Voters go to polls today for byelection in late MHA Derrick Bragg's former district

The Newfoundland and Labrador general election was held May 16. (Lukas Wall/CBC)

Voters in Newfoundland and Labrador's Fogo Island-Cape Freels district go to the polls today for the province's second byelection of the year.

The byelection was called after the district's former MHA, Liberal cabinet minister Derrick Bragg, died in mid-January, after announcing in mid-2023 that he had been diagnosed with tongue cancer.

Bragg had been MHA of the district since it was created in 2015 with parts of former districts Bonavista North, Lewisporte and the Isles of Notre Dame as well as part of the Terra Nova district.

The district includes Fogo Island and the Change Islands, communities on Newfoundland's northeast coast from Cape Freels to Hare Bay, as well as the Dog Bay and Gander Bay areas.

Three candidates are on the slate for Monday's byelection: Dana Blackmore for the Liberals, Jim Gill for the NDP and Jim McKenna for the PCs.

Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. NT.

Earlier this year, Fred Hutton, a former journalist and advisor to Premier Andrew Furey, won a byelection for the Liberals in Conception Bay East-Bell Island, a seat that was vacated after former interim PC leader David Brazil announced he was leaving politics for health reasons.

The Liberals currently hold 22 of the 40 seats in the House of Assembly. The Progressive Conservatives hold 11, the NDP holds three seats, and Independents hold two.

Apart from Fogo Island-Cape Freels, one other seat is vacant. Brian Warr, a Liberal who represented Baie Verte-Green Bay, announced his retirement in February.

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