The next premier of Newfoundland and Labrador will be announced in May, the province’s Liberal Party says.
The Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador (LPNL) kicked off the race March 3 to find its new leader after current Premier Andrew Furey announced his plan last week to step down once a successor has been appointed.
The deadline for nominations is March 24 and the party will reveal its new leader and the next premier of the province during its leadership convention in St. John’s from May 2-3.
“We have assembled a group of devoted LPNL officials to oversee this grassroots driven process for the selection of our next Leader,” Liberal Leadership Election Special Committee Chair Judy Morrow said in a press release.
“I look forward to this exciting process that will engage with Registered Liberals and the general public of Newfoundland and Labrador during a very pivotal time in the history of our province.”
Furey announced his resignation during a Feb. 25 press conference in St. John’s, less than one week after Prince Edward Island Premier Dennis King announced his own retirement from politics.
Furey became premier in August of 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, after winning the Liberal leadership in the wake of former Premier Dwight Ball’s resignation. Furey noted at the time that he had no intention of becoming a “career politician,” and repeated that message during his resignation speech.
“It is with a heart full of pride and hard-earned confidence in the future of Newfoundland and Labrador, that I must now move on,” he said, adding that it was time to focus on his family and his career as an orthopedic surgeon.
He said he could not commit to another full term in office, with a provincial election scheduled to take place this fall. He added that his resignation at a time of trade uncertainty with the United States would not impact how the province handles tariffs and their impact on the economy.
Furey said his successor would be just as well-positioned as he is to deal with U.S. tariffs, noting that the issue is likely to last throughout the majority of the next term.
Eligibility to vote in the leadership convention requires that an individual be a registered member of the Liberal Party between Jan. 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, in addition to meeting all other requirements specified in the party’s rules.
