NL political watcher and former journalist Bob Wakeham offers his views on decision day for the federal electionAuthor of the article: Gary Kean • The TelegramPublished Apr 28, 2025 • 6 minute readAlong with the rest of Canada, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians will head to the polls on Monday, April 28, to elect a new federal government. Photo by Kaylen Small/PostmediaThere was a time when Bob Wakeham was entrenched with election candidates as they went around Newfoundland and Labrador trying to win over the hearts and minds of voters.He’d be on the heels of politicians of all stripes as they strode door to door in their districts and ridings. He’d sometimes even fly with them in helicopters and share meals with them, all while not holding back on any question he felt the people needed an answer to.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThese days, the retired journalist may not be covering campaigns from the front lines like he once did, but still tries to keep abreast of what’s unfolding on the province’s political stage, even if it is from the comfort of his home overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in Flatrock.As Canadians go to the polls today, April 28, The Telegram’s columnist — whose latest piece, published April 14, lamented the more limited access journalists have to political leaders these days — said it’s hard to say what the voting will yield. Bob Wakeham Photo by Keith Gosse /SaltwireHe noted that the spectre of United States President Donald Trump and the economic uncertainties his policies have created loom large in Newfoundland and Labrador, as they do across Canada.“Obviously, we wish it wasn’t so, but you can’t ignore him,” said Wakeham of Trump factoring into voters’ considerations at the ballot box.Article content“That shadow is pretty broad, and it’s starting to spread throughout the world. I think Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are trying to figure out who can best handle Trump.”On the leadersAs he noted in his recent column, Wakeham prided himself on being apolitical as a journalist. In fact, he opted not to vote during his reporter days because he felt it helped him ensure he provided the most balanced coverage he could.In terms of handling Trump, Wakeham does have some particular views on the federal leaders, though he insists those views are objective.“There’s no doubt (Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre) is an ultra conservative right winger, as is Trump, but I also got a feeling that, if he got in power, I think he’d be so far up Trump’s arsehole that he’d spot Elon Musk,” said Wakeham.Article contentDespite the Liberals having flaws of their own — some of which led to Justin Trudeau resigning and having to be replaced — Wakeham thinks new Liberal leader Mark Carney seems better equipped for the particular task of dealing with Trump.“Carney just seems to be the type that wouldn’t allow Trump to roll over him,” said Wakeham. “He’s got the intellect, he’s got the toughness. Economically, he knows an awful lot more than most people, it seems to me.”Wakeham also believes New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh may also be able to deal with Trump on behalf of Canada effectively, but feels that’s moot as the NDP is not seen as having much of a chance to form the next federal government.“I’m not a Liberal or a PC or an NDP,” he emphasized. “I’m just saying that I think Carney would be better than Poilievre.Article content Clockwise from top left: Liberal Leader Mark Carney, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet during the French leaders’ debate in Montreal on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. Photo by Leaders’ Debates Commission/ScreengrabBeyond TrumpOf course, there’s more on the minds of Newfoundland and Labrador voters than Trump and his antagonistic economics.All three leaders have made one visit apiece to Newfoundland and Labrador, all relatively early in the campaign.None made a second visit.Wakeham doesn’t believe those visits will sway many voters anyway. To him, all three visits were just token stopovers for photo ops.“Now, if one of them had never showed up, maybe then people might get their backs up … but I think their appearances here will have no impact on the votes,” he said.Some campaign promises were dished up.Carney has promised to involve fish harvesters more in fisheries decisions, boost funding for harbour infrastructure, marketing and innovation and has vowed to reduce the costs of Marine Atlantic fares by at least half.Article contentPoilievre has promised to help the fishery with more money for small craft harbours, foster better relationships with harvesters on the front lines of the fishery and said he’d consider eliminating fares at Marine Atlantic.Singh also vowed to place more emphasis on local harvesters in the fishery, rather than on the larger commercial ventures and has also publicly said an NDP government would lower Marine Atlantic fees.For Wakeham, the promises mean little if they don’t get implemented by whoever takes power. From his experience, parties following through on their campaign commitments rarely happen.“I suppose I sound like a total cynic, but I have seen and I have heard and I’ve written about and I’ve broadcast I don’t know how many promises made during election campaigns — provincial and federal — that were ultimately broken, or were paid token attention to after the election,” said Wakeham.Article contentHats off to whoever can make accessing the island of Newfoundland by ferry more affordable, he added, but he’ll believe it when he sees it.As for the fishery, Wakeham’s not sure any of the promises made will effectively improve how the centuries-old industry is run. Like many other issues, he has seen countless promises made to better the fishery from every party through the years and there is still plenty of friction between the industry and how it’s managed by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.“How many promises have been made about the fishery over the years by Liberals, NDPs, Tories, the green types, and it’s still a disastrous industry,” he said. Canadians go to the polls on Monday, April 28. Photo by Ryan Remiorz /The Canadian PressLots of newbies guaranteedOne thing is for sure, after Monday’s voting, Newfoundland and Labrador will be sending at least five rookie members of Parliament to the House of Commons in Ottawa.Article contentOnly two of the seven ridings have incumbent candidates running, including the Conservative Party of Canada’s Clifford Small in the Central Newfoundland riding and Liberal Joanne Thompson, who briefly held a federal cabinet position as fisheries minister before the election call was made, in the riding of St. John’s East.“They might just bring some sort of uniqueness to the House of Commons, so I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing that we will have a bunch of rookies, as opposed to a bunch of old timers who are just kind of stuck in their ways,” said Wakeham.Journalists turned politiciansAs a former journalist himself, he does find it interesting to see two retired career journalists having thrown their respective hats in the ring, both for the Liberal party.Article contentAnthony Germain, formerly of the CBC, is seeking the seat in Terra Nova-The Peninsulas, while former NTV reporter Don Bradshaw is seeking to represent the west coast riding of Long Range Mountains.Wakeham acknowledged that, of course, anyone is free to run for politics if they so choose and, in fact, many politicians from this province and elsewhere — from Joey Smallwood to Yvonne Jones — were once journalists.“I don’t know if there’s any more of a dramatic change in occupations than going from a journalist to being a politician,” said Wakeham.“The journalist is totally independent, or should be anyway, and you can ask any question of every politician. Then, all of a sudden, if they get elected, they have to hold the total party line.”Article contentRead More ‘Our people’s safety must be front and centre’: NCC hopeful SAR base will come to Labrador after election promises from candidates ‘That one vote could change everything’: Will there be a higher youth turnout in NL in the 2025 federal election? BOB WAKEHAM: Two steps back in ability to question Conservative leader Strong turnout anticipatedInterest in this federal election has been expected to be high, particularly due to the economic threats emanating from the United States and the concern about Canadian sovereignty, given Trump’s persistent references to wanting Canada to be the 51st American state.In advance polls, an estimated 7.3 million Canadians have already voted. That was a record turnout for advance voting, up 25 per cent from the 5.8 million who cast early votes in the last federal election in 2021.According to Elections Canada, there are 422,430 eligible voters spread around the seven ridings in Newfoundland and Labrador.In a recent nationwide survey by Narrative Research and the Logit Group, 72 per cent of respondents indicated the cost of living was their biggest concern heading into this election. The trade war with the United States and worries about tariffs was the next most pressing issue for Canadians, followed by health care and improving the economy.Article content
Poll position: Lots to ponder as NL voters cast their ballots on federal election day
