New Leader and Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador to be elected this Saturday

Rewritten Article:

Get ready for a change in Newfoundland and Labrador's political scene! The Liberal party will elect a new leader on May 3, 2025, following the surprise resignation of Premier Andrew Furey in February after almost five years in office.

Two former members of Furey's cabinet are competing for the top job: John Hogan, the ex-health minister, and John Abbott, the ex-minister of housing, mental health, and addictions. Both candidates announced their intention to run in March, leaving their portfolios behind.

Abbott's platform is centered on seniors, housing, and expanding cell service, while Hogan is zeroing in on health care, affordability, and finalizing a multibillion-dollar energy deal with Quebec that promises enormous revenue over the next 50 years.

In his resignation speech, Furey, an orthopedic surgeon, admitted that he never planned to be a career politician. Unfortunately, whoever takes his place will inherit a mountain of challenges. By April 2026, the province is projected to end the fiscal year with a net debt of $19.4 billion - nearly double its annual spending.

Residents of Newfoundland and Labrador, numbering about 540,000, are distributed across a vast area, predominantly living in fishing towns with under 1,000 inhabitants. The sparse population makes it difficult and costly to provide services to the remote communities, many of which are hours away from larger centers.

The province is also grappling with one of the fastest-aging populations in the country, with roughly a quarter of its residents aged 65 or older.

During his tour of the province, Abbott heard concerns about the cost of living, particularly for seniors, as well as anxiety about potential tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump. Abbott intends to address these issues by proposing a basic income program for seniors living below the poverty line.

Though both candidates started their political journey together, Abbott is positioning himself as the more experienced candidate, having previously served as a senior executive in various government departments. "I'm a person that is trusted and can get things done," Abbott said, adding that voters recognize his experience and view him as capable of building a strong relationship with Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Hogan believes the primary concerns of voters are affordability, particularly for families and seniors, and the finalization of the Quebec energy deal. "Seniors are who built Newfoundland and Labrador," Hogan said. "They want to live here and stay in their communities. I think we need to prioritize that."

Prior to government, Hogan worked as a lawyer at a small firm, which he compares to running a small business. He has also held positions as the justice minister and the attorney general. A family man with two young children, Hogan understands the challenges of raising a family, he says.

Aside from health, Abbott has held the transportation and infrastructure portfolios. The new Liberal leader will be selected during a convention at a downtown St. John's hotel on May 3, 2025.

As of the convention date, the result is still pending and will depend on the vote held that afternoon. The winner will inherit significant financial challenges and steer the province's path forward.

This report by The Canadian Press, dated May 3, 2025, was the first to publish the news.

The Liberal party in Newfoundland and Labrador will have a new leader on May 3, 2025, following Premier Andrew Furey's resignation in February.
Two former members of Furey's cabinet are running for the top job: John Hogan, the ex-health minister, and John Abbott, the ex-minister of housing, mental health, and addictions.
John Abbott's platform is centered on seniors, housing, and expanding cell service, while John Hogan is focusing on health care, affordability, and finalizing a multibillion-dollar energy deal with Quebec.
Furey admitted in his resignation speech that he never planned to be a career politician. The soon-to-be elected leader will inherit a net debt of $19.4 billion by April 2026.
Newfoundland and Labrador has a sparse population, with many remote communities hours away from larger centers, making service provision difficult and costly.
The province has one of the fastest-aging populations in the country, with about a quarter of its residents aged 65 or older.
During his tour of the province, Abbott emphasized addressing the cost of living and potential tariffs, promising a basic income program for seniors living below the poverty line.
Despite starting their political journey together, Abbott is positioning himself as the more experienced candidate due to his past roles as a senior executive in various government departments.
Hogan, on the other hand, has prior experience as a lawyer at a small firm and understands the challenges of raising a family, in addition to his roles as the justice minister and the attorney general.
Aside from health, Abbott has also held the transportation and infrastructure portfolios. The new Liberal leader will be chosen during a convention at a downtown St. John's hotel on May 3, 2025.
As of the convention date, the result is still pending and will depend on the votes cast that afternoon.
The winner of the election will face significant financial challenges and be responsible for steering the province's future.
News of the election result by The Canadian Press, dated May 3, 2025, was the first to be published.Other contextually-related words that could have been used in the sentences: ['government', 'politics', 'job-search', 'election', 'candidate', 'leadership', 'challenges', 'financial situation', 'growth', 'development', 'policy', 'decision-making', 'crime', 'justice', 'population', 'areas', 'services', 'seniors', 'affordability', 'energy', 'Quebec', 'deal', 'debt', 'public service', 'policy', 'experience', 'responsibility', 'future', 'news', 'report', 'appointee'].