Derek Bennett

For the director, see Derek Bennett (director). For the automobile engineer, see Chevron Cars Ltd.

Derek John Bennett is a Canadian politician, who served in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 2015 to 2025. Bennett was first elected in the 2015 provincial election.^[4][5] He represented the electoral district of Lewisporte-Twillingate as a member of the Liberal Party.^[4]

The Honourable Derek Bennett
43rd Speaker of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
In office April 12, 2021[1] – October 14, 2025
Preceded by	Scott Reid
Minister of Environment, Climate Change, and Municipalities
In office August 19, 2020[2] – April 8, 2021
Premier	Andrew Furey
Preceded by	Derrick Bragg
Succeeded by	position abolished[3]
Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly for Lewisporte-Twillingate
In office November 30, 2015 – October 14, 2025
Preceded by	Riding Established
Succeeded by	Mark Butt
Personal details
Political party	Liberal

He was re-elected in the 2019 provincial election.^[6]

Bennett was promoted to cabinet on August 19, 2020 as provincial Minister of Environment, Climate Change, and Municipalities.^[7]

He was re-elected in the 2021 provincial election.^[8] He was dropped from Cabinet in April 2021.^[9] Bennett was elected Speaker of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly on April 12, 2021, defeating 4 other candidates.^[10]

Bennett narrowly lost his seat in the 2025 provincial election.

Electoral record

2025 Newfoundland and Labrador general election: Lewisporte-Twillingate
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive Conservative	Mark Butt	2,570	49.30	+11.74
	Liberal	Derek Bennett	2,552	48.95	-13.48
	New Democratic	Steven Kent	76	1.46
	Independent	Stacy Coish	15	0.29
Total valid votes			5,213
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
Eligible voters
	Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal		Swing		+12.61
[11]

v t e 2021 Newfoundland and Labrador general election: Lewisporte-Twillingate
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Derek Bennett	2,593	62.44	+8.44
	Progressive Conservative	Rhonda Lee Simms	1,560	37.56	-8.44
Total valid votes			4,153	99.50
Total rejected ballots			21	0.50
Turnout			4,174	41.06
Eligible voters			10,166
	Liberal hold		Swing		+8.44
Source(s) "Officially Nominated Candidates General Election 2021" (PDF). Elections Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved March 3, 2021. "NL Election 2021 (Unofficial Results)". Retrieved March 27, 2021.

2019 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Derek Bennett	3,190	54.0
	Progressive Conservative	Krista Freake	2,717	46.0
Total valid votes
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
Eligible voters

2015 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Derek Bennett	3,254	53.88	–
	Progressive Conservative	Derrick Dalley	2,686	44.48	–
	New Democratic	Hillary Bushell	99	1.64	–
Total valid votes			6,039	99.74	–
Total rejected ballots			16	0.26	–
Turnout			6,055	58.41	–
Eligible voters			10,366
	Liberal notional gain from Progressive Conservative		Swing		–
Source: Elections Newfoundland and Labrador[12]