The Liberal Party has voted in John Hogan as the new premier-designate of Newfoundland and Labrador.
With nearly 14,000 Liberals registered to vote in this election, Hogan won by a wide margin, with nearly 78 per cent of the vote.
His competitor John Abbott secured around 22 per cent.
Hogan delivered his first address as premier-designate at the JAG Soundhouse in downtown St. John’s Saturday, to chanting and cheers from party members.
“It’s an incredible honour,” he said. “I recognize it comes with heavy responsibility…. We will build a stronger, fairer, and more prosperous Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Ashley Power-Stack announces the results of the Liberal leadership contest in Newfoundland and Labrador. John Hogan won with around 77% of the vote.
Hogan, 47, says he’s ready to focus on the province’s economy, health care, and support for seniors.
Hogan said he has a vision of what needs to happen to accomplish the province’s goals, and says he’ll bring steady and informed leadership, with fresh ideas.
He also discussed the challenges the province is currently facing, including Canada’s rocky relationship with the United States and the cost of living.
“We already have two strikes against us,” said Hogan, referring to the tumultuous past of Churchill River and expensive Muskrat Falls hydro-electricity deals. He added he’s committed to negotiating final agreements to get “the best deal” for the province.
“We cannot afford a new third strike,” he said.
Minutes after Hogan’s win, Abbott congratulated the premier-designate, say he’s someone he is “more than willing, and wanting to work with.”
As for the low number of votes he received, Abbott said he was anticipating more.
“Obviously my messaging didn’t resonate as much as we thought it had,” he said.
Once Hogan is sworn in, he’ll become Newfoundland and Labrador’s 15th premier — but will soon have to test his mettle in an upcoming general election, which must take place before October.
Leadership race launched after Furey stepped down
The race for the Liberal leadership began after former premier Andrew Furey announced his resignation in February after five years in the job.
Furey, a surgeon by trade, said he had done what he’d wanted to accomplish for the time being, and wished to spend more time with his family and return to the operating room. In a farewell speech to party members Friday night, he thanked his children at length for their patience while he worked away from home.
“If there are times in the last five years that I wasn’t there for you, please know that I carried you in my heart everywhere I went and always will,” Furey said.
But after leading the province through a pandemic and resulting economic turmoil, his decision came as a shock to even his closest members of cabinet.
It also launched a search for candidates within caucus.
John Hogan takes the stage moments after learning that he won the Liberal leadership contest and will become Newfoundland and Labrador’s next premier.
In late March, the Liberal Leadership Election Special Committee announced its nomination period had closed. By then, only two candidates — MHAs John Hogan and John Abbott, who both held several portfolios within cabinet over the last few years — had officially come forward.
Abbott was the first candidate to announce his intentions to run, marking his second attempt at becoming premier.
He previously ran against Furey in 2020, and has been the deputy minister of several provincial departments as well as CEO of Newfoundland and Labrador Housing and the executive director of the local chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association. He has since been minister of social development, housing, mental health and transportation.
Hogan announced his intention to run soon after, at an event with his fellow Liberal MHAs in attendance.
The 47-year-old lawyer beat out Progressive Conservative Ches Crosbie in his district of Windsor Lake in 2021. Since then, he’s been the House leader as well as the minister of both justice and health.
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