Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party explained

Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party
Leader:Jim Dinn
President:Raj Sharan
Foundation:1961
Headquarters:St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Ideology:Social democracy
Position:Centre-left
National:New Democratic Party
Membership:2,600[1]
Membership Year:2018
Colours:Orange, white, and blue
Colorcode:
  1. FF9900
Blank1 Title:Fiscal policy
Blank2 Title:Social policy
Seats1 Title:
Country:Canada
State:Newfoundland and Labrador
Parties Dab1:List of political parties in Newfoundland and Labrador
Elections Dab1:List of Newfoundland and Labrador general elections

The Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party (NL NDP) is a social democratic political party in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is a provincial section of the federal New Democratic Party. It was formed in 1961 as the successor to the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) and the Newfoundland Democratic Party. The party first contested the 1962 provincial election. The party won its first seat in the House of Assembly in 1984 and has been represented in the legislature since 1990.

Lorraine Michael was elected leader of the NL NDP at the party's leadership election on May 28, 2006. She led the party during the 2007 and 2011 general elections, each time improving the party's share of vote from the previous election. In the 2011 election, a record five NDP MHAs were elected under her leadership.[2] Michael was succeeded by former Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union president, Earle McCurdy on March 7, 2015. Following McCurdy's resignation in September 2017, Michael was named interim leader.[3] In April 2018, MHA Gerry Rogers was elected leader.[4] Rogers resigned the following year and economist Alison Coffin was acclaimed leader on March 5, 2019.[5] In the 2021 provincial election, the party won two seats. In October 2021, MHA Jim Dinn was chosen as the party's interim leader following the resignation of Alison Coffin. He was later acclaimed as the permanent leader.[6]

History

Founding

The NL NDP is the successor party to the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF). The Newfoundland CCF was founded in 1955 when Sam Drover, a member of the Newfoundland House of Assembly for White Bay (Trinity North) left the provincial Liberal Party to sit as a member of the CCF. Drover became leader of the new provincial party, which fielded ten candidates, mostly in rural districts, in the 1956 provincial election. The CCF party failed to win any seats: Drover lost his own riding, winning 237 votes to the Liberal candidate's 1,437.[7]

The CCF did not run candidates in the 1959 election, but supported the Newfoundland Democratic Party. This party had been organised by the Newfoundland Federation of Labour with the support of the Canadian Labour Congress, to protest the Liberal government's decertification of the International Woodworkers of America in the course of a logging strike. The Newfoundland Democratic Party ran eighteen candidates, none of whom was elected. The party was led by Ed Finn, Jr. In 1961, the federal New Democratic Party was founded in with the merger of the federal CCF and the Canadian Labour Congress. The Newfoundland Democratic Party followed suit becoming the Newfoundland New Democratic Party with Finn leading the NL NDP into the 1962 provincial election and Calvin Normore doing so in 1966.[7]

1962 - 1984

Since the 1962 general election, the party has run candidates in all of Newfoundland and Labrador's general elections. From 1962 to 1984, the party was led by seven different leaders and contested seven provincial elections. The party won an average of 3.3% of the vote in those elections and were unable to elect a candidate to the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly.[8]

Peter Fenwick years

Peter Fenwick succeeded Fonse Faour as party leader in 1981.[9] In a 1984 by-election, Fenwick won the Labrador riding of Menihek becoming the first New Democrat to be elected in the province. In the 1985 general election the party won 14% of the popular vote, nearly quadrupling their share of the vote they received three years earlier. Even with their successful results Fenwick was the only NL NDP candidate elected.[10] [11] In 1986, Gene Long won the party's second seat in a by-election in the riding of St. John's East (since renamed Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi). Also that year Fenwick was arrested, along with union representatives, for participating in a strike by the Newfoundland Association of Public Employees (NAPE).[12] Fenwick retired from politics in 1989 and did not run in that year's election. Cle Newhook replaced Fenwick as party leader and the NL NDP was once again left without representation after the 1989 election when both ridings they had held were won by Progressive Conservatives.[13] [14]

Jack Harris years

St. John's lawyer and former Member of Parliament Jack Harris won back the riding of St. John's East in a 1990 by-election after Progressive Conservative MHA Shannie Duff resigned to run for St. John's Mayor.[15] Harris took nearly 50% of the vote in the by-election beating the Liberal candidate by 740 votes. In 1992, Harris succeed Newhook as party leader[16] and led the party into the 1993 general election. For the first, and only, time in the party's history, they ran a full slate of candidates throughout the province. While they won almost 10,000 more votes than the previous election and increased their share of the popular vote from 3.4% to 7.4%, Harris remained the only New Democrat elected. The 1996 general election resulted in a landslide majority government for the Liberal Party, the New Democrats received only 4.45% of the vote and nominated candidates in only 20 of the provinces 48 ridings. Though the party suffered their worst electoral result in 14 years, Harris was easily re-elected in the new riding of Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi. He was re-elected to the Legislature in the 1999, and 2003 elections. Randy Collins was elected in Labrador West in 1999, and re-elected in 2003 before resigning in 2007.[17] [18] Harris resigned in 2006.[19] [20] [21]

Lorraine Michael

Lorraine Michael won the leadership of the Newfoundland and Labrador NDP in 2006.[22] After succeeding Harris as leader she was elected in his former district of Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi several months later.[23] In the 2007 provincial election, Michael was the only New Democrat elected, though she increased her party's share of the popular vote.[24]

Between 2007 and 2011, polling for the NL NDP remained below 10%p in public opinion polls behind the Liberal Party and governing Progressive Conservatives. However, after the federal NDP's success in the 2011 federal election, where they formed the official opposition, support for Michael's New Democrats saw a surge in support. In a Corporate Research Associates (CRA) poll conducted just weeks after the federal election in May 2011, the NL NDP support rose to 20%. For the first time in its history the party was statistically tied for second place with the Liberal Party, who were at 22%. The New Democrats' gains came at the expense of the governing Progressive Conservatives who fell to 57%.[25] The NL NDP surpassed the Liberals in polling in September 2011, and won just under 25% of the popular vote, and five seats, in the October 11, 2011, general election. The Progressive Conservatives won their third straight majority government and while the New Democrats placed second in the popular vote, they finished third behind the Liberal Party in seats.[26]

On October 21, 2013, it was revealed that Michael had received a letter from her caucus over the previous weekend calling for a leadership election to be held in 2014. The caucus felt that without renewal in the party they would have trouble attracting quality candidates and public support in the 2015 election. In an interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Michael said she was shocked by the letter and felt betrayed by her caucus. Michael said she planned to sit down with her caucus before making a decision on what to do.[27] [28]

The letter led to a public fight within the NDP, particularly among the caucus. Both Gerry Rogers and George Murphy said they regretted sending the letter and supported Michael, while Dale Kirby and Chris Mitchelmore stood behind what they had written in the letter.[29] [30] Following the caucus meeting Michael agreed to having a vote on her leadership at the next annual general meeting of the party. Both Kirby and Mitchelmore later announced they were leaving the caucus to sit as Independent MHAs, and both men joined the Liberal Party in February 2014. The dispute over Michael's leadership also led to members of the provincial executive to resign.[31] [32] [33] In May 2014, a party convention reaffirmed her leadership with the support of 75% of delegates. Michael announced on January 6, 2015 that she would step down as leader after the party performed poorly in four recent by-elections. While she was resigning as leader, Michael also stated that she planned to seek re-election as an MHA.[34] [35] Her term as leader ended when her successor was chosen in a leadership election held on March 7, 2015.

Earle McCurdy

See main article: 2015 New Democratic Party of Newfoundland and Labrador leadership election.

Three candidates sought to succeed Michael as leader: former Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union leader Earle McCurdy, former Labrador City town councilor Mike Goosney and former NDP official Chris Bruce.[36] [37]

McCurdy won the election with 68% of the vote on March 7, 2015.[38] [39] He did not win his seat in the 2015 provincial election.[40] [41] Therefore, Michael subsequently served as NDP House Leader in the following parliamentary sessions.

On September 19, 2017, McCurdy announced his resignation as Leader, effective September 30, 2017.[42] Following McCurdy's resignation, MHA and former leader Lorraine Michael was named interim leader.[43]

Gerry Rogers

In April 2018, MHA Gerry Rogers was elected leader defeating economist Alison Coffin. Rogers was the first openly LGBTQ+ person to lead a political party in Newfoundland and Labrador.[4] On February 12, 2019, Rogers announced she would be stepping down as leader and not seeking re-election in the upcoming 2019 election.[44]

Alison Coffin

Memorial University economics professor and consultant Alison Coffin was acclaimed leader on March 5, 2019.[5] Coffin led the party into the 2019 provincial election; despite only nominating 14 candidates (out of a possible 40) the party won three seats.[45] Coffin won St. John’s East-Quidi Vidi holding it for the NDP, while the party led St. John’s Centre, and won an upset in Labrador West.[46] [47] [48]

Coffin led the party into the 2021 provincial election. She was personally defeated in her district of St. John's East-Quidi Vidi; while the party held St. John's Centre and Labrador West.[49] Coffin filed for a recount.[50] On May 12, 2021, Supreme Court Justice Donald Burrage rejected Coffin's bid for a recount, arguing that there was not sufficient evidence.[51]

On October 16, 2021, Coffin lost a leadership review by party members.[52] She later chose to resign on October 19 and was replaced by MHA Jim Dinn as interim leader.[53]

Jim Dinn

In October 2021, MHA Jim Dinn was chosen as the party's interim leader following the resignation of Alison Coffin. Prior to becoming a politician, Dinn had served as president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association. On March 7, 2022, Torngat Mountains MHA Lela Evans joined the NDP caucus.[54] [55] On March 28, 2023, Dinn was acclaimed as permanent leader after the nomination deadline passed with no other candidates.[56] On July 16, 2024, MHA Lela Evans rejoined the PC Party.[57]

Representation in the House of Assembly

Electoral performance

Results of elections for the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly:

ElectionLeaderSeatsChangePlaceVotes%Position
1956Sam Drover>1,964>1.7%
1959Ed Finn Jr.9,3527.2%
19627,4793.6%
1966Calvin Normore2,7251.8%
1971John Connors4,0751.8%
19724100.2%
1975Gerry Panting9,6534.35%
1979John Greene18,5077.8%
1982Peter Fenwick9,3713.7%
1985 13rd39,95414.4%
1989Cle Newhooknone12,9294.4%
Jack Harris 13rd22,3997.4%
19963rd12,7064.45%
19991 3rd21,9628.23%
20033rd19,0486.86%
2007Lorraine Michael1 3rd19,0288.49%
20114 3rd54,71324.6%
2015Earle McCurdy3 3rd24,13012.1%
2019Alison Coffin1 3rd13,4346.31%
20211 3th14,3238.02%

Current Newfoundland and Labrador New Democrat MHAs

MemberDistrictElectedNotes
Jim DinnSt. John's Centre2019Party Leader
Jordan BrownLabrador West2019
Lela EvansTorngat Mountains2019Joined caucus in 2022

Historical representation

The New Democratic Party won its first seat in the House of Assembly in 1984 when leader Peter Fenwick was elected in a by-election for the district of Labrador West. The party has been represented in the provincial legislature continually since 1990. Former leader Jack Harris was elected to represent the district of Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi in the 1990, 1993, 1996, 1999 and 2003 provincial elections. Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi (now St. John's East-Quidi Vidi) had been represented by the NDP since 1990, including leaders Harris, Michael, and Coffin, until Coffin's defeat in 2021.[58]

Relationship with the federal party

The NL NDP is affiliated with the federal New Democratic Party. Two of the three New Democratic Party Members of Parliament ever elected to the House of Commons of Canada from Newfoundland and Labrador went on to lead the provincial party:

Leaders

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Maher . David . Gerry Rogers wins NDP leadership race . . . 8 April 2018 . 16 May 2024.
  2. News: NDP celebrates historic gains. 19 April 2012. Canadian Broadcasting corporation. 11 October 2011.
  3. Web site: Lorraine Michael named interim leader of provincial NDP . 2017-09-28 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20230410003449/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/lorraine-michael-interim-ndp-leader-1.4311284 . 2023-04-10 . live .
  4. News: Gerry Rogers wins NDP leadership race . Maher . David . 8 April 2018 . The Telegram . 27 March 2021 .
  5. Web site: Alison Coffin acclaimed as leader of Newfoundland and Labrador NDP. Maher. David. Mar 5, 2019. Oct 16, 2020. The Telegram.
  6. Web site: Jim Dinn removes 'interim' tag after being acclaimed NDP leader . . 2023-03-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230328151048/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/jim-dinn-accalimed-leader-ndp-nl-1.6793065 . 2023-03-28 . live.
  7. Web site: About Us. Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party. 19 April 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120313231814/http://www.nl.ndp.ca/aboutus. 13 March 2012.
  8. Web site: General Election Statistics 1949-1999 . Elections Newfoundland and Labrador . 16 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080926161505/http://www.elections.gov.nl.ca/elections/1949-1999stats.asp . Sep 26, 2008.
  9. News: Plaskin . Robert . Peter Fenwick, the newly elected leader of the Newfoundland NDP . August 23, 2020 . United Press International . November 9, 1981.
  10. News: Peckford Hangs to Power. 19 April 2012. The Windsor Star. 3 April 1985.
  11. Web site: Whelan. Dermot F.. Fortieth General Election, 1985 - Chief Electoral Officer. Elections Newfoundland and Labrador. 19 April 2012. 22 October 1985. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304193312/http://www.elections.gov.nl.ca/elections/ElectionReports/PDF/General.Elections/GEreport1985.pdf. 4 March 2016. dead.
  12. News: Nfld. NDP leader jailed for strike role. 29 November 1986. The Gazette. 10. 28 January 2011.
  13. Ward, Stephen, "New leader hopes to improve Newfoundland NDP's fortunes," Globe and Mail, March 20, 1989
  14. Cox, Kevin, "Newfound Liberals win majority Leader's defeat tempers victory ", Globe and Mail, April 21, 1989
  15. "NDP gets toehold in Newfoundland," Kitchener-Waterloo Record, December 12, 1990
  16. "New leader for Newfoundland NDP," Globe and Mail, November 16, 1992
  17. News: Randy Collins gets 21 months in prison. January 15, 2010. The Telegram. 2012-05-11.
  18. News: Ex-N.L. politician Collins jailed in fraud case. January 15, 2010. CBC News. 2014-05-18.
  19. News: Harris stepping down as NDP leader. 2 February 2013. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 28 October 2005.
  20. News: Harris's resignation clears way for Signal Hill byelection. 2 February 2013. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 29 September 2006.
  21. News: Do honourable thing and quit seat, Tories tell Harris. 2 February 2013. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 23 August 2006.
  22. News: Michael waltzes to victory in NDP leadership. 12 May 2012. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 28 May 2006.
  23. Web site: Michael taking nothing for granted in pending byelection . Cbc.ca . 2006-08-21 . 2012-02-07.
  24. News: NDP Leader Michael alone again. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2007-10-09. 2017-09-28.
  25. News: Tories drop, NDP surge in new poll. 2011-06-11. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2011-06-07.
  26. News: Dunderdale leads N.L. Tories to majority. 17 April 2012. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 12 October 2011.
  27. News: N.L. NDP Leader Lorraine Michael facing caucus revolt. 21 October 2013. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 21 October 2013.
  28. News: Michael calls for 2014 leadership review. 26 October 2013. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 26 October 2013.
  29. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/kirby-mitchelmore-quit-ndp-caucus-after-leadership-row-1.2286469 "Kirby, Mitchelmore quit NDP caucus after leadership row"
  30. Web site: Dale Kirby, Christopher Mitchelmore cut NDP ties. February 2, 2014. CBC News.
  31. News: Mixed messages from NDP caucus, executive. 24 October 2013. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 22 October 2013.
  32. News: Bailey. Sue. Newfoundland NDP Leader pledges to stay on after leadership feud. 8 May 2014. The Globe and Mail. 29 October 2013.
  33. News: Another N.L. NDP executive member resigns. 8 May 2014. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 13 December 2013.
  34. News: Lorraine Michael Quits As N.L. NDP Leader. January 6, 2015. Huffington Post. Canadian Press. January 6, 2015.
  35. News: Lorraine Michael stepping down as NDP leader. January 6, 2015. CBC News. January 6, 2015.
  36. News: NDP leadership tracker: An early look at some possible contenders. January 7, 2015. CBC News. January 6, 2015.
  37. News: NDP leadership speculation begins. January 7, 2015. The Telegram. January 7, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150207010424/http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Local/2015-01-07/article-3998552/NDP-leadership-speculation-begins/1. February 7, 2015. dead.
  38. News: Earle McCurdy Named Leader of the NDP. March 7, 2015. VOCM News. March 7, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150310122148/http://www.vocm.com/newsarticle.asp?mn=2&id=53200. March 10, 2015. dead.
  39. Web site: Take us to your leaders: What you may not know about Davis, Ball and McCurdy. www.cbc.ca. 2015-11-29.
  40. Web site: NDP Leader Earle McCurdy loses to Siobhan Coady. CBC News. 30 November 2015. 2 December 2015.
  41. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/provincial-election-candidates-1.3343999 "Full list of winners in Newfoundland and Labrador election"
  42. Web site: McCurdy to Step Down as Provincial NDP Leader . 2017-09-19 . VOCM Local News Now. https://web.archive.org/web/20170919153610/http://vocm.com/news/mccurdy-to-step-down-as-provincial-ndp-leader/ . 2017-09-19 . dead .
  43. Web site: Lorraine Michael named interim NDP leader. Saltwire Network. Sep 28, 2017. Apr 6, 2021.
  44. Web site: Gerry Rogers stepping down as NDP leader, not seeking re-election CBC News. Feb 12. CBC News · Posted. February 12. 2019 11:08 AM NT Last Updated. CBC. en. 2019-02-12.
  45. Web site: 'We have the balance of power,' Alison Coffin says as NDP wins three seats. NTV News. May 17, 2019. Oct 16, 2020. Kelly-Anne. Roberts.
  46. Web site: Alison Coffin 'tingly' as NDP campaign enters home stretch, with everything on the line. CBC. Terry. Roberts. May 15, 2019. Oct 16, 2020.
  47. Web site: 'No deals' to prop up Liberal minority just yet, says NDP leader. CBC News. May 22, 2019. Oct 16, 2020.
  48. Web site: Exuberant NDP celebrates 'new era' as it holds St. John's seats, and wins back Labrador West. CBC News. May 16, 2019. Oct 16, 2020. Daniel. MacEachern.
  49. News: Mullin . Malone . Liberals claim slim majority in Newfoundland and Labrador, as voters tap Furey to lead . March 27, 2021 . CBC News . March 27, 2021.
  50. Web site: Smellie. Sarah. 2021-04-01. Leader of Newfoundland and Labrador NDP files for recount after 53-vote election loss. 2021-04-02. Atlantic. en.
  51. News: Judge dismisses Coffin's bid for recount in St. John's East-Quidi Vidi . 20 October 2021 . CBC News . 12 May 2021.
  52. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/ndp-n-l-allison-coffin-leadership-st-john-s-convention-1.6214040 "N.L. NDP delegates vote in favour of leadership review"
  53. https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/alison-coffin-steps-down-as-leader-of-newfoundland-and-labrador-s-new-democrats-1.5629662 "Alison Coffin steps down as leader of Newfoundland and Labrador's New Democrats"
  54. News: Smith . Greg . Former PC MHA Joins NDP . 8 March 2022 . VOCM . en.
  55. News: Former PC MHA Lela Evans joins NDP caucus . 8 March 2022 . CBC News . 7 March 2022.
  56. News: Jim Dinn removes 'interim' tag after being acclaimed NDP leader. 28 March 2023 . CBC News . 28 March 2023.
  57. Web site: 2024-07-16 . Labrador MHA Lela Evans leaving the NDP to return to PC caucus . 2024-07-16 . Yahoo News . en-GB.
  58. Web site: 'We pulled it off': Meet the candidates who took down the opposition leaders. Mar 30, 2021 . Alex. Kennedy. CBC News. May 30, 2021.
  59. News: Liberals gain 6 seats in Maritimes. The Globe and Mail. February 19, 1980.
  60. News: Fonse Faour, the only New Democrat who ever won... . August 23, 2020 . United Press International . October 22, 1981.
  61. News: Soul-searching next on NDP agenda. The Globe and Mail. November 22, 1988.
  62. News: . Departing NDP MP Jack Harris talks career highlights, post-politics plans . . July 27, 2021 . September 22, 2021 .
  63. Web site: Gerry Rogers wins NDP leadership race. The Telegram. April 8, 2018. 2018-05-14.
  64. http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Local/2011-10-11/article-2774286/Shawn-Skinner-loses-seat-to-NDP/1 "Shawn Skinner loses seat to NDP"
  65. News: Jim Dinn removes 'interim' tag after being acclaimed NDP leader. 28 March 2023 . CBC News . 28 March 2023.