Randy Edmunds (politician)

Randy Edmunds is a Canadian politician in Newfoundland and Labrador. He was elected to the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly in the 2011 provincial election.[1] A member of the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador, he represented the electoral district of Torngat Mountains until 2019.

Randy Edmunds
Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
for Torngat Mountains
In office
October 27, 2011 – April 17, 2019
Preceded byPatty Pottle
Succeeded byLela Evans
Personal details
Political partyLiberal
RelationsLela Evans (cousin)
Anthony Andersen (uncle)
Wally Andersen (uncle)
Residence(s)Makkovik, Newfoundland and Labrador

Personal life

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Edmunds is the son of William "Bill" Edmunds (1932–1983),[2] co-founder of the Labrador Inuit Association (predecessor to Nunatsiavut) and Ruth Flowers (1940–2015), an advocate for women's issues in Labrador.[3] Edmunds is the owner and operator of the Adlavik Inn in Makkovik. He is married to Lori Dyson[4] who unsuccessfully sought the Liberal nomination for Lake Melville and currently serves on the town council of Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

His uncle Wally Andersen is also a politician.[5]

Political career

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Edmunds, who is of Inuit descent and was born in North West River, was first elected in 2011.[6][7][8] His district is the largest of the provincial electoral districts covering roughly 28% of the province's area. However, this district contains only 6 communities, none of which are reachable by road[9][10] and the total population is below 4,000 (as of 2011). The district includes the Inuit self-governing territory known as Nunatsiavut, as well as the Naskapi community of Natuashish.

Edmunds was re-elected in 2015[11] but with only around 700 votes. His district had the lowest turnout in the province (less than 40% of eligible voters voted).

Edmunds was defeated in the 2019 provincial election by his cousin Progressive Conservative candidate Lela Evans.[12][13]

Edmunds opposed the Muskrat Falls hydro development.[14][15]

Electoral record

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2019 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Lela Evans 623 56.64 +53.90
Liberal Randy Edmunds 477 43.36 -48.46
Total valid votes 1,100
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
Eligible voters
Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +51.58
2015 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Randy Edmunds 779 92.6% +43.5
  NDP Mark Sharkey 39 4.6% -7.7
Progressive Conservative Sharon Vokey 23 2.7% -36.0

[16]

2011 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Randy Edmunds 744 49.08% +6.72
Progressive Conservative Patty Pottle 586 38.65% -10.17
  NDP Alex Saunders 186 12.27%

References

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  1. ^ "Plenty of new faces heading to Confederation Building" . CBC News, October 12, 2011.
  2. ^ https://www.itk.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/1984-0055-InuktitutMagazine-IUCANS-IULATN-EN.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  3. ^ "RANDY EDMUNDS". The Liberal Party of Newfoundland & Labrador. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  4. ^ @PeterCBC (15 June 2014). "Just interviewed Lori Dyson, the wife of Randy Edmunds who is seeking the Liberal nomination in Lake Melville. Husband and wife pols?#nlpoli" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  5. ^ "Randy Edmunds is the Liberal Candidate for Upcoming Provincial Election | OKâlaKatiget Society". 16 May 2011.
  6. ^ "Randy Edmunds". Archived from the original on 2016-10-11. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
  7. ^ "Aboriginal sentences sometimes too light, Inuit MHA says". Archived from the original on 2016-10-11. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
  8. ^ "Skinner, Pottle lose but most PC ministers re-elected". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 12 October 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  9. ^ Moore, Angel (Apr 5, 2020). "Indigenous leaders asking that access to Labrador be sealed off". APTN News. Retrieved Oct 16, 2020.
  10. ^ Churchill Duke, Laura (20 Sep 2019). "Hopedale woman circulating petition calling for the province to subsidize flights to northern Labrador". Saltwire. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  11. ^ "Full list of winners in Newfoundland and Labrador election". CBC News, November 30, 2015.
  12. ^ "Here are 3 of the 14 first-timers headed to the House of Assembly" Archived 2019-05-23 at the Wayback Machine. CBC News Newfoundland and Labrador, May 17, 2019.
  13. ^ "Cabinet ministers Letto and Hawkins among 9 defeated Liberals". CBC News Newfoundland and Labrador, May 17, 2019.
  14. ^ "Labrador MHA torn over Muskrat Falls mercury fears". CBC News. 2016-06-18. Archived from the original on 2022-05-21.
  15. ^ "Resigning over Muskrat Falls won't solve anything, says Torngat Mountains MHA Randy Edmunds". CBC News. 2016-10-14. Archived from the original on 2022-06-03.
  16. ^ "2015 Provincial Election Report" (PDF). Elections Newfoundland and Labrador. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2016.