Newfoundland and Labrador general election, 2011

Newfoundland and Labrador general election, 2011
Newfoundland and Labrador
October 11, 2011
All 48 seats in the 47th General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador
25 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Kathy Dunderdale Kevin Aylward Lorraine Michael
Party Progressive Conservative Liberal New Democratic
Leader since April 2, 2011 August 14, 2011 May 26, 2006
Leader's seat Virginia Waters ran in St. George's-Stephenville East
(lost)		 Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi
Last election 44 seats, 69.59% 3 seats, 21.69% 1 seat, 8.49%
Seats before 43 4 1
Seats won 37 6 5
Seat change -6 +2 +4
Popular vote 124,523 42,417 54,713
Percentage 56.1% 19.1% 24.6%

Map of districts showing how they voted
Premier before election

Kathy Dunderdale
Progressive Conservative

 Premier-designate

The 48th Newfoundland and Labrador general election occurred on October 11, 2011, to elect members of the 47th General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, the 19th election for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The Progressive Conservative Party (PC Party) formed a majority government in the 2007 election, with the Liberal Party serving as the Official Opposition and the New Democratic Party (NDP) serving as a third party.

Under amendments passed by the Legislature in 2004, elections in Newfoundland and Labrador are now held on fixed dates: the second Tuesday in October every four years.[1]

The Progressive Conservatives, led by Kathy Dunderdale, won their third straight majority government. Dunderdale became only the third woman in Canadian history to lead a political party to power. The Liberal Party, led by Kevin Aylward, formed the Official Opposition, however the party placed third in the popular vote and Aylward was not elected to the legislature. Lorraine Michael's New Democratic Party won a record number of seats and placed second in the popular vote for the first time in the province's history.[2]

Background

Progressive Conservative Party

 

Leader: Kathy Dunderdale

Under Dunderdale’s leadership the PC Party won a third straight majority government, winning 37 seats in the House of Assembly and taking 56% of the popular vote.[2] The party platform included the phasing out of the payroll tax over six years, eliminating provincial student loans and replacing them with needs-based grants over four years, improving health care wait times, establishing a ceiling for new spending growth, investing a third of any surplus into unfunded public pension funds, the creation of a population growth strategy, reforming the adoption process to make it easier for people to adopt children and provide province-wide high-speed access within four years. While releasing the platform Dunderdale stated that promises outlined were contingent on fiscal conditions in the months and years to come.[3][4][5]

Liberal Party

 

Leader: Kevin Aylward

Under Aylward’s leadership the Liberal Party won a total of six seats. While they increased their number of seats, by two, the party placed third in the popular with 19.1%, the worst showing in their history.[2] The party platform advocated for the creation of a legacy fund for offshore oil revenues, a new deal to develop the Lower Churchill hydroelectric development, annual increase to retired public service pensions, improve high-speed internet a cellphone service in rural areas, merge the Department of Business with the Department of Innovation, Trade, and Rural Development, establish a fisheries investment and diversification fund, creation of a fisheries loan board, initiate a judicial inquiry dealing with management of the fishery and operating a marine rescue subcentre in the province.[6][7]

New Democratic Party

 

Leader: Lorraine Michael

Under Michael’s leadership the NDP won a total of five seats and took 24.6% of the popular vote, the best result in the party’s history. While the party placed second in the popular vote they placed third in seats.[2] Their platform advocated for a 25% reduction in the small business tax, an all-day kindergarten pilot project starting in September 2012, an independent review of the health care system, elimination of the “tax on tax” on gasoline and diesel fuel, regular increases in the minimum wage, reductions in public post-secondary tuition fees with a move towards free tuition, and the introduction of a three per cent petroleum royalty surcharge on oil companies.[8][9][10]

Party leadership

Following Liberal leader Gerry Reid's defeat in the 2007 general election he resigned as the party's leader.[11] The party subsequently chose Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair MHA Yvonne Jones as interim leader of the party and therefore the Official Opposition Leader in the House of Assembly.[12] The party delayed calling a leadership election until 2010, and when nominations for the leadership closed on July 30, 2010 Jones was the only candidate to come forward and was acclaimed leader of the party.[13] Only weeks later on August 13, 2010, Jones announced she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and would be taking time off to undergo treatment. During her time off Liberal House Leader Kelvin Parsons took over for Jones on an interim basis.[14] The Liberal convention that would swear Jones in as leader was rescheduled from October 2010, to May 2011, due to her illness. She was sworn in as leader on May 28, 2011.[15] On August 8, 2011, it was announced that Jones would step down as leader the following day on the advice of her doctor. The Liberal Party executive chose former MHA and cabinet minister Kevin Aylward as her successor on August 14, 2011.[16][17]

On November 25, 2010, Premier Danny Williams made the surprise announcement that he would resign as leader and premier the next week.[18] On December 3, 2010, Kathy Dunderdale, Williams' Deputy Premier, was sworn in as Newfoundland and Labrador's tenth Premier.[19] Although she had originally stated she would not seek the permanent leadership she announced on December 30, 2010, she would run for the Progressive Conservative leadership. Her announcement came after several high profile cabinet ministers announced they would not run and endorsed her candidacy.[20][21] In January 2011, Dunderdale was acclaimed party leader when she was the only eligible candidate to seek the leadership.[22] On April 2, 2011, she was sworn in as leader of the Progressive Conservatives.[23]

Timeline

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

Campaign

At 10:00 am on September 19, 2011, Premier Dunderdale met with Lieutenant Governor John Crosbie who dissolved the 46th General Assembly, officially launching the election campaign.[40]

Campaign slogans

The parties campaign slogans for the 2011 election are:

Issues

Muskrat Falls

The tentative deal to develop the $6.2 billion Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project in Labrador was negotiated by the Progressive Conservative government in November 2010. The Liberal Party opposes the deal, saying it is bad for the province because it will increase the province's debt and will see electricity rates increase for consumers. The NDP have had similar concerns and both party leaders have called for spending on the project to stop until more independent analysis' can be conducted to see if the current deal is the best one for the province.[41][42]

Public sector pension increases

The Liberal Party announced they would provide a one-time increase to public sector pensioners of 2.5%, as well as provide annual increases equivalent to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) up to 2%. While Aylward has said increasing payments would cost $13 million in the first year and about $10 million extra for each additional year, the Department of Finance stated that the plan would add $1.2 billion in additional liabilities to the pension plan.[43] Dunderdale slammed the Liberal Party's plan calling it 'foolhardy'.[44]

Controversies

Dunderdale confrontation with fisheries workers

Toward the end of the campaign, Tory Leader Kathy Dunderdale was confronted by frustrated fisheries workers in Marystown in the district of Burin-Placentia West held by Minister of Fisheries & Aquaculture Clyde Jackman.[45] Dunderdale, accompanied by Jackman and Grand Bank district MHA Darin King, refused to negotiate with the workers until after the election. Jackman went on to win the election by only 40 votes.[46]

Dumaresque comment

Controversy arose at the St. John's Board of Trade debate when Liberal candidate Danny Dumaresque was asked about an appeal by the mayor of St. John's for a new financial arrangement between the city and the provincial government. Dumaresque stated that "there are a hell of a lot more priorities outside the overpass that need to be addressed before we start forking more money over to the City of St. John's." The comment led to divisions within the party, with Liberal candidate Drew Brown stating it was an “idiotic comment by an idiotic man.”[47][48]

Election summary

Party Seats Second Third Fourth
Progressive Conservative 37 10 1 0
  Liberal Party 6 15 27 0
     New Democratic Party 5 23 20 0
     Other 0 0 0 3
 Summary of the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador election results
Party Party leader Candidates Seats Popular vote
2007 Dissol. 2011 Change # % % Change
Progressive Conservative Kathy Dunderdale 48 44 43 37 -6 124,523 56.1% -13.49%
Liberal Kevin Aylward 48 3 4 6 +2 42.417 19.1% -2.59%
New Democratic Lorraine Michael 48 1 1 5 +4 54,713 24.6% +16.11%
  Independents 3 0 0 0 0 430 0.2%
Total 48 48 48 222,842 100%  

Results by region

Party Name St. John's St. John's Metro Avalon/Burin Central Western/
Southern		 Labrador Total
Parties winning seats in the legislature:
  Progressive Conservative Seats: 4 6 9 11 5 2 37
  Popular Vote: 47.47% 63.29% 62.87% 59.18% 51.13% 44.14%
  Liberal Seats: 0 0 0 0 4 2 6
  Popular Vote: 7.1% 5.21% 17.10% 24.49% 33.76% 31.45%
     New Democratic Seats: 4 0 0 0 1 0 5
     Popular Vote: 45.43% 31.51% 19.08% 15.61% 14.67% 24.40%
Parties that won no seats in the legislature
     Independent Popular Vote: 0.73% 0.14%
Total seats: 8 6 9 11 10 4 48

Results by district

Bold incumbents indicates cabinet members and party leaders are italicized.

St. John's

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
  PC   Liberal   NDP   Other
Kilbride John Dinn Brian Hanlon Paul Boundridge John Dinn
Signal Hill—Quidi Vidi John Noseworthy Drew Brown Lorraine Michael Lorraine Michael
St. John's Centre Shawn Skinner Carly Bigelow Gerry Rogers Shawn Skinner
St. John's East Ed Buckingham Mike Duffy George Murphy Ed Buckingham
St. John's North Bob Ridgley Elizabeth Scammel Reynolds Dale Kirby Bob Ridgley
St. John's South Tom Osborne Trevor Hickey Keith Dunne Tom Osborne
St. John's West Dan Crummell George Joyce Chris Pickard Sheila Osborne
Virginia Waters Kathy Dunderdale Sheila Miller Dave Sullivan Kathy Dunderdale

St. John's suburbs

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
  PC   Liberal   NDP   Other
Cape St. Francis Kevin Parsons Joy Buckle Geoff Gallant Kevin Parsons
Conception Bay East - Bell Island David Brazil Kim Ploughman Bill Kavanagh David Brazil
Conception Bay South Terry French Cynthia Layden Barron Noah Davis-Power Terry French
Mount Pearl North Steve Kent Maurice Budgell Kurtis Coombs Steve Kent
Mount Pearl South Paul Lane Norm Snelgrove John Riche Dave Denine
Topsail Paul Davis Nic Reid Brian Nolan Paul Davis

Avalon and Burin Peninsulas

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
  PC   Liberal   NDP   Other
Bellevue Calvin Peach Pam Pardy Ghent Gabe Ryan Calvin Peach
Burin—Placentia West Clyde Jackman Jacqueline Mullett Julie Mitchell Clyde Jackman
Carbonear—Harbour Grace Jerome Kennedy Phillip Earle Shawn Hyde Kyle Brookings Jerome Kennedy
Ferryland Keith Hutchings Dianne Randell Chris Molloy Keith Hutchings
Grand Bank Darin King Carol Anne Haley Wally Layman Darin King
Harbour Main Tom Hedderson Bern Hickey Mike Maher Tom Hedderson
Placentia—St. Mary's Felix Collins Todd Squires Trish Dodd Felix Collins
Port de Grave Glenn Littlejohn Leanne Hussey Sarah Downey Roland Butler†
Trinity—Bay de Verde Charlene Johnson Barry Snow Sheina Lerman Charlene Johnson

Central Newfoundland

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
  PC   Liberal   NDP   Other
Baie Verte—Springdale Kevin Pollard Neil Ward Tim Howse Kevin Pollard
Bonavista North Eli Cross Paul Kean John Coaker Harry Harding
Bonavista South Glen Little Johanna Ryan Guy Darryl Johnson Roger Fitzgerald
Exploits Clayton Forsey Jim Samson Grant Hemeon Clayton Forsey
Gander Kevin O'Brien Barry Warren Lukas Norman Kevin O'Brien
Grand Falls-Windsor—Buchans Susan Sullivan Wayne Morris John Whelan Susan Sullivan
Grand Falls-Windsor—Green Bay South Ray Hunter Merv Wiseman Clyde Bridger Ray Hunter
Lewisporte Wade Verge Todd Manuel Lloyd Snow Wade Verge
Terra Nova Sandy Collins Ryan Lane Robin Brentnall John Baird Sandy Collins
The Isles of Notre Dame Derrick Dalley Danny Dumaresque Tree Walsh Derrick Dalley
Trinity North Ross Wiseman Brad Cabana Vanessa Wiseman Ross Wiseman

Western and Southern Newfoundland

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
  PC   Liberal   NDP   Other
Bay of Islands Terry Loder Eddie Joyce Tony Adey Terry Loder
Burgeo—La Poile Colin Short Andrew Parsons Matt Fuchs Kelvin Parsons
Fortune Bay—Cape La Hune Tracey Perry Eric Skinner Susan Skinner Tracey Perry
Humber East Tom Marshall Charles Murphy Marc Best Tom Marshall
Humber Valley Darryl Kelly Dwight Ball Sheldon Hynes Darryl Kelly
Humber West Vaughn Granter Donna Luther Jordan Stringer Vaughn Granter
Port au Port Tony Cornect Kate Mitchell Mansfield Jamie Brace Tony Cornect
St. Barbe Wallace Young Jim Bennett Diane Ryan Wallace Young
St. George's—Stephenville East Joan Burke Kevin Aylward Bernice Hancock Dean Simon Joan Burke
The Straits - White Bay North Selma Pike Marshall Dean Chris Mitchelmore Marshall Dean

Labrador

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
  PC   Liberal   NDP   Other
Cartwright—L'Anse au Clair Glen Acreman Yvonne Jones Bill Cooper Yvonne Jones
Labrador West Nick McGrath Karen Oldford Tom Harris Jim Baker
Lake Melville Keith Russell Chris Montague Arlene Michelin-Pittman John Hickey
Torngat Mountains Patty Pottle Randy Edmunds Alex Saunders Patty Pottle

MHAs not running again

Liberal

Progressive Conservative

Opinion polls

Polling Firm Date of Polling Link Progressive Conservative Liberal New Democratic
Corporate Research Associates September 29 – October 3, 2011 HTML 59 16 25
Environics September 29 – October 4, 2011 HTML 54 13 33
MarketQuest Omnifacts Research September 28–30, 2011 HTML 54 13 33
MarketQuest Omnifacts Research September 16–19, 2011 HTML 53 18 29
Corporate Research Associates August 15–31, 2011 PDF 54 22 24
Corporate Research Associates May 11–28, 2011 PDF 57 22 20
Corporate Research Associates February 10–28, 2011 PDF 73 18 8
Corporate Research Associates November 9–30, 2010 PDF 75 16 8
Corporate Research Associates August 10–30, 2010 PDF 76 17 7
Corporate Research Associates May 11–31, 2010 PDF 75 16 8
Corporate Research Associates February 9–25, 2010 PDF 80 15 5
Corporate Research Associates November 5–22, 2009 PDF 77 16 7
Corporate Research Associates August 11–29, 2009 PDF 77 15 8
Corporate Research Associates May 12–30, 2009 PDF 72 19 8
Corporate Research Associates February 11–28, 2009 PDF 71 22 7
Corporate Research Associates November 5 – December 2, 2008 PDF 72 19 9
Corporate Research Associates August 12–30, 2008 PDF 78 14 7
Corporate Research Associates May 8 – June 1, 2008 PDF 77 13 8
Corporate Research Associates February 12 – March 4, 2008 PDF 79 14 6
Corporate Research Associates November 9 – December 3, 2007 PDF 82 12 7
Election 2007 October 9, 2007 HTML 69.6 21.7 8.5

References

  1. ↑ "Canada's New Government Proposes Fixed Election Dates". Democraticreform.gc.ca. May 30, 2006. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Dunderdale leads N.L. Tories to majority". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. October 12, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  3. ↑ "New Energy – PC Policy Blue Book" (PDF). Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  4. ↑ "PC Blue Book promises to cost $135 million a year". The Telegram. September 22, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Blue Book vows cautious spending hikes". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. October 22, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  6. ↑ "People's Platform – Liberal Party Platform" (PDF). Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labraddor. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Liberals pitch legacy account for oil money". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. September 23, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  8. ↑ "It's Time – NDP Platform" (PDF). New Democratic Party of Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  9. ↑ "NDP: Raise oil taxes, boost social spending". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. September 20, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  10. ↑ "NDP platform pledges $142 M in five key areas". The Telegram. September 20, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  11. 1 2 "Reid resigns leadership, vows Grit rebuilding". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. November 13, 2007. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  12. 1 2 "Jones takes on interim Liberal leadership". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. November 15, 2007. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  13. 1 2 "Jones acclaimed N.L. Liberal leader". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. July 30, 2010. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  14. 1 2 "N.L. Liberal Leader Jones has breast cancer". CBC News. August 13, 2010. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  15. 1 2 "Liberal party ready for election". The Telgram. May 28, 2011. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  16. 1 2 "N.L. Liberal leader set to resign over health". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. August 8, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  17. 1 2 "Aylward will lead NL Liberals". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. August 14, 2011. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
  18. 1 2 "Danny Williams to step down". National Post. Canada. November 25, 2010. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  19. 1 2 "'Our time has come' N.L. premier says as he leaves office". Canada.com. November 25, 2010. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  20. ↑ "2 key ministers skip PC race". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. December 22, 2010. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Dunderdale shoots for N.L. Tory nod". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. December 30, 2010. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  22. ↑ "N.L. Tories reject Cabana appeal". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. January 27, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  23. 1 2 "Dunderdale sworn in as PC Party leader". The Telegram. April 2, 2011. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  24. ↑ "Williams leads Tory landslide in N.L.". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. October 9, 2007. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  25. ↑ "Tories take resounding win in deferred N.L. vote". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. November 6, 2007. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  26. ↑ "Deputy N.L. premier Rideout quits cabinet in spat with Williams". CBC News. May 21, 2008. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  27. ↑ "Tory stalwart Jack Byrne dead at 57". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. June 5, 2007. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  28. ↑ "Former Newfoundland premier Tom Rideout quits politics". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. June 30, 2008. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  29. ↑ "Tories sweep Newfoundland and Labrador byelections". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. September 28, 2008. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  30. ↑ "Trevor Taylor resigns from N.L. cabinet". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. September 24, 2009. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  31. ↑ "Paul Oram resigns as health minister, MHA". The Telegram. October 7, 2009. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  32. ↑ "Liberals take Straits and White Bay North". The Telegram. October 26, 2009. Retrieved July 7, 2011.
  33. ↑ "Conservatives win Terra Nova byelection". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. November 27, 2009. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  34. ↑ "PM appoints N.L.'s Elizabeth Marshall to senate". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. January 29, 2010. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  35. ↑ "Paul Davis wins Tory nomination in Topsail". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. March 16, 2010. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  36. ↑ "Premier Mourns the Passing of Minister Dianne Whalen; Honours Her Contribution to Newfoundland and Labrador". Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. October 3, 2010. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  37. ↑ "PC David Brazil wins N.L. by-election". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. November 2, 2010. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  38. ↑ "Granter wins Humber West by 2–1 margin". The Western Star. February 16, 2011. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
  39. ↑ "Dunderdale kicks off N.L. election campaign". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. September 19, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  40. ↑ "Provincial election to formally begin 10 am". The Telegram. September 19, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2011.</ref name="writ"
  41. ↑ "QuickList of issues in N.L.'s election". Metro News. September 20, 2011. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
  42. ↑ "Navigant Consulting releases report on proposed Nalcor Energy Muskrat Falls, Labrador power plant". Daily Commercial News. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
  43. ↑ "Liberals promise pension increase". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. September 20, 2011. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
  44. ↑ "Grit pension promise 'foolhardy': Tories". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. September 20, 2011. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
  45. ↑ "Fisheries workers confront Dunderdale". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. October 3, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  46. ↑ "NDP wants Burin-Placentia West recount". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. October 24, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  47. ↑ "St. John's comment splits Liberals". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. September 28, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  48. ↑ "Noseworthy no-show called 'arrogant'". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. October 5, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2011.

Political parties

External links

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