Newfoundland and Labrador will head to the polls for a provincial election on Oct. 14.
Liberal Leader John Hogan — the province’s premier since May — made a visit to Government House on Monday to ask Lt.-Gov. Joan Marie Aylward to dissolve the House of Assembly. He was all smiles as he walked the grounds, joined by his wife, Gill, and their dog, Rooney, shortly after 1:30 p.m.
“This is a very special day for me, and I think a great day for the province,” Hogan told reporters outside.
“To be here now as leader of the Liberal party of Newfoundland and Labrador and as premier of the province, to lead our party into this election is a very proud moment.”
Hogan’s Liberals are vying to hold onto power for a fourth consecutive government against a Progressive Conservative Party led by Tony Wakeham and the New Democratic Party led by Jim Dinn.
Each leader is also marching their respective party down the campaign trail as the head for the first time.
There are 40 seats in the House of Assembly. The Liberals hold 19, the PCs hold 14 and the NDP hold one. Two seats are held by Independents.
Four seats are currently vacant.
The election writ has dropped, and the race to govern N.L. has begun
“We want to win a majority government. We think we’re the right choice for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians right now,” Hogan said.
Hogan said Monday that he felt Newfoundland and Labrador was at a crossroads, and believes his government is the right group to move the province forward.
“I think a lot of us feel we’re still trying to get to where we can be, and where we deserve to be,” he said. “We still have a lot of work to do. … Things are pointing in the right direction, and we want to continue that work.”
Hogan also spoke of the ongoing Churchill Falls negotiations between Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec, which he previously called the priority issue of the election.
While he isn’t able to be part of negotiations during the election period, Hogan called himself the best leader to see the generational deal through.
“I feel like I’m the right leader to finish those negotiations,” he said.
Hogan’s election call comes at the latest day possible under the province’s fixed election date legislation. The election had to happen on or before Oct. 14, and at least 28 full days of campaigning is required.
Asked why he chose to wait until the last day, Hogan said he did so to be open and transparent and stand by the law in place.
Leading up to Monday, the parties have been making a flurry of announcements and commitments if elected.
Dinn and the NDP launched their campaign on Sunday in Quidi Vidi, with a promise to create jobs, affordable housing and to put an end to costly agency nurses.
Wakeham promised to invest in wildfire preparedness on the heels of a historic wildfire season that destroyed dozens of homes and forced thousands of residents to evacuate their communities.
The Liberals have been busy with funding announcements for weeks, like approving a $25 million repayable loan to Braya Renewables, extending an agreement between Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro to continue buying electricity from Corner Brook Pulp and Paper and expanding internet access in rural Newfoundland.
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