DILDO, NL – Polls opened at 8:30am today in Newfoundland and Labrador, a half hour earlier than the rest of Canada, so when Earle Reid showed up at the polling station at the Society of United Fisherman’s Lodge in Dildo, Newfoundland he was one of the first people in Canada to vote. Mr Reid said he wasn’t going to vote but when he got up this morning he changed his mind. April 28, 2025. Photo by Greg Locke
With only seven seats in the Canadian parliament Newfoundland and Labrador doesn’t pull much weight in federal elections. Currently, six are held by Liberals and one by a Conservative, Clifford Small, a fisherman in central Newfoundland. All but one of the Liberal incumbents is running in this election.
St John’s East may be the most competitive riding. It is currently held by Liberal incumbent and cabinet minister, Joanne Thompson. This seat has been held by both NDP and the old Progressive Conservative Party in the past and all parties have fielded competitive candidates this election. Veteran provincial politician, David Brazil, representing the Conservative party of Canada and a veteran labour organizer president of the federal NDP Mary Shortage.
