Newfoundland and Labrador’s new premier will be revealed today. Here’s what to know

The Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is set to announce its 15th premier at a party convention in St. John’s at 2:45 p.m. NT on Saturday. The two candidates vying for the position are John Hogan and John Abbott, who are both members of the Liberal Party.

The race for the Liberal leadership began after former premier Andrew Furey announced his resignation in February. Furey, a surgeon by trade, cited a desire to spend more time with his family and return to the operating room as reasons for stepping down. His decision came as a surprise to many, including members of his own cabinet, as he had led the province through a pandemic and economic challenges.

Following Furey’s resignation, a search for candidates within the Liberal caucus began. In late March, the Liberal Leadership Election Special Committee announced that only two candidates, John Hogan and John Abbott, had officially come forward to run for the position of premier.

John Abbott, who has previously run for the position of premier in 2020, has an extensive background in provincial government, having served as deputy minister of several departments and CEO of Newfoundland and Labrador Housing. John Hogan, a lawyer by profession, defeated former Progressive Conservative leader Ches Crosbie in his district in 2021 and has served as minister of justice and health.

The winner of the Liberal leadership race will automatically become the premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and will lead the party in the upcoming general election, which must take place before October. The announcement of the winner will take place at a party convention at Jag Soundhouse.

CBC News will be livestreaming the event, which begins at 2:30 p.m., on their website. For more updates and alerts on the election, you can download the free CBC News app.

Overall, the race for the 15th premier of Newfoundland and Labrador promises to be an exciting and closely contested one, with both candidates boasting impressive resumes and experience in provincial government. Stay tuned for the announcement of the winner at the party convention on Saturday afternoon.