackman
PC
Burin-Placentia West
Charlene Johnson
PC
Trinity-Bay de Verde
Yvonne Jones
Lib
Cartwright-L’Anse au Clair
Darryl Kelly
PC
Humber valley
Jerome Kennedy
PC
Carbonear-Harbour Grace
Steve Kent
PC
Mount Pearl North
Darin King
PC
Grand Bank
Terry Loder
PC
Bay of Islands
Elisabeth Mrchall
PC
Topsail
Tom Marshall
PC
Humber East
Lorraine Michael
NDP
Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi
Kevin O’Brien
PC
Gander
Paul Oram
PC
Terra Nova
Sheila Osborne
PC
St. John’s West
Tom Osborne
PC
St. John’s South
Kelvin Parsons
Lib
Burgeo-La Poile
Calvin Peach
PC
Bellevue
Tracey Perry
PC
Fortune Bay-Cape la Hune
Patty Pottle
PC
Torngat Mountains
Tom Rideout
PC
Baie Verte-Springdale
Bob Ridgley
PC
St. John’s North
Shawn Skinner
PC
St. John’s Centre
Trevor Taylor
PC
The Straits-White Bay North
Wade Verge
PC
Lewisporte
Dianne Whalen
PC
Conception Bay East-Bell Island
Danny Williams
PC
Humber West
Ross Wiseman
PC
Trinity North
Wallace Young
PC
St. Barbe
@ October 15, 2007