Krista Howell

Krista Lynn Howell is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly in the 2021 provincial election. She represents the electoral district of St. Barbe-L'Anse aux Meadows as a member of the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador.^[2][3] She became the first female mayor of St. Anthony in 2019, serving until she entered provincial politics in 2021.^[4]

Krista Howell
Minister of Health and Community Services in Newfoundland and Labrador
In office May 9, 2025 – October 14, 2025
Premier	John Hogan
Preceded by	John Haggie
Succeeded by	Lela Evans
Minister of Education in Newfoundland and Labrador
In office June 14, 2023 – May 9, 2025
Preceded by	John Haggie
Succeeded by	Bernard Davis
Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs
In office April 8, 2021[1] – June 14, 2023
Preceded by	position established
Succeeded by	John Haggie
Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly for St. Barbe-L'Anse aux Meadows
In office March 25, 2021 – October 14, 2025
Preceded by	Chris Mitchelmore
Succeeded by	Andrea Barbour
Mayor of St. Anthony
In office 2019–2021
Preceded by	Desmond McDonald
Succeeded by	Brad Johannessen
Personal details
Born	Krista Lynn Howell
Political party	Liberal
Spouse	Felix Kojo Ayes
Residence(s)	St. Anthony, Newfoundland and Labrador
Occupation	Nurse

On April 8, 2021, Howell was appointed Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs.^[5] On June 14, 2023, she was appointed Minister of Education.^[6]

In the 2025 Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador leadership election, Howell endorsed John Hogan.^[7] On May 9, 2025, she was appointed Minister of Health and Community Services.^[8]

Howell lost re-election in the 2025 provincial election.^[9]

Personal life

Howell is married to Felix Kojo Ayesu, a Ghanaian - Canadian who holds a PhD in Psychology from Memorial University.

Electoral history

2025 Newfoundland and Labrador general election: St. Barbe-L'Anse aux Meadows
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive Conservative	Andrea Barbour	2,596	55.20	+8.69
	Liberal	Krista Howell	2,001	42.55	-8.62
	New Democratic	Beth Ryan	106	2.25	+1.44
Total valid votes			4,703
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
Eligible voters
	Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal		Swing		+8.65
[10]

v t e 2021 Newfoundland and Labrador general election: St. Barbe-L'Anse aux Meadows
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Krista Lynn Howell	2,375	51.16	-10.00
	Progressive Conservative	Sheila Fitzgerald	2,159	46.51	+10.66
	Independent	Ford Mitchelmore	70	1.51	-1.48
	New Democratic	John McClusky	38	0.82
Total valid votes			4,642	99.68
Total rejected ballots			15	0.32
Turnout			4,657	51.30
Eligible voters			9,078
	Liberal hold		Swing		-10.33
Source(s) "Officially Nominated Candidates General Election 2021" (PDF). Elections Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved 3 March 2021. "NL Election 2021 (Unofficial Results)". Retrieved 27 March 2021.