The Labrador Party (or New Labrador Party) was the name of two political parties in Newfoundland advocating the interests of the region of Labrador, Canada.
New Labrador Party (1969–1975)
editNew Labrador Party | |
|---|---|
| Provincial political party | |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Dissolved | 1975 |
| Ideology | Labrador interests |
The party was founded in 1969 by Tom Burgess, a disaffected former Liberal MHA who crossed the floor to become an independent when he was passed over for a cabinet seat. He was re-elected to the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from Labrador West in the 1971 provincial election under the New Labrador Party banner. The election returned a hung parliament. Burgess initially indicated that he would support the opposition Progressive Conservative Party's bid to form a government and unseat Premier Joey Smallwood's Liberals but, days after Conservative leader Frank Moores was sworn in as Premier, Burgess was enticed to rejoin the Liberals under the false promise that he would succeed Joey Smallwood as Liberal leader and Premier. Burgess joined the Liberals on January 31, 1972[1] but was defeated in the party's leadership convention. His defection and that of a Progressive Conservative MHA was enough to bring down the Moores government and force an election; however, Burgess lost his seat and Moores formed a majority Conservative government.[2]
Mike Martin won a seat for the party in a 1972 by-election in Labrador South. However, the MHA retired prior to the 1975 election, and the party was dissolved.
Second Labrador Party
editLabrador Party | |
|---|---|
| Provincial political party | |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Dissolved | 2007 |
| Ideology | Labrador interests |
| Colours | White, green |
Feelings among Labradorians that the region has been neglected by the Newfoundland and Labrador government led to the party's refounding in 2003 with Ern Condon as leader. The party nominated candidates in each of Labrador's four ridings in that year's election, with the hope of holding the balance of power in the House of Assembly and being able to trade political support for more services and attention to Labrador.
The party failed to win any seats, though Brandon Pardy came in second in Lake Melville with 32% of the vote.[3] The party received 12% of the vote in Labrador West, 8% in Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair, and 5% in Torngat Mountains.[4]
The party chose Ron Barron, the Deputy Mayor of Wabush, as the party leader in preparation for the next provincial election. In a by-election for the riding of Labrador West held on March 13, 2007, Labrador Party candidate Ron Barron came in third, winning 670 of a total of just over 4000 votes cast.[5]
In the fall election in 2007, the Labrador Party decided not to run candidates in three of Labrador's four ridings so the vote between parties opposed to the Progressive Conservatives would not get split.[6][7] Jimmy Tuttauk, he party's only candidate, earned almost 8% of the vote in the district of Torngat Mountains.[8]
Leaders
edit- Tom Burgess (1969–1972)
- Ern Condon (2003–2004)
- Ron Barron (2004–2007)
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ "Timeline: Changing Government 1971-72: Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage".
- ^ "Burgess, Thomas William". Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador. p. 288.
- ^ Electoral districts. Lake Melville
- ^ "Report on the October 21, 2003 General Election" (PDF). Office of the Chief Electoral Officer of Newfoundland and Labrador. 9 July 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-04-13. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- ^ "NDP support leaking to Labrador Party: union official". Archived from the original on 2007-02-28. Retrieved 2007-11-09.
- ^ No regrets over pulling candidates, Labrador Party says
- ^ Tories defy energy critics in Labrador CBC
- ^ "CBC.ca | Newfoundland & Labrador Votes 2007 | District Profiles". 12 October 2007. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
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External links
edit- History of the New Labrador Party (1969–1975)