List of premiers of Newfoundland and Labrador

Flag of Newfoundland and Labrador

The Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador is 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.

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.

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. 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.

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)	9 August 2024	incumbent	1855 election (6th Leg.)		Liberal Party	MHA for St. John's
			First premier as colony achieves responsible government.
2	File:JohnKent(prowse).jpg	John Kent (1805–1872)	9 August 2024	incumbent	Appointment (6th Leg.)⁠ 1859 election (7th 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)	9 August 2024	incumbent	Appointment (7th Leg.)⁠ 1861 election (8th 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)	9 August 2024	incumbent	Appointment (8th Leg.)⁠ 1865 election (9th Leg.)		Conservative Party	MHA for
			Proposed confederation with Canada but was defeated by Anti-Confederate opposition in 1869.
5		Charles Fox Bennett (1793–1883)	9 August 2024	incumbent	1869 election (10th Leg.)⁠ 1873 election (11th 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)	9 August 2024	incumbent	Appointment (11th Leg.)⁠ 1874 election (12th Leg.)		Conservative Party	MHA for Twillingate—Fogo
			Created publicly funded denominational school system
6 (1 of 3)		Sir William Whiteway (1828–1908)	9 August 2024	incumbent	Appointment (12th Leg.)⁠ 1878 election (13th Leg.)⁠ 1882 election (14th 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)	9 August 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)	9 August 2024	incumbent	1889 election (16th Leg.)⁠ 1893 election (17th Leg.)		Liberal Party	MHA for
			Continued development of the railway; government lost power due to corruption scandal.
8		Augustus F. Goodridge (1839–1920)	9 August 2024	incumbent	Appointment (17th Leg.)		Tory Party	MHA for
9		Daniel Joseph Greene (1850–1911)	9 August 2024	incumbent	Appointment (17th Leg.)		Liberal Party	MHA for
6 (3 of 3)		Sir William Whiteway (1828–1908)	9 August 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)	9 August 2024	incumbent	1897 election (18th Leg.)		Tory Party	MHA for
11		Sir Robert Bond (1857–1927)	9 August 2024	incumbent	Appointment (18th Leg.)⁠ 1900 election (19th Leg.)⁠ 1904 election (20th 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.

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office		Electoral mandates (Assembly)	Political party		Riding
1		Sir Robert Bond (1857–1927)	9 August 2024	incumbent	Title created (20th Leg.)⁠ 1908 election (21st Leg.)		Liberal Party	MHA for
2		Sir Edward Patrick Morris (1859–1935)	9 August 2024	incumbent	Appointment (21st Leg.)⁠ 1909 election (22nd Leg.)⁠ 1913 election (23rd 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)	9 August 2024	incumbent	Appointment (23rd Leg.)		People's Party	MHA for
			Caretaker prime minister
4		Sir William F. Lloyd (1864–1937)	9 August 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)	9 August 2024	incumbent	Appointment (23rd Leg.)		People's Party	MHA for
6		Sir Richard Squires (1880–1940)	9 August 2024	incumbent	Appointment (23rd Leg.)⁠ 1919 election (24th Leg.)⁠ 1923 election (25th 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)	9 August 2024	incumbent	Appointment (25th Leg.)		Liberal Reform Party	MHA for
8		Albert Hickman (1875–1943)	9 August 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)	9 August 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)	9 August 2024	incumbent	Appointment (26th Leg.)		Liberal-Conservative Party	MHA for
(6)		Sir Richard Squires (1880–1940)	9 August 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)	9 August 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 and Newfoundland's dominion status, the colony 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.

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office
1		Admiral Sir David Murray Anderson (1874–1936)	16 February 1934	October 1935
2		Vice-Admiral Sir Humphrey T. Walwyn (1879–1957)	February 1936	16 January 1946
3		Gordon MacDonald (1888–1966)	16 January 1946	1 April 1949

Premiers of the Province of Newfoundland (1949-2001)

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office		Electoral mandates (Assembly)	Political party		Riding
1		Joey Smallwood (1900–1991)	9 August 2024	incumbent	Title created (caretaker government)⁠ 1949 election (29th Leg.)⁠ 1951 election (30th Leg.)⁠ 1956 election (31st Leg.)⁠ 1959 election (32nd Leg.)⁠ 1962 election (33rd Leg.)⁠ 1966 election (34th Leg.)⁠ 1971 election (35th Leg.)		Liberal Party (Ldr. 1949)	MHA for Bonavista North (until 1959) (1962-1966) MHA for St. John's West (1959-1962) ({{{riding2_term}}}) MHA for Humber West (1966-1971) ({{{riding3_term}}}) MHA for Placentia East (1971-1972) ({{{riding4_term}}})
			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)	9 August 2024	incumbent	1972 election (36th Leg.)⁠ 1975 election (37th 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)	9 August 2024	incumbent	Appointment (37th Leg.)⁠ 1979 election (38th Leg.)⁠ 1982 election (39th Leg.)⁠ 1985 election (40th 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)	9 August 2024	incumbent	Appointment (40th Leg.)		Progressive Conservative Party (Ldr. 1989)	MHA for Baie Verte-Springdale
5		Clyde Wells (b. 1937)	9 August 2024	incumbent	1989 election (41st Leg.)⁠ 1993 election (42nd 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)	9 August 2024	incumbent	Appointment (42nd Leg.)⁠ 1996 election (43rd Leg.)⁠ 1999 election (44th Leg.)		Liberal Party (Ldr. 1996)	MHA for Bay of Islands (until 1999) MHA for The Straits – White Bay North (from 1999) ({{{riding2_term}}})
			Completed replacement of separate school system with public schools,
7		Beaton Tulk (b. 1944)	9 August 2024	incumbent	Appointment (44th Leg.)		Liberal Party (Ldr. interim)	MHA for Bonavista North
8		Roger Grimes (b. 1950)	9 August 2024	incumbent	Appointment (44th Leg.)		Liberal Party (Ldr. 2001)	MHA for Exploits

Premiers of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador (2001-present)

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office		Electoral mandates (Assembly)	Political party		Riding
8		Roger Grimes (b. 1950)	9 August 2024	incumbent	Title created (44th Leg.)		Liberal Party (Ldr. 2001)	MHA for Exploits
			Royal Commission on Renewing and Strengthening Our Place in Canada
9		Danny Williams (b. 1949)	9 August 2024	incumbent	2003 election (45th Leg.)⁠ 2007 election (46th 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)	9 August 2024	incumbent	Appointment (46th Leg.)⁠ 2011 election (47th 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)	9 August 2024	incumbent	Appointment (47th Leg.)		Progressive Conservative Party (Ldr. 2014 (interim))	MHA for Humber East
12		Paul Davis (b. 1961)	9 August 2024	incumbent	Appointment (47th Leg.)		Progressive Conservative Party (Ldr. 2014)	MHA for Topsail
13		Dwight Ball (b. 1957)	9 August 2024	incumbent	2015 election (48th Leg.)		Liberal Party (Ldr. 2013)	MHA for Humber-Gros Morne
1.^ Dunderdale was named interim Progressive Conservative Party leader on 26 November 2010, she was not elected party leader until 2 April 2011.

Living former premiers

As of December 2015, ten former premiers are alive, the oldest being Clyde Wells (1989–1996, born 1937). The most recent former premier to die was Frank Moores (1972–1979), on 10 July 2005.

Name	Term	Date of birth
Brian Peckford	1979–1989	(1942-08-27) 27 August 1942
Tom Rideout	1989	(1948-06-25) 25 June 1948
Clyde Wells	1989–1996	(1937-11-09) 9 November 1937
Brian Tobin	1996–2000	(1954-10-21) 21 October 1954
Beaton Tulk	2000–2001	(1944-05-22) 22 May 1944
Roger Grimes	2001–2003	(1950-05-02) 2 May 1950
Danny Williams	2003–2010	(1949-08-04) 4 August 1949
Kathy Dunderdale	2010–2014	(1952-02-05) 5 February 1952
Tom Marshall	2014	(1946-10-26) 26 October 1946
Paul Davis	2014–2015	(1961-06-17) 17 June 1961

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