The date for the judicial recount in Labrador West has been set for later this month.

The first court date for the judicial recount was Tuesday at Supreme Court in St. John’s, where an official date was set for the recount to begin on Wednesday, June 19 at 10 a.m.

According to the Elections Act, (1991), an election that results in a difference of 10 votes or less must have a judicial recount. The difference in Lab West between the NDP’s Jordan Brown and the Liberal’s Graham Letto was just five votes.

Chief Electoral Officer Bruce Chaulk says they’ve set aside three days—June 19 to 21—to conduct the recount.

One MHA Short of a Full House

MHA-elects will be sworn in on Monday, excluding the NDP’s Jordan Brown—as the judicial recount in Labrador West is set to conclude on the 21st.

Until then, there is no ruling that the House cannot proceed with business as normal.

It’s not the first time this has happened as in 2007, there was a judicial recount in the district of the Isles of Notre Dame, when there was only a difference of seven votes between PC Derrick Dalley and Liberal Gerry Reid. The House swore in all other members before the judicial recount was complete.

The same will happen on Monday as the House can proceed with its business, including the budget, with just 39 out of 40 members.

Therefore, there will be one less desk in the House when it re-opens for the 49th General Assembly.

Liberals Hold Technical Majority

With the Labrador West seat vacant, the Liberals do hold a one-seat majority.

But, Premier Dwight Ball says re-opening the House before the judicial recount is complete is not a strategic move to try to pass the budget. He says he would prefer if the recount was done and over with earlier.

Ball knows they’ll have to put in interim supply past June 30. He says they’re more than prepared to do that, and you’ll see that very early in this sitting of the House.

The Premier says people shouldn’t worry as workers will be paid and programs will continue to be delivered.

Premier Ball Appoints Parliamentary Secretaries

With the reopening of the House ticking closer and closer, Premier Dwight Ball announced the appointment of five parliamentary secretaries.

 

• Derrick Bragg – Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment.
• Derek Bennett – Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development.
• Pam Parsons – Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transportation and Works.
• Sarah Stoodley – Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation.
• Elvis Loveless – Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources.Each parliamentary secretary will be able to take on official roles in their departments, respond to questions in the House of Assembly, and represent the department in an official capacity.