New Democratic Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
Encyclopedia
The Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party (NDP) is a social-democratic
provincial political party
in Newfoundland and Labrador
, Canada
. The party is the successor to the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
(CCF) and the Newfoundland Democratic Party. The party first contested the 1962 Newfoundland general election
, capturing 3.6% of the vote.
In the 2007 provincial election
, the NDP elected one member to the provincial legislature forming the third largest party. The party's leader is Lorraine Michael
, who was elected in the St. John's
district of Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi
. In the 2011 general election
, the party saw its highest support in history, placing second in the popular vote and raising its seat count from one to five in the House of Assembly.
(CCF). The Newfoundland CCF was founded in 1955 when Sam Drover
, a member of the Newfoundland House of Assembly
for White Bay (Trinity North) who 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.
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. and Calvin Normore. 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 NDP into the 1962 provincial election
.
.
succeeded Fonse Faour
as party leader in 1981. 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 New Democratic Party received their highest share of the popular vote to date. The party took over 14% of the popular vote, nearly quadrupling their share of the vote they received just 3 years earlier. Even with their successful results Fenwick was the only NDP candidate elected. 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). Fenwick retired from politics in 1989 and did not run in that year's election
. Cle Newhook
replaced Fenwick as party leader and the NDP was once again left without representation after the 1989 election when both ridings they had held were won by Progressive Conservatives
.
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 Mayor. 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 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
.
who were at 22%. The New Democrats gains came at the expense of the governing Progressive Conservatives who fell to 57%.
policies that support working people and families and the labour movement. On the 20th September 20, 2007, the party released its policy platform for the 2007 general election. The platform's main points were:
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 and St. John's East Member of Parliament Jack Harris was elected to represent the district in the 1990, 1993, 1996, 1999 and 2003 provincial elections. Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi has been represented in the House of Assembly
by party leader Lorraine Michael since 2006.
. Two of the three NDP Members of Parliament ever elected to the Canadian House of Commons from Newfoundland and Labrador went on to lead the provincial party:
Social democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
provincial political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The party is the successor to the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was a Canadian political party founded in 1932 in Calgary, Alberta, by a number of socialist, farm, co-operative and labour groups, and the League for Social Reconstruction...
(CCF) and the Newfoundland Democratic Party. The party first contested the 1962 Newfoundland general election
Newfoundland general election, 1962
The 34th Newfoundland general election was held on 19 November 1962 to elect members of the 33rd General Assembly of Newfoundland, the fifth general election for the province of Newfoundland, Canada. It was won by the Liberal party.-Results:...
, capturing 3.6% of the vote.
In the 2007 provincial election
Newfoundland and Labrador general election, 2007
The 47th Newfoundland and Labrador general election was held on October 9, 2007 to elect members of the 46th General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, the 18th general election for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.-Campaign:...
, the NDP elected one member to the provincial legislature forming the third largest party. The party's leader is Lorraine Michael
Lorraine Michael
Lorraine Michael, MHA is a social democratic Canadian politician from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Since 2006 Michael has been the leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party . She is a former nun, teacher, and social activist...
, who was elected in the St. John's
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
district of Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi
Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi
Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi is a provincial electoral district for the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. As of 2011 there were 8,137 eligible voters living within the district....
. In the 2011 general election
Newfoundland and Labrador general election, 2011
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 party saw its highest support in history, placing second in the popular vote and raising its seat count from one to five in the House of Assembly.
Founding
The NDP is the successor party to the Co-operative Commonwealth FederationCo-operative Commonwealth Federation
The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was a Canadian political party founded in 1932 in Calgary, Alberta, by a number of socialist, farm, co-operative and labour groups, and the League for Social Reconstruction...
(CCF). The Newfoundland CCF was founded in 1955 when Sam Drover
Sam Drover
Sam Drover was a long time member of Newfoundland's House of Assembly and founded the Newfoundland Co-operative Commonwealth Federation , a social democratic political party....
, a member of the Newfoundland House of Assembly
Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly is one of two components of the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, the other being the Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Newfoundland and Labrador General Assembly meets in the Confederation Building at St...
for White Bay (Trinity North) who left the provincial Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is a political party in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada and the provincial wing of the Liberal Party of Canada. It is the Official Opposition and currently holds six seats in the provincial legislature.-Origins:The party originated in...
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
Newfoundland general election, 1956
The 32nd Newfoundland general election was held on 2 October 1956 to elect members of the 31st General Assembly of Newfoundland, the third general election for the province of Newfoundland, Canada. It was won by the Liberal party.-Results:...
. The CCF party failed to win any seats: Drover lost his own riding, winning 237 votes to the Liberal candidate's 1,437.
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
Canadian Labour Congress
The Canadian Labour Congress, or CLC is a national trade union centre, the central labour body in English Canada to which most Canadian labour unions are affiliated.- Formation :...
, to protest the Liberal government's decertification of the International Woodworkers of America
International Woodworkers of America
International Woodworkers of America was an industrial union of lumbermen, sawmill workers, timber transportation workers and others formed in 1937....
in the course of a logging strike
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
. The Newfoundland Democratic Party ran eighteen candidates, none of whom was elected. The party was led by Ed Finn, Jr. and Calvin Normore. In 1961, the federal New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
was founded in with the merger of the federal CCF and the Canadian Labour Congress
Canadian Labour Congress
The Canadian Labour Congress, or CLC is a national trade union centre, the central labour body in English Canada to which most Canadian labour unions are affiliated.- Formation :...
. The Newfoundland Democratic Party followed suit becoming the Newfoundland New Democratic Party with Finn leading the NDP into the 1962 provincial election
Newfoundland general election, 1962
The 34th Newfoundland general election was held on 19 November 1962 to elect members of the 33rd General Assembly of Newfoundland, the fifth general election for the province of Newfoundland, Canada. It was won by the Liberal party.-Results:...
.
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 AssemblyNewfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly is one of two components of the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, the other being the Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Newfoundland and Labrador General Assembly meets in the Confederation Building at St...
.
Peter Fenwick years
Peter FenwickPeter Fenwick
Peter Fenwick is a Canadian politician. He is a former leader of the New Democratic Party of Newfoundland and Labrador.Fenwick was born in St. Thomas, Ontario to Digby and Benoit Fenwick of Montreal and Stanbridge East. He and his wife Jennifer moved to Cape St George, Newfoundland in 1968 and had...
succeeded Fonse Faour
Fonse Faour
Alphonsus Faour is a former Canadian politician. He was the first New Democratic Party Member of Parliament ever elected to the Canadian House of Commons from the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.Faour represented the electoral district of Humber—St. George's—St...
as party leader in 1981. In a 1984 by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
, Fenwick won the Labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
riding of Menihek
Labrador West (electoral district)
Labrador West is a provincial electoral district for the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.Known as the iron ore capital of Canada with two modern mining communities: Labrador City and Wabush. With both mines unionized, the area is considered a strong base of labour support...
becoming the first New Democrat to be elected in the province. In the 1985 general election
Newfoundland general election, 1985
The 41st Newfoundland general election was held on 2 April 1985 to elect members of the 40th General Assembly of Newfoundland, the 12th general election for the province of Newfoundland, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative party.-Results:...
the New Democratic Party received their highest share of the popular vote to date. The party took over 14% of the popular vote, nearly quadrupling their share of the vote they received just 3 years earlier. Even with their successful results Fenwick was the only NDP candidate elected. In 1986, Gene Long
Gene Long
Gene Long is a former politician in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.He was elected in 1986 as the New Democratic Party member of the House of Assembly for the riding of St. John's East. He was defeated in 1989.In the 1990s, he moved to Toronto...
won the party's second seat in a by-election in the riding of St. John's East
St. John's East (provincial electoral district)
St. John's East is a provincial electoral district for the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. As of 2011 there are 8,063 eligible voters living within the district....
(since renamed Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi
Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi
Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi is a provincial electoral district for the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. As of 2011 there were 8,137 eligible voters living within the district....
). Also that year Fenwick was arrested, along with union representatives, for participating in a strike by the Newfoundland Association of Public Employees (NAPE). Fenwick retired from politics in 1989 and did not run in that year's election
Newfoundland general election, 1989
The 42nd Newfoundland general election was held on April 20, 1989 to elect members of the 41st General Assembly of Newfoundland, the 13th general election for the province of Newfoundland, Canada...
. Cle Newhook
Cle Newhook
Cleophas Newhook is a theologian, author and former Newfoundland politician.Newhook was leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party from 1989 to 1992 but was unsuccessful in several attempts to win a seat for himself in the House of Assembly. Prior to becoming party leader he was...
replaced Fenwick as party leader and the NDP was once again left without representation after the 1989 election when both ridings they had held were won by Progressive Conservatives
Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
For pre-1949 Conservative parties see Conservative parties in Newfoundland The Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is a centre-right provincial political party in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Originally founded in 1949 the party has formed the Government of...
.
Jack Harris years
St. John's lawyer and former Member of ParliamentMember of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
Jack Harris
Jack Harris (politician)
John James "Jack" Harris MP is a Canadian lawyer and politician from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Harris is the New Democratic Party Member of Parliament for St. John's East and is a former leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party...
won back the riding of St. John's East
Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi
Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi is a provincial electoral district for the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. As of 2011 there were 8,137 eligible voters living within the district....
in a 1990 by-election after Progressive Conservative MHA Shannie Duff
Shannie Duff
Suzanne "Shannie" Duff, CM is the Deputy Mayor of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, former Member of the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the 12th mayor of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. She also served as acting mayor of St. John's from April to June...
resigned to run for Mayor. 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 and led the party into the 1993 general election
Newfoundland general election, 1993
The 43rd Newfoundland general election was held on 3 May 1993 to elect members of the 42nd General Assembly of Newfoundland, the 14th general election for the province of Newfoundland, Canada. It was won by the Liberal party.-Results:...
. 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
Newfoundland general election, 1996
The 44th Newfoundland general election was held on February 22, 1996 to elect members of the 43rd General Assembly of Newfoundland, the 15th general election for the province of Newfoundland, Canada. It was won by the Liberal Party...
resulted in a landslide majority government for the Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is a political party in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada and the provincial wing of the Liberal Party of Canada. It is the Official Opposition and currently holds six seats in the provincial legislature.-Origins:The party originated in...
, 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
Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi
Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi is a provincial electoral district for the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. As of 2011 there were 8,137 eligible voters living within the district....
.
Lorraine Michael
Lorraine Michael, who took over from Harris, saw a rise in poll numbers after the 2011 federal election that saw the NDP form the Official Opposition. Provincially the NDP rose to 20% in a May 2011 Corporate Research Associate (CRA) poll, statistically tying them with Liberal PartyLiberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is a political party in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada and the provincial wing of the Liberal Party of Canada. It is the Official Opposition and currently holds six seats in the provincial legislature.-Origins:The party originated in...
who were at 22%. The New Democrats gains came at the expense of the governing Progressive Conservatives who fell to 57%.
Party policies
The New Democratic Party in Newfoundland and Labrador has long been a party that has advocated social-democraticSocial democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
policies that support working people and families and the labour movement. On the 20th September 20, 2007, the party released its policy platform for the 2007 general election. The platform's main points were:
- A review of the province's health care system;
- A universal pharmacarePharmaceutical policyPharmaceutical policy is a branch of health policy that deals with the development, provision and use of medications within a health care system. It embraces drugs , biologics , vaccines and natural health products...
program; - Safe, healthy, and clean neighbourhood schools;
- A home care and home support program for seniors;
- A better energy plan than the one created by the WilliamsDanny Williams (politician)Daniel E. "Danny" Williams, QC, MHA is a Canadian politician, businessman and lawyer who served as the ninth Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador between November 6, 2003, and December 3, 2010. Williams was born and raised in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador...
government; - Increased funding for women's centres and initiatives;
- A province-wide 911 system;
- Anti-ScabStrike actionStrike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
legislation; and - Free tuition for public post-secondary education.
Representation in the House of Assembly
The New Democratic Party won its first seat in the House of AssemblyHouse of Assembly
House of Assembly is a name given to the legislature or lower house of a bicameral parliament. In some countries this may be at a subnational level....
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 and St. John's East Member of Parliament Jack Harris was elected to represent the district in the 1990, 1993, 1996, 1999 and 2003 provincial elections. Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi has been represented in the House of Assembly
House of Assembly
House of Assembly is a name given to the legislature or lower house of a bicameral parliament. In some countries this may be at a subnational level....
by party leader Lorraine Michael since 2006.
- Sam Drover, MHA for White Bay, 1955-1956 CCF (Drover crossed the floor from the Liberals),
- Peter Fenwick, MHA for Menihek (Labrador West), 1984–1985, 1985–1989
- Gene Long, MHA for St. John's East, 1986–1989
- Jack Harris, MHA for St. John's East, 1990 (by-election)-1995, Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi 1995-2006
- Randy CollinsRandy CollinsRandy Collins is a Canadian politician and a former New Democratic Party member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly. He represented the Labrador West riding until his resignation in early 2007 due to corruption charges....
MHA for Labrador West, 1999–2007 - Lorraine Michael, MHA for Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi, 2006–present
- Dale KirbyDale KirbyDale Kirby MHA is a Canadian politician and university professor, who was elected to the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly in the 2011 provincial election. He is President of the New Democratic Party of Newfoundland and Labrador and represents the provincial district of St. John's...
, MHA for St. John's North, 2011-present - Christopher MitchelmoreChristopher MitchelmoreChristopher Mitchelmore MHA is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly in the 2011 provincial election. A member of the New Democratic Party of Newfoundland and Labrador, he represents the electoral district of The Straits - White Bay North...
, MHA for The Straits-White Bay North, 2011-present - George MurphyGeorge Murphy (politician)George Murphy is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly in the 2011 provincial election. A member of the New Democratic Party of Newfoundland and Labrador, he represents the electoral district of St. John's East.-External links:...
, MHA for St. John's East, 2011-present - Gerry RogersGerry RogersGerry Rogers is a Canadian documentary filmmaker and politician. She began her career with the National Film Board, and left in 1992 to form her own production company, Augusta Productions...
, MHA for St. John's Centre, 2011-present
Relationship with the federal party
The Newfoundland and Labrador NDP is affiliated with the federal New Democratic PartyNew Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
. Two of the three NDP Members of Parliament ever elected to the Canadian House of Commons from Newfoundland and Labrador went on to lead the provincial party:
- Fonse Faour, who won a by-election in 1978 in the federal riding of Humber—St. George's—St. BarbeHumber—St. George's—St. BarbeHumber—St. George's—St. Barbe was a federal electoral district in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1968 to 1979....
, and was re-elected the following year in the 1979 federal electionCanadian federal election, 1979The Canadian federal election of 1979 was held on May 22, 1979 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 31st Parliament of Canada. It resulted in the defeat of Liberal Party of Canada after 11 years in power under Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. Joe Clark led the Progressive...
in the renamed riding of Humber—Port au Port—St. BarbeHumber—Port au Port—St. BarbeHumber—Port au Port—St. Barbe was a federal electoral district in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1979 to 1988....
. Faour was defeated in the subsequent 1980 federal electionCanadian federal election, 1980The Canadian federal election of 1980 was held on February 18, 1980 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 32nd Parliament of Canada...
. He then went on to serve as leader of the provincial party. - Jack Harris, won a 1987 by-election in the riding of St. John's EastSt. John's EastSt. John's East is a federal electoral district in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1949....
, but was defeated the following year in the 1988 federal electionCanadian federal election, 1988The Canadian federal election of 1988 was held November 21, 1988, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 34th Parliament of Canada. It was an election largely fought on a single issue: the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement ....
. Harris served as leader of the provincial party before being re-elected to represent St. John's East in the 2008 federal electionCanadian federal election, 2008The 2008 Canadian federal election was held on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 40th Canadian Parliament after the previous parliament had been dissolved by the Governor General on September 7, 2008...
.
Leaders
- Sam DroverSam DroverSam Drover was a long time member of Newfoundland's House of Assembly and founded the Newfoundland Co-operative Commonwealth Federation , a social democratic political party....
, 1955–1956. Although not formally elected as leader of the party, Samuel Drover effectively led the NDP's predecessor party, the CCF, in the 1956 provincial election. In 1955, Drover had crossed the floor from the Liberal Party to sit in the opposition as a CCF MHA. - Ed Finn, Jr., 1959–1963. Ed Finn became leader of the Newfoundland Democratic Party upon its inception in 1959, and assumed the leadership of the CCF and the New Democratic Party. Finn narrowly lost his bid for a seat in the House of Assembly in the 1962 provincial election when he ran for the NDP in Humber West. He Left Newfoundland and Labrador in 1963 to pursue a career as a labour researcher, writer, and journalist, which he continues today in retirement.
- Esau Thoms, 1963–1970. A founding member of the Newfoundland Democratic Party in the late 1950s and one of the province's foremost labour organizers, Esau Thoms had previously contested two federal elections for the CCF. From 1963 to 1970, the Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party was without a formal leader, relying instead upon local committees throughout the province, but Thoms was essentially de facto leader. He was a consistently outspoken voice for social democracy and social justice until his death in 1979.
- John Connors, 1970–1974. John Connors took the reins of the party in 1970 at a difficult time, as the electorate became sharply divided over whether to continue supporting the Liberal Party. Connors was a candidate for the NDP in the 1968 federal election, and was one of only three NDP candidates in the 1972 provincial campaign. He later pursued a career at the Marine Institute.
- Gerry Panting, 1974–1977. Gerald Panting led the party from 1974 to 1977. Panting was a distinguished historian and founder of the Maritime History Group at Memorial University of Newfoundland. He ran for the NDP provincially five times, coming in a strong second in the 1975 general election. A dedicated party builder, Panting remained active within the NDP until his death in 1998.
- John Green, 1977–1980. John Greene led the NDP from 1977 to 1980 and played a significant role in building the party. He came close to winning a seat in the House of Assembly, giving a strong showing in the televised leaders debate. Due to his leadership the NDP became a recognized provincial party. This helped set the stage for the party's later electoral success. Greene later became an author and remained active in various human rights organizations.
- Fonse FaourFonse FaourAlphonsus Faour is a former Canadian politician. He was the first New Democratic Party Member of Parliament ever elected to the Canadian House of Commons from the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.Faour represented the electoral district of Humber—St. George's—St...
, 1980–1981. Fonse Faour served a one-year term a leader from 1980 to 1981 after serving as the party's first Member of Parliament from Newfoundland and Labrador in the House of Commons. He was elected as an MP in 1978 and 1979, and was defeated in the 1980 general election. Faour later worked in senior positions with the provincial public service and served as Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the Public Service Commission. In 2003, Faour was appointed to the trial division of the Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court. - Peter FenwickPeter FenwickPeter Fenwick is a Canadian politician. He is a former leader of the New Democratic Party of Newfoundland and Labrador.Fenwick was born in St. Thomas, Ontario to Digby and Benoit Fenwick of Montreal and Stanbridge East. He and his wife Jennifer moved to Cape St George, Newfoundland in 1968 and had...
, 1981–1989. Leader from 1981 to 1989, in 1984 Fenwick set a landmark in provincial history by becoming the first New Democrat to be elected to the House of Assembly, sitting as the member for the former Labrador district of Menihek. He was subsequently re-elected in 1985. An outspoken leader, he was jailed in 1986 along with union representatives who participated in a strike by the Newfoundland Association of Public Employees. - Cle NewhookCle NewhookCleophas Newhook is a theologian, author and former Newfoundland politician.Newhook was leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party from 1989 to 1992 but was unsuccessful in several attempts to win a seat for himself in the House of Assembly. Prior to becoming party leader he was...
1989–1992. Cle Newhook served as party leader from 1989 to 1992 after working full-time as the party's provincial secretary from 1986 to 1988. As a candidate in several elections, and through work as leader and provincial secretary, he played a major role in the party's development throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. Newhook now works as a consultant in St. John's. - Jack HarrisJack Harris (politician)John James "Jack" Harris MP is a Canadian lawyer and politician from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Harris is the New Democratic Party Member of Parliament for St. John's East and is a former leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party...
, 1992–2006. First elected as Member of Parliament for St. John's East in 1987, Harris assumed the leadership of the Newfoundland and Labrador NDP in 1992. He was elected to the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly in the 1990 provincial election and became leader of the provincial NDP in 1992. He was re-elected to the Legislature in the 1993, 1996, 1999 and 2003 elections. In October 2008, Harris was a second time elected Member of Parliament for the riding of St. John's East receiving 74.1% of the vote—the fifth-highest winning percentage in Canada. - Lorraine MichaelLorraine MichaelLorraine Michael, MHA is a social democratic Canadian politician from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Since 2006 Michael has been the leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party . She is a former nun, teacher, and social activist...
, 2006–present. Upon winning the NDP leadership election in May 2006, Michael later won the by-election for Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi in November of that year. She was subsequently re-elected in her riding to the legislature in the 2007 general election. As leader, Michael has seen the highest level of support ever for the NDP in public opinion polls leading into the 2011 general election.
See also
- New Democratic Party of Newfoundland and Labrador leadership election, 2006
- List of political parties in Newfoundland and Labrador
- William CoakerWilliam CoakerSir William Ford Coaker was a Newfoundland union leader and politician and founder of the Fisherman's Protective Union and the Fishermen's Union Trading Co....