Labrador (electoral district)

Labrador, previously known as Grand Falls—White Bay—Labrador and before that as Grand Falls—White Bay, is the name of a federal electoral district in Newfoundland and Labrador, covering all of Labrador. In 2001 its population was 27,864. Map

Demographics

Ethnic Groups: 65.1% White, 34.9% Native Canadian
Languages: 90.0% English, 1.7% French, 7.9% Other
Religions: 67.4% Protestant, 28.4% Catholic, 3.4% No Affiliation
Average Income: $27,138

Geography

The district includes all of Labrador, and Belle Isle. Communities include Labrador City, Happy Valley-Goose Bay , and Wabush . The area is 294,330 sq. km.

History

The electoral district was created in 1949 upon the admission of Newfoundland to Canada. From 1972 it was held by Liberal Bill Rompkey . When he was appointed to the Canadian Senate in 1995 a by-election was held and Lawrence O'Brien was elected, who held the district until his death in 2004. A by-election will be held in 2005, unless the 38th Parliament is dissolved first.

List of Members:

1. Thomas Asbourne , Liberal (1949-1956)
2. Charles Granger, Liberal (1956-1968)
3. Andrew Chatwood , Liberal (1966-1968)
4. Ambrose Peddle , Progressive Conservative (1968-1972)
5. Bill Rompkey , Liberal (1972-1995)
6. Lawrence O'Brien, Liberal (1996-2004)

Labrador election results

• ¹ Progressive Conservative prior to 2003
• ² Reform Party prior to 2000

2005 by-election

On December 16, 2004 MP Lawrence O'Brien died of cancer. Prime Minister Paul Martin called a federal by-election for May 24, 2005. There is a possibility the by-election will not be held, however. The current Liberal government is a minority government. If it falls, the ensuing 2005 Canadian general election would take precedence.

Issues

The seat has traditionally been a Liberal stronghold, and O'Brien always carried the riding with comfortable pluralities. However, the federal Liberals have lost popularity in Atlantic Canada since the 2004 federal election, largely due to disputes with the Progressive Conservative provincial governments of these provinces, especially that of Newfoundland and Labrador over the relationship between offshore petroleum revenues and equalization payments.

Historically, governing parties fare relatively poorly in federal by-elections. However, this by-election will be especially significant due to the make-up of the 38th Canadian Parliament. Following the 2004 election, the Liberals combined with the left-leaning New Democratic Party held 154 seats, or exactly half of the 308-seat House of Commons. Furthermore, with former Liberal MP Carolyn Parrish now expelled from that party, the two parties' combined total (prior to O'Brien's death) had been reduced to 153 (or 152 who are eligible to vote since the Speaker was elected as a Liberal). The Liberals will be anxious not to lose any more seats, an event which could leave the opposition Conservative Party of Canada or the separatist Bloc Quebecois as the only viable partners for the Liberals to get legislation passed in the House. Former Liberal MP David Kilgour has left the party, further reducing its strength.

Since the general election, it has been suggested that the New Democratic Party refrain from contesting by-elections in seats where the Liberals are strong but the NDP are not, to avoid splitting the vote and thus help improve the chances securing a better position for the NDP in the House. Labrador would certainly be a prime example of such a seat - the NDP finished a distant fourth in the 2004 poll. However, historically the NDP has been adamant in contesting all by-elections, and as of this writing NDP leader Jack Layton has shown little interest in any such proposal. In addition, the provincial NDP has one of its 2 seats in Labrador.

Candidates