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CTV News
3 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
N.L. minister resigns after new evidence surfaces of problems in 2021 vote
Newfoundland and Labrador cabinet minister John Abbott speaks to members of the media in St. John's on Wednesday June 11, 2025. Abbott says he will step down after a court case revealed new evidence of problems with the 2021 provincial election. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sarah Smellie ST. JOHN'S — A provincial Liberal cabinet minister in Newfoundland and Labrador says he will step down this summer, after a court challenge of the province's 2021 election unearthed evidence of voting irregularities in his district. John Abbott said Wednesday that rather than proceed with a costly trial that could end with a judge asking him to leave his seat, he'll do it himself. His decision will allow the court case to end, he said, adding, 'We won the election.' However, he admitted that there were enough credible witnesses who could have presented evidence of voting issues, potentially changing the result in his riding of St. John's East-Quidi Vidi, which he won by 53 votes. 'That could have happened,' he said. 'That is definitely a possibility, but we certainly do not know. But the facts of the matter is that when the ballots were counted back in the spring of 2021, I was the declared winner, and obviously I still am, until I vacate my seat.' Meanwhile, the Liberal government must call a provincial election this year to be held on or before Oct. 14. The 2021 provincial election in Newfoundland and Labrador was upended by a COVID-19 outbreak, prompting election officials to cancel all in-person voting and shift to mail-in ballots. The Liberals won a slim majority with a voter turnout of 51 per cent. Whymarrh Whitby, who lives in Abbott's district, says he never received a mail-in ballot. He launched a lawsuit in 2021, alleging flaws in the chaotic election denied him his right to vote. Whitby's lawsuit is co-signed by former provincial NDP leader Alison Coffin, who lost her seat in the district in 2021 to Abbott. The case had been lurching slowly through the court system for roughly four years, but Abbott said it began to pick up in the past six months, as it headed toward a trial set to begin Monday. That's when lawyers for the New Democrats 'came up with' new or more evidence of election irregularities, he said. Lawyers identified a group of voters who allege they had not received ballots, and a group who may have voted in the wrong district, Abbott said. Another may have used questionable identification to vote. 'We do not know whether that was true or not,' he said. 'And we would only know if we brought those potential witnesses in, those potential voters, into court.' There were roughly 140 witnesses who could have testified, he said. As he spoke to reporters, the provincial office of the chief electoral issued a release acknowledging there were 'errors' in the administration of some ballots in St. John's East-Quidi Vidi, 'as a result of the unprecedented actions taken to conduct the election amidst the pandemic and its associated public health restrictions.' The release was signed by Coffin, Whitby, Abbott and Travis Wooley, the acting chief electoral officer. At another press conference, Coffin told reporters that she was satisfied with the resolution of the lawsuit. 'I am satisfied that we will head into the next general election with a new vision of how elections should be run,' she said. 'This was a win for democracy.' Whitby said it felt good to see the provincial elections authority acknowledge there were problems, but he said the province needs a better system than the courts to ensure voters' rights are protected. 'Everyone has the right to vote,' he told reporters. 'And that should be something we don't take for granted.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025. Sarah Smellie, The Canadian Press
CBC
25-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
Abbott says 'safe' Hogan campaign for N.L. Liberal leadership promises 'nothing new'
Social Sharing The gloves are off. After a month of cordial campaigning, John Abbott accused John Hogan, his sole opponent in the Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal leadership race, of proposing "nothing new" in his bid to lead the party — and become premier. "I would use the word safe," said Abbott when asked to describe his adversary's policy commitments on Thursday. "There's nothing new or expansive in the platform," added the St. John's East–Quidi Vidi MHA, who made the comments the day after the final debate of the leadership contest aired on CBC. During that face-off, Hogan, the Windsor Lake MHA who is the Liberal establishment's choice for leader, explained his only campaign promises to date: offering free shingles vaccines to people aged 50 and over, and creating two new government departments. One focused on seniors, the other on families and the cost of living. Hogan 'proud' of campaign Since the start of the campaign, when pressed about policies, Hogan has emphasized his "priorities": finalizing the provisional agreement with Hydro-Québec concerning the Churchill Falls power plant, and implementing the recommendations of the Health Accord report on modernizing the health-care system. "What I'm focusing on is what Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are asking me to focus on and I'm very proud of the campaign over the last couple months," said Hogan, a St. John's-based lawyer who has repeatedly said his legal experience will help get the Churchill Falls deal across the finish line. Abbott announces series of policies, though uncosted For his part, Abbott, who worked for decades as a civil servant before he became a Liberal minister, has made a number of policy announcements since the start of the leadership race. Abbott, also based in St. John's, has promised to create a guaranteed basic income for seniors and to build 10,000 homes over the next five years. During Wednesday's debate, he also pledged to increase rent supplements for low-income people, promised a plan to eliminate public debt and said he'd create a new development fund for Labrador, paid for with revenues from the Churchill Falls agreement. None of the promises are costed, but Abbott has promised to put an end to budget deficits. Hogan said during the debate Wednesday his government would spend "responsibly," but didn't rule out future deficits. 'Similar approach' to Furey leadership run "When Andrew Furey ran and I ran the first time, [he did so with a] very similar approach," said Abbott, who ran for the Liberal leadership for the first time in 2020. "Safe campaign with no commitments." Abbott conceded that Furey's approach worked four years ago. At the time, Furey had the support of the entire Liberal caucus and won the race with 66 per cent of the points. But Abbott says this time around he is better prepared. Twelve MHAs — more than half the Liberal caucus, a group including Fisheries Minister Gerry Byrne since earlier this week — are supporting Hogan, whose team also includes members of the premier's office, but Abbott has six MHAs on his team. "I've been commended and complimented for having policy ideas," said Abbott, who spent Thursday campaigning in Marystown. "That's what most people are looking for." Home stretch of campaign The next Liberal leader will be chosen at the end of a two-day leadership convention on May 3 in St. John's. Approximately 14,000 Liberals are registered to vote, about a third fewer than in 2020 when Furey was elected and 40 per cent fewer than when Dwight Ball became leader in 2013. Hogan spent Thursday campaigning in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Under the Liberal Party's weighted voting system, which ensures that members from all regions of the province have a say in the next leader, each of Newfoundland and Labrador's 40 districts represents 1,000 points. When the votes are counted, points are distributed to the candidates according to where they voters live. The winner must earn at least 20,001 points to be elected.
CBC
20-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
'Save our Festival': Folk Arts Society works toward $140k fundraising goal
The Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Arts Society is feeling more optimistic about its future after receiving an outpouring of support from the community. On April 19, the festival held a benefit concert to "Save Our Festival," at Quidi Vidi brewery. The brewery was packed full of guests and featured musical acts all day long. Board President Julie Vogt, who stepped out of retirement to volunteer for the society, was thrilled to see the community come together to support the festival. "It's not just about the money today," said Vogt. "It's also about community. Bringing the community together to support something that can't be lost in this province." Vogt is a former executive director of the Society. When she saw the financial problems the society was experiencing, Vogt said she felt it was important that she return and try to help it continue as much as she could. Knowing how important the N.L. Folk Festival is to the province, Vogt said before shutting the doors they should let the community decide if the festival should live on. "Look at this. It's packed. There's not a seat available," said Vogt. "People are here to support us, listen to this great music and have a party and say, 'yeah, you're gonna be around.'" Justin Fong, co-owner of Quidi Vidi Brewery, said he jumped at the chance to host the fundraising event. When he heard about its financial issues, he wanted to support the folk festival. "I couldn't really picture a Newfoundland summer without having a folk festival weekend," said Fong. $140k needed In January, the society announced they were having financial difficulties and as a result laid off 5 staffers. Since then, Vogt said they were able to rehire their logistics coordinator, however the board members are still all volunteers. "We all felt that the rest needed to be volunteers until we can be assured that we are financially sound and delivering the products that we need to be delivering," said Vogt. She said she was also "gobsmacked" to see donations roll in from all over the world, including Switzerland and the United States. In a follow up email, Vogt said their goal was to raise $7,000 at the benefit concert. While they don't know the numbers yet, she expects they succeeded that goal due to the massive attendance. Their ultimate fundraising goal is $140,000, which they'll reach in two phases. Phase one involves fundraising $40,000 themselves, and phase two involves raising $100,000 from corporate and foundation sponsors. Vogt said the benefit concert puts them at around $30,000, and now, they have 10 days to raise the final $10,000 from private donors before moving on to phase two. Festival plans underway As for the festival, a date has been set for July 11-13, with passes going on sale April 30. Despite the financial setbacks, Vogt said the event will be happening as performer deposits have already been sent. While the full festival lineup will be out April 23, Vogt said up and coming folk group Salt Beef Junkies will be opening up the festival. They will also be keeping the alcohol consumption rules the same as last year, with a license to drink alcohol in the entire main stage area. Fong also said he is excited for Quidi Vidi Brewery to have a beer tent at the festival for the fifth year in a row. "If ever you were going to buy a ticket to the folk festival, please let it be this year," said Vogt.
