List of premiers of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador is current title of the First Minister for the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, which was at certain points in its history a colony, dominion, and province. The province had a system of responsible government from 1855 to 1934, and again since 1949. Newfoundland became a British crown colony in 1855, in 1907 it became a dominion, and in 1949, it became a province and joined Canadian Confederation. Since then, the province has been a part of the Canadian federation and has kept its own legislature to deal with provincial matters. The province was named Newfoundland and Labrador in 2001.[1]
The province has a unicameral Westminster-style parliamentary government, in which the Premier is the leader of the party that controls the most seats in the House of Assembly. The Premier is Newfoundland and Labrador's head of government, and the Queen of Canada is its head of state and is represented by the Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Premier picks a cabinet from the elected members to form the Executive Council of Newfoundland and Labrador, and presides over that body. Members are first elected to the House during general elections. General elections must be conducted every four years from the date of the last election. An election may also take place if the governing party loses the confidence of the legislature by the defeat of a supply bill or tabling of a confidence motion.[2]
From 1855 to 1907, the position of first minister was known as Premier. After the colony was granted dominion status, the position became known as Prime Minister.[3] Democratic government was suspended in 1934 and replaced by an appointed Commission of Government, until 1949 Newfoundland became a province of Canada. Since the reinstitution of democratic government in 1949, the position of First Minister has been known as Premier.[4]
Since 1855, Newfoundland and Labrador has been led by ten Colonial Premiers, nine Dominion Prime Ministers, three Chairmen of Commission of Government, and twelve Provincial Premiers. Of the Provincial Premiers six are from the Liberal Party, and seven are from the Progressive Conservative Party.
Premiers of the Newfoundland Colony (1855-1907)
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of office | Electoral mandates (Assembly) | Political party | Riding
| |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Philip Francis Little (1824–1897) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | 1855 election (6th Leg.) | Liberal Party | MHA for St. John's | ||
| First premier as colony achieves responsible government. | |||||||||
| 2 | John Kent (1805–1872) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | Appointment (6th Leg.)
|
Liberal Party | MHA for St. John's East | |||
| Largely supported by Catholics, Kent was dismissed by the governor after accusing him of conspiring against the government. The subsequent election was fought on sectarian lines; rioting broke out when the governor cancelled voting in the Catholic town of Harbour Grace thus denying Kent two seats needed to prevent a Conservative majority. | |||||||||
| 3 |  |
Sir Hugh Hoyles (1814–1888) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | Appointment (7th Leg.)
|
Conservative Party | MHA for | ||
| Appointed by the governor after his predecessor's dismissal, Hoyle narrowly won the subsequent election. Government tried to reduce sectarian tensions by inviting Catholics into his cabinet and including them in patronage appointments. | |||||||||
| 4 (1 of 2) |
 |
Sir Frederick Carter (1819–1900) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | Appointment (8th Leg.)
|
Conservative Party | MHA for | ||
| Proposed confederation with Canada but was defeated by Anti-Confederate opposition in 1869. | |||||||||
| 5 |  |
Charles Fox Bennett (1793–1883) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | 1869 election (10th Leg.)
|
Anti-Confederation Party | MHA for Placentia—St. Mary's | ||
| Opposed confederation with Canada; abolished mining royalties; increased geological survey grant and funds for roads and public works; improved coastal steamship service and instituted direct shipping service to England; reorganized Newfoundland Constabulary to take over policing duties after British garrison withdrawn; acquiesced to US fishing rights in Treaty of Washington (1871); began a lead mine at Port au Port, challenging France's rights to the French Shore, but was forced to close by UK government. | |||||||||
| 4 (2 of 2) |
|
Sir Frederick Carter (1819–1900) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | Appointment (11th Leg.)
|
Conservative Party | MHA for Twillingate—Fogo | ||
| Created publicly funded denominational school system | |||||||||
| 6 (1 of 3) |
 |
Sir William Whiteway (1828–1908) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | Appointment (12th Leg.)
|
Conservative Party | MHA for Trinity Bay | ||
| Non-sectarian government including Catholics and Protestants; Proposed and arranged financing for construction of the transinsular railway in order to develop and diversify the economy; government collapsed following sectarian riots in Harbour Grace when several Protestant ministers quit to protest government's conciliatory attitude towards Catholics. | |||||||||
| 7 |  |
Sir Robert Thorburn (1836–1906) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | 1885 election (15th Leg.) | Reform Party | MHA for Trinity Bay | ||
| Rejected preceding government's railway plan in order to focus on developing fishery based economy; belatedly attempted to invest in public works when fishery downturn caused economic stagnation. Represented Newfoundland at the First Colonial Conference in London. | |||||||||
| 6 (2 of 3) |
|
Sir William Whiteway (1828–1908) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | 1889 election (16th Leg.)
|
Liberal Party | MHA for | ||
| Continued development of the railway; government lost power due to corruption scandal. | |||||||||
| 8 |  |
Augustus F. Goodridge (1839–1920) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | Appointment (17th Leg.) | Tory Party | MHA for | ||
| 9 | |
Daniel Joseph Greene (1850–1911) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | Appointment (17th Leg.) | Liberal Party | MHA for | ||
| 6 (3 of 3) |
|
Sir William Whiteway (1828–1908) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | Appointment (17th Leg.) | Liberal Party | MHA for | ||
| Failed negotiations with Canada to enter confederation. Represented Newfoundland at the 1897 Colonial Conference in London. | |||||||||
| 10 | |
Sir James Spearman Winter (1845–1911) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | 1897 election (18th Leg.) | Tory Party | MHA for | ||
| 11 | _(14587364079).jpg) |
Sir Robert Bond (1857–1927) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | Appointment (18th Leg.)
|
Liberal Party | MHA for | ||
| Settlement of French Shore territorial dispute giving Newfoundland undisputed control of the island; failed attempt to negotiate free trade with the United States. Represented Newfoundland at the 1902 Colonial Conference and then at the 1907 Imperial Conference, where it was agreed that Newfoundland and other self-governing colonies would be given dominion status. | |||||||||
Dominion Prime Ministers of Newfoundland (1907-1934)
By Royal Proclamation, the colony was granted dominion status on 26 September 1907 becoming the Dominion of Newfoundland with its head of government being given the title Prime Minister of the Dominion of Newfoundland.[5]
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of office | Electoral mandates (Assembly) | Political party | Riding
| |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |
Sir Robert Bond (1857–1927) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | Title created (20th Leg.)
|
Liberal Party | MHA for | ||
| 2 | |
Sir Edward Patrick Morris (1859–1935) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | Appointment (21st Leg.)
|
People's Party | MHA for | ||
| Expansion of the transinsular railway; allowed speculators to buy timber rights on Crown land. Second term was dominated by the war, introduced income tax and formed a wartime national government. Represented Newfoundland at the 1911 Imperial Conference and the Imperial War Conference. Upon retirement became first and only Newfoundland born person to be raised to the peerage. | |||||||||
| 3 |  |
Sir John Crosbie (1876–1932) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | Appointment (23rd Leg.) | People's Party | MHA for | ||
| Caretaker prime minister | |||||||||
| 4 | |
Sir William F. Lloyd (1864–1937) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | Appointment (23rd Leg.) | Liberal Party (national government) | MHA for | ||
| Introduced conscription for the Newfoundland Regiment; led coalition government through the conclusion of the war. | |||||||||
| 5 | |
Sir Michael Patrick Cashin (1864–1926) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | Appointment (23rd Leg.) | People's Party | MHA for | ||
| 6 |  |
Sir Richard Squires (1880–1940) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | Appointment (23rd Leg.)
|
Liberal Reform Party | MHA for | ||
| Attempted to diversify the economy and to reform the fisheries; nationalized the financially struggling transinsular railway; government fell due to a bribery scandal. | |||||||||
| 7 | |
William Warren (1879–1927) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | Appointment (25th Leg.) | Liberal Reform Party | MHA for | ||
| 8 | |
Albert Hickman (1875–1943) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | Appointment (caretaker government) | Liberal-Progressive (caretaker) | MHA for | ||
| Joined with some members of former Liberal Reform Party and some members of other parties to form a Liberal-Progressive government | |||||||||
| 9 |  |
Walter Stanley Monroe (1871–1952) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | 1924 election (26th Leg.) | Liberal-Conservative Party | MHA for | ||
| Settlement of the Labrador boundary dispute with Quebec after Newfoundland successfully argued its case at the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London. | |||||||||
| 10 | |
Frederick C. Alderdice (1872–1936) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | Appointment (26th Leg.) | Liberal-Conservative Party | MHA for | ||
| (6) | |
Sir Richard Squires (1880–1940) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | 1928 election (27th Leg.) | Liberal Party | MHA for | ||
| Attempted to govern during the Great Depression which saw a collapse of fish prices and widespread unemployment; Newfoundland requested to join Confederation in exchange for a bailout but was rejected by Canada; economic instability and allegations of corruption inflamed public opinion resulting in a riot and the fall of the government. | |||||||||
| (10) | |
Frederick C. Alderdice (1872–1936) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | 1932 election (28th Leg.) | United Newfoundland Party | MHA for | ||
| Alderdice's United Newfoundland Party wins election on the promise that it will examine the possibility of suspending the constitution and having a commission administer the country until the financial crisis improves. UK and Canada agree to give the dominion financial aid in exchange for a Royal Commission on the Newfoundland's future. Alderdice accepts the Commission's recommendation to suspend responsible government and replace it with a Commission of Government appointed by London. | |||||||||
Chairmen of the Commission of Government (1934-1949)
With the suspension of responsible government the dominion was administered by the Commission of Government, from 1934 to 1949. It was a body of seven appointed by the British government, made up of three British officials, three Newfoundlanders, and chaired by the Governor of Newfoundland.[6]
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of office | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Admiral Sir David Murray Anderson (1874–1936) |
16 February 1934[7] | October 1935[8] |
| 2 |  |
Vice-Admiral Sir Humphrey T. Walwyn (1879–1957) |
February 1936[9] | 16 January 1946[8] |
| 3 | |
Gordon MacDonald (1888–1966) |
16 January 1946[8] | 1 April 1949[8] |
Premiers of the Provinces of Newfoundland (1949-2001) and Newfoundland and Labrador (2001–present)
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of office | Electoral mandates (Assembly) | Political party | Riding
| |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Joey Smallwood (1900–1991) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | Title created (caretaker government)
|
Liberal Party (Ldr. 1949) |
MHA for Bonavista North (until 1959) (1962-1966) MHA for St. John's West (1959-1962) MHA for Humber West (1966-1971) MHA for Placentia East (1971-1972) |
||
| Led successful campaign for Newfoundland to join Canada; longest serving first minister in Newfoundland history; creation of welfare state; development of hydroelectricity, mining and paper industries; Churchill Falls Generating Station and hydro contract with Quebec. | |||||||||
| 2 | |
Frank Moores (1933–2005) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | 1972 election (36th Leg.)
|
Progressive Conservative Party (Ldr. 1970) |
MHA for Humber West | ||
| First Progressive Conservative premier; emphasized rural development and resource control | |||||||||
| 3 | |
Brian Peckford (b. 1942) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | Appointment (37th Leg.)
|
Progressive Conservative Party (Ldr. 1979) |
MHA for Green Bay | ||
| Youngest first minister in Newfoundland history; Negotiated first Atlantic Accord with Ottawa to give province greater say in and financial benefit from offshore energy exploitation; Hibernia oil field development; new provincial flag, expansion of high school to grade 12; construction of Trans-Labrador Highway; creation of the Department of the Environment. Brought greenhouse cucumbers to the province. | |||||||||
| 4 | |
Tom Rideout (b. 1948) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | Appointment (40th Leg.) | Progressive Conservative Party (Ldr. 1989) |
MHA for Baie Verte-Springdale | ||
| 5 | |
Clyde Wells (b. 1937) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | 1989 election (41st Leg.)
|
Liberal Party (Ldr. 1987) |
MHA for Bay of Islands | ||
| Obstructed the Meech Lake Accord, negotiated Charlottetown Accord, creation of a public school system replacing two parochial streams, budgetary reform, economic diversification in response to collapse of the Atlantic northwest cod fishery. | |||||||||
| 6 |  |
Brian Tobin (b. 1954) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | Appointment (42nd Leg.)
|
Liberal Party (Ldr. 1996) |
MHA for Bay of Islands (until 1999) MHA for The Straits – White Bay North (from 1999) |
||
| Completed replacement of separate school system with public schools, | |||||||||
| 7 | |
Beaton Tulk (1944–2019) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | Appointment (44th Leg.) | Liberal Party (Ldr. interim) |
MHA for Bonavista North | ||
| 8 |  |
Roger Grimes (b. 1950) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | Appointment (44th Leg.) | Liberal Party (Ldr. 2001) |
MHA for Exploits | ||
| Royal Commission on Renewing and Strengthening Our Place in Canada | |||||||||
| 9 |  |
Danny Williams (b. 1949) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | 2003 election (45th Leg.)
|
Progressive Conservative Party (Ldr. 2001) |
MHA for Humber West | ||
| Reorganization of health and education; negotiated Second Atlantic Accord to keep 100% of oil revenues in the province; negotiated deals to develop Hebron offshore oil field and expand Hibernia oil field; successfully opposed sale of New Brunswick Power to Hydro-Québec; further development of Lower Churchill Project and Muskrat Falls with transmission lines to Maritimes and the US; | |||||||||
| 10 |  |
Kathy Dunderdale (b. 1952) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | Appointment (46th Leg.)
|
Progressive Conservative Party (Ldr. 2011[1]) |
MHA for Virginia Waters | ||
| First female premier; school board consolidation; further resource development; sanctioning of Muskrat Falls and negotiation of federal loan guarantee for the project; | |||||||||
| 11 | |
Tom Marshall (b. 1946) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | Appointment (47th Leg.) | Progressive Conservative Party (Ldr. 2014 (interim)) |
MHA for Humber East | ||
| 12 | .jpg) |
Paul Davis (b. 1961) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | Appointment (47th Leg.) | Progressive Conservative Party (Ldr. 2014) |
MHA for Topsail | ||
| Reduced the number of electoral districts in the province to 40; introduced the Downpayment Assistance Program. | |||||||||
| 13 | .jpg) |
Dwight Ball (b. 1957) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | 2015 election (48th Leg.)
|
Liberal Party (Ldr. 2013) |
MHA for Humber-Gros Morne | ||
| Called a public inquiry into cost overruns of the Muskrat Falls Lower Churchill Project and negotiated with the federal government, changes in the financial structure of the project in an attempt to mitigate the impact of cost overruns on energy rates and the provincial debt. Re-elected to a minority government in 2019. Resigned following criticisms over the awarding of non-competitive contracts and appointments benefiting individuals with links to the Liberal Party. | |||||||||
| 14 | |
Andrew Furey (b. 1975) |
28 May 2024 |
incumbent | Appointment (49th Leg.) | Liberal Party (Ldr. 2020) |
MHA for | ||
Timeline of Newfoundland Premiers
Living former premiers
As of August 2020[update], ten former premiers are alive, the oldest being Clyde Wells (1989–1996, born 1937). The most recent former premier to die was Beaton Tulk (2000–2001), on 23 May 2019.
| Name | Term | Date of birth |
|---|---|---|
| Brian Peckford | 1979–1989 | 27 August 1942 |
| Tom Rideout | 25 June 1948 | |
| Clyde Wells | 1989–1996 | 9 November 1937 |
| Brian Tobin | 1996–2000 | 21 October 1954 |
| Roger Grimes | 2001–2003 | 2 May 1950 |
| Danny Williams | 2003–2010 | 4 August 1949 |
| Kathy Dunderdale | 2010–2014 | 5 February 1952 |
| Tom Marshall | 26 October 1946 | |
| Paul Davis | 2014–2015 | 17 June 1961 |
| Dwight Ball | 2015–2020 | 21 December 1957 |
See also
- Leader of the Opposition (Newfoundland and Labrador)
- List of Newfoundland and Labrador lieutenant-governors
References
- General
- "General Election Statistics". Elections Newfoundland and Labrador. Archived from the original on September 26, 2008. Retrieved November 8, 2008.
- "Journal of the House of Assembly of Newfoundland". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 9, 2008.
- Specific
- ^ "Newfoundland". Library and Archives Canada. 2 May 2005. Archived from the original on 8 June 2008. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
- ^ "History of the House of Assembly". Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly. Retrieved November 12, 2008.
- ^ "Colonial Governors, 1855-1933". Memorial University of Newfoundland. Retrieved November 12, 2008.
- ^ "Lieutenant-Governors, 1949-Present". Memorial University of Newfoundland. Retrieved November 12, 2008.
- ^ "From 'Colony of Newfoundland' to the 'Dominion of Newfoundland'". Archival Moments. Archived from the original on April 25, 2016. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
- ^ "Commission Governors, 1934-1948". Memorial University of Newfoundland. Retrieved 12 November 2008.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
alderdicewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c d "The British Empire, Imperialism, Colonialism, Colonies". www.britishempire.co.uk.
- ^ "Walwyn, Sir Humphrey Thomas (1879-1957)". www.heritage.nf.ca.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Nov 26was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Dunderdale takes risk with Harper pledge". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. April 4, 2011. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
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