2017 Bonavista—Burin—Trinity federal by-election

A by-election was held in the federal riding of Bonavista—Burin—Trinity in Newfoundland and Labrador on December 11, 2017 following the resignation of Liberal MP Judy Foote. The seat was held for the Liberals by Churence Rogers.[1]

2017 Bonavista—Burin—Trinity by-election

← 2015 December 11, 2017 (2017-12-11) 2019 →

Seat of Bonavista—Burin—Trinity
Turnout21.52% (Decrease 35.83pp)
  First party Second party
 
CPC
Candidate Churence Rogers Mike Windsor
Party Liberal Conservative
Popular vote 8,717 2,878
Percentage 69.22% 22.85%
Swing Decrease 12.58pp Increase 12.78pp

MP before election

Judy Foote
Liberal

Elected MP

Churence Rogers
Liberal

The by election was held on the same day as 3 others across Canada; Battlefords—Lloydminster in Alberta, Scarborough—Agincourt in Ontario and South Surrey—White Rock in British Columbia.

Background

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Constituency

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Bonavista—Burin—Trinity is a rural constituency on Newfoundland Island. The riding contains the Bonavista Bay area, the Burin Peninsula and the Trinity Bay area of Newfoundland.

Representation

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The riding is considered a safe seat for the Liberal Party of Canada. The seat was vacated effective September 30, 2017, following the resignation of Judy Foote, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, from cabinet on August 24, 2017, and her resignation from parliament due to an illness in her family on September 30.[2]

Campaign

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Centreville-Wareham-Trinity Mayor and former president of the Federation of Municipalities in Newfoundland and Labrador Churence Rogers[3] defeated[4] comedian Pete Soucy,[5][6] provincial and federal Liberal party organizer Larry Guinchard,[7] RCMP officer Dale Foote,[8] and North Harbour farmer, former search and rescue coordinator, and 2008 Conservative Party candidate in St. John's South—Mount Pearl Merv Wiseman[9][10] for the Liberal nomination.

Teacher and guidance counsellor Mike Windsor was named the Conservative candidate.[11] Windsor previously ran for the party in 2015 in the riding.

Tyler James Downey was named the NDP candidate.[12]

Rumoured candidates for the Liberal nomination who ultimately did not run included former Progressive Conservative MHA Darin King[13] and current Liberal MHAs Steve Crocker,[14] Carol Anne Haley, and Dale Kirby.[13] On September 22, 2017, MHA Mark Browne announced he would not be seeking the nomination.[14] Lawyer Stacy MacDonald initially sought the Liberal nomination[15] but withdrew on September 28.[16]

In the 2015 federal election, Foote won the newly created riding with 81% of the vote, the highest percentage of vote taken by a candidate nationally in that election.[17]

The Speaker's warrant regarding the vacancy was received on October 3, 2017; under the Parliament of Canada Act the writ for a by-election had to be dropped no later than April 1, 2018, 180 days after the Chief Electoral Officer was officially notified of the vacancy via a warrant issued by the Speaker.[18]

Results

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Canadian federal by-election, December 11, 2017: Bonavista—Burin—Trinity
Resignation of Judy Foote
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Churence Rogers 8,717 69.22 -12.58
Conservative Mike Windsor 2,878 22.85 +12.78
New Democratic Tyler James Downey 598 4.75 -2.54
Libertarian Shane Stapleton 262 2.08 N/A
Green Tyler Colbourne 138 1.10 +0.25
Total valid votes/Expense limit 12,593 100.00   101,914.76
Total rejected ballots 54 0.42 +0.7
Turnout 12,648 21.52 -35.83
Eligible voters 58,771
Liberal hold Swing -12.68
[19][20][21]

2015 result

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2015 Canadian federal election: Bonavista—Burin—Trinity
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Judy M. Foote 28,704 81.80 +27.33 $40,957.22
Conservative Mike Windsor 3,534 10.07 –20.43 $7,929.44
New Democratic Jenn Brown 2,557 7.29 –6.66 $616.65
Green Tyler John Colbourne 297 0.85 –0.03
Total valid votes/expense limit 35,092 100.00   $214,042.22
Total rejected ballots 173 0.49
Turnout 35,265 57.36
Eligible voters 61,475
Liberal notional hold Swing +23.88
Source: Elections Canada,[22][23]
2011 federal election redistributed results[24]
Party Vote %
  Liberal 16,805 54.46
  Conservative 9,412 30.50
  New Democratic 4,303 13.95
  Green 270 0.88
  Others 66 0.21

References

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  1. ^ "Liberal Churence Rogers wins Bonavista-Burin-Trinity byelection". CBC News. December 11, 2017. Archived from the original on December 12, 2017.
  2. ^ Cochrane, David (August 23, 2017). "Judy Foote steps down from federal cabinet". CBC News. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  3. ^ "Three more seeking Liberal nomination for Bonavista-Burin-Trinity - The Telegram". Thetelegram.com. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  4. ^ "Churence Rogers Wins Liberal Nom for Bonavista-Trinity-Burin". VOCM. November 16, 2017. Archived from the original on January 18, 2018. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
  5. ^ Cowan, Peter (September 5, 2017). "Pete Soucy eyes Liberal nomination for Bonavista-Burin-Trinity". CBC News. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  6. ^ "Pete Soucy to say 'so long, Snook' — if elected as MP". CBC News. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  7. ^ "Larry Guinchard latest to announce bid for Liberal nomination in Bonavista–Burin-Trinity - The Packet". Thepacket.ca. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  8. ^ "VOCM - Dale Foote Steps Up for Liberal Nomination in Bonavista-Burin-Trinity". VOCM. Archived from the original on October 15, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  9. ^ "Search and rescue advocate Merv Wiseman announces candidacy for federal Liberal nomination". CBC News. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  10. ^ "Merv Wiseman interested in Judy Foote's position - The Packet". Thepacket.ca. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  11. ^ Holmes, Tracy (November 13, 2017). "Conservatives choose Findlay for South Surrey-White Rock run". Peace Arch News. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  12. ^ "Elections Canada — Bonavista—Burin—Trinity". Elections.ca. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
  13. ^ a b Roberts, Terry (August 25, 2017). "Who wants Judy Foote's seat? A former Tory and some of her protégés hedge their bets". CBC News. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  14. ^ a b McLeod, James (September 22, 2017). "Browne not seeking federal nomination". The Telegram. Archived from the original on September 25, 2017. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  15. ^ "Stacy MacDonald seeking Bonavista-Burin-Trinity Liberal nomination - The Southern Gazette". Southerngazette.ca. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  16. ^ "The Packet". Thepacket.ca. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  17. ^ "How new voters tipped the scales for Liberals". Cbc.ca. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  18. ^ "Vacant Seats in the House of Commons Since the 2015 General Election". Elections Canada. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  19. ^ "Prime Minister of Canada announces by-elections". Prime Minister's Office. November 5, 2017.
  20. ^ "Official Voting Results". www.elections.ca. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  21. ^ Canada, Elections. "2017 By-elections – Bonavista–Burin–Trinity (Newfoundland and Labrador)". www.elections.ca. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  22. ^ "October 19, 2015 Election Results — Bonavista—Burin—Trinity (Preliminary results)". Elections Canada. October 19, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  23. ^ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  24. ^ Pundits' Guide to Canadian Elections