ST JOHN’S, NL – Newfoundland and Labrador Premier John Hogan waited until the last possible day to call a provincial general election giving people a twenty-eight day campaign, going to the polls on October 14, 2025. The shortest campaign possible possible and under legislation of a mandatory date.
While the province still has its perennial problems with debt, coastal ferries, healthcare, housing, cost of living and jobs this election is shaping up to be a referendum on a Memorandum of Understating (MOU) between Hogan’s government crown corp, NL Hydro and the province of Quebec (Hydro-Quebec) to expand development of the lucrative Churchill Falls hydro facility and possible future development of Gull Island. Also on the Churchill River in Labrador. …see NL-QC Hydro Agreement
The MOU was signed in December 2024 by Quebec Premier Francois Legault and then NL Premier Andrew Fury in a flashy ceremony at The Rooms in St John’s, NL. A surprise to many in the province as many Premiers, politicos, lawyers and bureaucrats had failed since the original QC-NL Churchill Falls hydro development agreement in 1969. This has been a sore point in Newfoundland and tainted relations with Quebec and the Government of Canada ever since.
This agreement even got the blessing of the Innu Nation. The organization representing the Innu First Nation who’s traditional land spans Labrador and the contains the Churchill River.
Progressive Conservative Party leader Tony Wakeham opposes the deal and he is supported by former PC Premier, Danny Williams who failed to secure a deal with Quebec, and a group of former politicians and government bureaucrats. Williams was famous for his battles with Quebec and the federal government.
Today a group of prominent Newfoundland and Labrador business people spoke out in favour of the deal saying the province cannot afford to wait any longer for a deal with Quebec.
The NL Legislature consists of 40 seats. At time of dissolution, the Liberals held 19, the PCs held 14 and the NDP held one. Two seats are held by Independents and four seats are currently vacant.
There has been no major polling done as of today and Hogan has seen a number of senior cabinet minister say they are going to retire.
All parties have been busy for the past week putting up election signs and making policy announcements.
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