Over the long weekend, Newfoundland and Labrador’s political parties engaged in campaigning activities instead of festive gatherings. The Liberal Party concentrated its efforts on the Avalon Peninsula, while the Progressive Conservatives shifted their focus to northern regions.
Led by Tony Wakeham, the PCs targeted various communities along the west coast and the Northern Peninsula to make their final election push. Wakeham labeled this period leading up to election day as the “drive to victory.” The PC Leader, along with candidate Andrea Barbour, visited Port au Choix and St. Anthony in the St. Barbe-L’Anse aux Meadows district, currently represented by Liberal minister Krista Lynn Howell.
Campaign events during the weekend drew crowds of seniors and trades workers, despite the PC’s slogan “For All of Us.” Fish harvesters raised concerns at a gathering in Port au Choix, prompting Wakeham to reiterate his pledge to appoint a full-time fisheries minister.
The Progressive Conservatives continued their campaign tour of the Northern Peninsula, making a stop at Port Saunders on Sunday. Although the party had not introduced any new commitments since releasing their platform shortly before the leaders’ debate, Wakeham reiterated the plan to construct and maintain four ferries in the province, an item not yet costed in their platform.
On the final day of campaigning before the election, the PCs visited Port aux Basques, a town the Liberal Party had not yet visited. Wakeham and his team then returned to his home district of Stephenville-Port au Port, where they plan to remain on election day as results are tallied.
While Liberal Leader John Hogan did not visit every district during the campaign, he expressed confidence in Liberal candidate Michael King for Burgeo-La Poile. Hogan spent the last week of the campaign primarily in the St. John’s area, with stops in various communities, including Corner Brook, Grand Falls-Windsor, and Lewisporte. He also campaigned with Brian Keating, the Liberal candidate for Placentia West-Bellevue.
Throughout the campaign, the Liberal focus has centered on the province’s tentative deal with Quebec regarding power from the Churchill Falls hydroelectric plant in Labrador. Hogan has consistently linked this deal to promises of improved education, infrastructure, and healthcare.
As the campaign wraps up, Hogan will continue activities in the St. John’s area, where he will await the election results on Tuesday evening.
