NL will have fewer Liberal MPs, though the federal Liberals will again form the government of CanadaPublished Apr 29, 2025 • Last updated 36 minutes ago • 7 minute readRe-elected St. John’s East MP Joanne Thompson speaks to reporters after her win in Monday’s federal election at the Johnson GEO Centre. Photo by Keith Gosse/The TelegramNewfoundland and Labrador is seeing a little more blue following Monday’s federal election, with two of the province’s seven federal ridings voting Conservative and four voting Liberal, compared to one Conservative riding following the 2021 election.No winner has been declared yet in Terra Nova-The Peninsulas, which is still too close to call in the early hours of Tuesday morning. One poll is outstanding, with the other 99.63 per cent of the vote counted.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 contentConservative Jonathan Rowe led through much of the night until the last couple of polls, when Liberal Anthony Germain took a 46-vote lead.The small margin between the two will likely trigger a recount.As for the whole of Canada, Postmedia’s decision desk was projecting that the Liberals would come out on top. The only question as the final polls in western Canada were coming in was whether the Liberals, under Mark Carney, would form a minority or majority government.First results in countryAs the polls closed Tuesday evening in Newfoundland and Labrador, Liberal candidate and airline executive Philip Earle got off to an early lead and soon became the first candidate to be declared in Canada.Clifford Small, one of only two incumbent MPs from Newfoundland and Labrador reoffering in this election — and held the only Conservative seat in the province after the 2021 election — became the first Conservative elected in the 2025 election just before 10 p.m.Article contentSoon after, the results in other ridings began to take shape.Liberal Tom Osborne was declared winner in Cape Spear, Conservative Carol Anstey declared in Long Range Mountains, adding to the Conservative tally in the province, while Liberal Joanne Thompson —the only Liberal incumbent reoffering in NL — was declared elected in St. John’s East and Liberal Paul Connors pulled off the win in Avalon.Liberal incumbent hangs onJoanne Thompson was declared when she had 5,013 votes after 70 of 197 polls were reported. The room at the Geo Centre in St. John’s, where her team and supporters had gathered, erupted in applause and cheers.“I knew we would do this — St. John’s East, we had our elbows up,” Thompson said.Thompson, who first won the riding in 2021, successfully defended it in a race that saw strong candidates from both the NDP and Conservatives.Article contentMeanwhile, by winning the district of Avalon, Liberal Paul Connors will keep the red flag flying there.Connors was the executive assistant to former Liberal MP Ken McDonald, who decided not to run this time around.Connors said he was humbled by the win.“They’ve got a check mark next to my name, so I feel really good,” Connors told The Telegram as supporters approached to hug him or shake his hand.“I feel humbled because of what the residents of the riding have granted me to do and voted me to do, to be their representative in Ottawa for the next four years. I was a newcomer, so very, very pleased.”Connors took in about 10,000 more votes than Conservative candidate Steve Kent.Kent said he called Connors to congratulate him. The two had known each other personally for years.Article content“This is a riding filled with extraordinary people and amazing communities, and there is so much potential here. It would have been a true honour to serve as a member of parliament for this region,” Kent said.“Unfortunately, that wasn’t in the cards, and I respect that decision. While I’m deeply disappointed, I will continue to stand up for this region and continue to find ways to serve my province in my country.”The ‘Trump factor’Monday’s federal election was one that witnessed increased interest from all ages and provinces, in part due to the concerns and anger over U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats and subsequent trade war — something that has had the effect of uniting Canadians.Prior to the election call, the federal Conservatives were leading in the polls until the then-Liberal prime minister, Justin Trudeau, stepped down and Mark Carney won the Liberal leadership and became Prime Minister.Article contentCarney’s sudden presence on the political stage brought the Liberals back up on top in the polls, which played out in Monday’s election.According to advance voting and lineups at the polls on election day, voter turnout seems to be high and expected to exceed that of 62.6 per cent seen in the Sept. 20, 2021, federal election.When parliament dissolved, the Liberals had 154 seats, while the official opposition, the Conservatives, held 128 seats. A total of 172 of the 343 seats will be needed for a majority government, but it appeared unlikely as the election results wound down. Carol Anstey was all smiles as she captured the Long Range Mountains riding for the Conservatives, increasing the party’s seats in Newfoundland and Labrador. Photo by Diane Crocker/The TelegramTurning blueLong Range Mountains turned from red to blue as Conservative Carol Anstey became the new MP for the district. Anstey was a losing candidate in the 2021 election.Article contentFollowing her win Monday, Anstey said she’d love to see strong policies in the fishery and advancements in natural resource development. Those things will help lead to what matters most to her, she said.“That we see growth and prosperity so that there’s good jobs and a good future for the next generation,” Anstey said from the Holiday Inn in Deer Lake after being declared the winner.Anstey added that during her campaign, she heard that people are concerned about the cost of living and making ends meet. She wants to see costs lowered so that people are no longer “so pinched and that they have a good future to look forward to.” Liberal Tom Osborne greeting supporters after his win in Cape Spear district. Photo by Chris Ballard/The TelegramPolitical experienceTom Osborne was successful in making a jump from provincial to federal politics with a win in the district of Cape Spear on Monday.Article contentOsborne left a long career as a provincial politician last June, with one of his reasons being to spend more time with family. But, he said, his family and supporters were all behind his run for the federal seat.Surrounded by family and supporters at his campaign headquarters in the west end of St. John’s on election night, Osborne had to get used to the fact he was now a federal MP.Moments after he was proclaimed the victor with over 60 per cent of the vote, he thanked everyone for their support.“I’m very happy that you are a part of our family and supporting us and supporting the hard work of winning a provincial — sorry, a federal riding,” Osborne said, prompting a round of friendly laughter.“I’m so used to saying provincial.”Article contentRead More ‘I owe all of that to the people of Labrador’: Liberal Philip Earle elected as Labrador MP Small wins big: Incumbent Conservative handily returned as Central Newfoundland MP Liberal Tom Osborne emerges triumphant in first federal election run in Cape Spear ‘The work continues’: Joanne Thompson re-elected in St. John’s East Conservative Carol Anstey is the new MP for the Long Range Mountains A razor-thin race for Terra Nova-The Peninsulas still isn’t over as one poll remains outstanding Osborne will now have plenty to get used to as he prepares for a new role in Ottawa. After eight election victories at the provincial level, Osborne topped Conservative Corey Curtis, New Democrat Brenda Walsh, the Animal Protection Party’s Mike Peach and the Green Party’s Kaelem Tingate for his first federal win, one that was made more special with his wife, parents and children by his side.Article content“This is a big commitment and I understand that,” Osborne said.“It’s just as big a commitment for families. I want to thank (them) as well for not only allowing me to do this, but encouraging me to do this. This is a huge commitment on family. I’m so blessed to have my family supporting me.” Clifford Small celebrates his election win in the riding of Central Newfoundland with his supporters at his headquarters in Grand Falls-Windsor late on Monday, April 28. CONTRIBUTEDCentral controlConservative Clifford Small handily kept the seat Monday night.With 231 of the 233 polls reporting by midnight, Small had collected 20,510 of the votes cast, easily eclipsing the 16,214 votes garnered by Liberal challenger Lynette Powell.The New Democratic Party’s candidate, Darian Vincent, had 910 votes.“We’ve had a great crew. They’ve worked tirelessly for the last 36 days, and it’s their victory, and it’s their friends’ and neighbours’, who were working on behalf of to bring this victory home,” Small said.Big win in Big LandIn Hotel North in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Liberal Philip Earle described his win as a moment of joy and excitement after a short election campaign that felt long.“Short by days, but long because of the vast geography of Labrador and having criss-crossed it a number of times,” he explained.“I would suggest it felt longer than it actually was, but being in the room with supporters, knowing that those were the individuals that worked so hard to get my message out, to get the Liberal message out, to get me elected, it’s a moment of joy and excitement.”Article content
More blue in NL, one still up in the air, as Liberals win four seats
