Liberal race set to resume June 8
The next premier of Newfoundland and Labrador will be announced on Aug. 3.
The Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador announced on Monday the race to lead the party and therefore become the 14th premier of the province will resume on June 8.
The race for leader began shortly after Premier Dwight Ball announced on Feb. 17 his intention to resign as premier.
On Feb. 24, nominations were opened. Surgeon Andrew Furey and former deputy minister John Abbott put their names forward as candidates in the race.
On March 18, the party decided to continue the leadership race in an online-only campaign, with in-person campaigning banned. On the same day, the province declared a public health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On March 23, the race was suspended, with no campaign activity allowed.
HUTTON JOINS FUREY CAMPAIGN
Veteran journalist Fred Hutton is stepping away from journalism to advise the Furey 2020 campaign. Hutton confirmed to The Telegram he would join the campaign as an adviser, leaving his position as cohost of the VOCM morning show effective on Monday.
Hutton’s career in journalism has spanned 30 years. He began with NTV News in 1990 as a general assignment reporter, before becoming co-anchor of the suppertime news from 1992 to 2013.
In February 2013, Hutton left NTV to become news director with VOCM.
In August 2017, Hutton left VOCM to co-host CBC Radio’s morning show.
Hutton returned to VOCM on July 31, 2019.
In a statement to VOCM, Hutton said he hopes to give back to the province in his new role with the Furey campaign.
“When Dr. Furey asked me to join the team, I realized it’s a good way to give back to a province that has given so much to my family,” Hutton said in the statement.