2017 Bonavista—Burin—Trinity 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

December 11, 2017
Seat of Bonavista—Burin—Trinity
Turnout	21.52% ( 35.83pp)
CPC Candidate Churence Rogers Mike Windsor Party Liberal Conservative Popular vote 8,717 2,878 Percentage 69.22% 22.85% Swing 12.58pp 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

Constituency

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

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

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

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

2015 Canadian federal election
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

1. "Liberal Churence Rogers wins Bonavista-Burin-Trinity byelection". CBC News. 11 December 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 28 October 2017.
4. "Churence Rogers Wins Liberal Nom for Bonavista-Trinity-Burin". VOCM. 2017-11-16. Retrieved 2018-05-13.
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 28 October 2017.
7. "Larry Guinchard latest to announce bid for Liberal nomination in Bonavista–Burin-Trinity - The Packet". Thepacket.ca. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
8. "VOCM - Dale Foote Steps Up for Liberal Nomination in Bonavista-Burin-Trinity". VOCM. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
9. "Search and rescue advocate Merv Wiseman announces candidacy for federal Liberal nomination". CBC News. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
10. "Merv Wiseman interested in Judy Foote's position - The Packet". Thepacket.ca. Retrieved 28 October 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 2018-05-13.
13. 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. 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 28 October 2017.
16. "The Packet". Thepacket.ca. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
17. "How new voters tipped the scales for Liberals". Cbc.ca. Retrieved 28 October 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 2020-08-21.
21. Canada, Elections. "2017 By-elections – Bonavista–Burin–Trinity (Newfoundland and Labrador)". www.elections.ca. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
22. "October 19, 2015 Election Results — Bonavista—Burin—Trinity (Preliminary results)". Elections Canada. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
23. Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
24. Pundits' Guide to Canadian Elections