2024 Conception Bay East–Bell Island provincial by-election

The 2024 Conception Bay East–Bell Island provincial by-election was held on January 30, 2024.^[1] The election was triggered by the resignation of Progressive Conservative MHA David Brazil.^[2] The election was originally scheduled for January 29, but was moved a day later due to winter storm warning.

2024 Conception Bay East–Bell Island provincial by-election

← 2021 January 30, 2024 (2024-01-30) 52nd →
Riding of Conception Bay East–Bell Island
Turnout	44.72%
First party Second party Third party   LIB PC NDP Candidate Fred Hutton Tina Neary Kim Churchill Party Liberal Progressive Conservative New Democratic Last election 33.08% 56.19% 10.73% Popular vote 2,603 2,152 846 Percentage 45.90% 37.95% 14.92% Swing 12.82 18.24 4.19
MHA before election David Brazil Progressive Conservative Elected MHA Fred Hutton Liberal

Candidates

Four candidates filed for election:^[3]

• Fred Hutton (Liberal) - former journalist, advisor to Premier Andrew Furey.^[4]
• Tina Neary (Progressive Conservative) - town councillor in Portugal Cove-St. Philip's.^[5]
• Kim Churchill (New Democratic)^[6] - Deaf rights activist.^[7]
• Darryl Harding (Independent) - Former president of the Progressive Conservative riding association, and town councillor in Portugal Cove-St. Philip's.^[8][9]

Timeline

• November 10, 2023: David Brazil announces his resignation, effective December 29.^[10]
• November 22: Kim Churchill announces her intentions to seek the NDP nomination.^[11]
• November 24: Former Progressive Conservative party president and leadership candidate Eugene Manning announces he would not be running in the by-election.^[12]
• November 27: The NDP names Kim Churchill as their candidate.^[13]
• November 28: The Progressive Conservatives announce Tina Neary as their candidate.^[14]
• November 30: An internal letter is sent to the Progressive Conservative Party executive from former riding association president Darryl Harding complaining that Neary was chosen as the candidate without the support of the party.^[15] He would run as an Independent.
• December 13: The Liberal Party announces Fred Hutton as their candidate.^[16]
• December 29: David Brazil's resignation comes into effect.^[10]
• December 30: The chief electoral officer official drops the writs, beginning the campaign.^[17]
• January 7, 2024: NDP candidate Kim Churchill kicks off her campaign.^[6]
• January 7: Deadline for candidate nominations.^[18]
• January 22: Advanced poll. Deadline to vote in person via special ballot or to request a special ballot.^[19]
• January 28: It was announced that the election would be postponed until January 30 due to a storm warning.^[1]
• January 29: Original election day.
• January 30: Election day. At 9:18pm local time, VOCM calls the election for Hutton.^[20]
• February 29: MHA Hutton was appointed Minister of Housing and Minister responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation.^[21]

Campaign

The main campaign issues in the by-election were the Bell Island ferry service and healthcare.^[22]

Results

Newfoundland and Labrador provincial by-election, January 30, 2024 Resignation of David Brazil
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Fred Hutton	2,603	45.90	+12.82
	Progressive Conservative	Tina Neary	2,152	37.95	–18.24
	New Democratic	Kim Churchill	846	14.92	+4.19
	Independent	Darryl Harding	70	1.23	New
Total valid votes			5,671
Turnout				44.72	–5.40
Eligible voters			12,682
	Liberal gain from Progressive Conservative		Swing		+15.53

Result at previous general election

v t e 2021 Newfoundland and Labrador general election: Conception Bay East–Bell Island
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive Conservative	David Brazil	3,215	56.19	–17.60
	Liberal	Lynn Hammond	1,893	33.08	+6.87
	New Democratic	Gavin Will	614	10.73
Total valid votes			5,722	98.69
Total rejected ballots			76	1.31	–0.50
Turnout			5,798	50.12	–5.44
Eligible voters			11,569
	Progressive Conservative hold		Swing		–12.23
Source(s) "Officially Nominated Candidates General Election 2021" (PDF). Elections Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved 3 March 2021. "2021 Provincial General Election Report" (PDF). Retrieved 16 January 2024.