Labrador (electoral district)

Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador electoral district
Labrador in relation to other Newfoundland and Labrador ridings (2013 boundaries)
Federal electoral district
LegislatureHouse of Commons
MP
 
 
 
Yvonne Jones
Liberal
District created1949
First contested1949
Last contested2021
District webpageprofile, map
Demographics
Population (2021)[1]26,655
Electors (2019)20,016
Area (km²)[1]294,330
Pop. density (per km²)0.09
Census division(s)Division No. 10, Division No. 11
Census subdivision(s)Cartwright, Charlottetown, Division No. 10, Subdivision A, Division No. 10, Subdivision B, Division No. 10, Subdivision C, Division No. 10, Subdivision D, Division No. 10, Subdivision E, Division No. 11, Subdivision C, Division No. 11, Subdivision E, Forteau, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Hopedale, Labrador City, L'Anse-au-Clair, L'Anse-au-Loup, Makkovik, Mary's Harbour, Nain, Natuashish, North West River, Pinware, Port Hope Simpson, Postville, Red Bay, Rigolet, Sheshatshiu, St. Lewis, Wabush, West St. Modeste

Labrador (formerly known as Grand Falls—White Bay—Labrador and Grand Falls—White Bay) is a federal electoral district in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 1949.

The riding covers all of Labrador and with just 26,000 people located in the riding it is the least populous in Canada.[2] From 2005 to 2011, the riding was represented by Liberal MP Todd Russell. He was defeated by Conservative Peter Penashue in the 2011 federal election.[3] Following allegations of irregularities in his campaign spending, Penashue announced on March 14, 2013 that he would resign his seat and run again as a candidate in a new by-election.[4][5] Penashue subsequently lost the by-election to Liberal candidate Yvonne Jones. Jones was re-elected in the 2015, 2019, and 2021 federal elections. The riding is viewed as a Liberal stronghold.

The riding contains a large indigenous population, including the Inuit self-governing territory of Nunatsiavut, as well as two Innu reserves Sheshatshiu and Natuashish. The Voisey's Bay nickel mine, near Nain, is also in the riding.[6][7][8]

All six indigenous communities on the North Coast are inaccessible by road and may be reached only by air or sea.[9]

  1. ^ a b Statistics Canada: 2011
  2. ^ Pundits Guide
  3. ^ "Innu leader delivers Conservatives from N.L. shutout". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. May 2, 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  4. ^ "Peter Penashue quits over campaign donations". CBC News, March 14, 2013.
  5. ^ Payton, Laura (2013). "Peter Penashue campaign took in 28 ineligible contributions - Politics - CBC News". cbc.ca. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  6. ^ "CBC My Region - Torngat Mountains".
  7. ^ "Voisey's Bay Mine Expansion". vale.com. 2017. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  8. ^ "Voisey's Bay underground development hits 10% completion". CBC News. August 28, 2019. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  9. ^ Moore, Angel (April 5, 2020). "Indigenous leaders asking that access to Labrador be sealed off". APTN News. Retrieved October 16, 2020.