Dwight Ball

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The Honourable
Dwight Ball
DwightBall (brightened, cropped).jpg
Premier Dwight Ball in November 2016
13th Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
In office
14 December 2015 –19 August 2020

In early 2016, Nalcor Energy CEO Ed Martin left the company. Ball and Martin each claim that Martin left under conflicting circumstances. [35] [36]

Lower Churchill Project

The cost of the Lower Churchill Project has doubled since it started development nearly a decade before Ball took office. The province's financial situation was different when the project started development, the price of oil was high (Newfoundland and Labrador is an oil-producing province), however, the price of oil and the value of the Canadian dollar has gone down since. Ball has blamed the governments of Danny Williams and Kathy Dunderdale for the number of problems that the project has caused. [37]

In 2016, researchers from Harvard University found that methylmercury levels in fish would rise as a result of the project. [38] [39] After protests led by Indigenous groups in Central Labrador in 2016, an Agreement was reached by Labrador’s three Indigenous groups (Nunatsiavut Government, Innu Nation and the NunatuKavut Community Council) and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador outlining the establishment of an independent committee to make recommendations on mitigating potential impacts of methylmercury on human health from the Lower Churchill Project at Muskrat Falls, Labrador. [40] In 2018, the committee recommended — among other things — wetland capping to stem the release of methylmercury. [41] [42] [43]

During the Muskrat Falls inquiry in 2019, it was revealed the provincial government wouldn’t be completing wetland capping at the Muskrat Falls reservoir as previously planned. [44] [45] The $30 million designated for the capping was split up and offered to all three Indigenous governments with the Innu Nation and NunatuKavut accepting. [46] [47] [48] Nalcor had applied for a permit in July 2018 to carry out the approximately 13 hectares of wetland capping — essentially pouring sand and stone over a small area of wetland near the reservoir — but the permit was never approved by the Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment. [49] Ball later said wetland capping would have only decreased methylmercury levels by two per cent. [50] [51]

Popularity

During the 2015 election campaign Ball's Liberals usually saw public approval ratings well over 50%. His party earned 57.2% of the votes in the election. In February 2016, a poll showed that 60% of respondents approved of Ball's work as premier. [52]

The 2016-17 budget had a huge impact on Ball's public approval. A poll from MQO Research in April 2016 showed a near tie in support for all 3 parties, [53] a huge difference from a few months earlier when Ball's liberals had far more support than the other 2 parties. Combined with the scandal involving Ed Martin, Ball's public support has dropped at a fast rate since the election. A poll in May 2016 showed that Ball was the least popular head of government in the country with a 17% approval rating. The second lowest score was Ontario's Kathleen Wynne with 24%. [54]

An online petition calling for Ball's resignation went viral in June 2016, [55] but Ball has stated that he will not resign and he also stated that the province would not go bankrupt. [56]

On 16 June 2018, delegates at the Liberal Party Annual General Meeting vote to endorse the leadership of Ball with 79% voting against the party holding a leadership convention. [57]

Resignation

On 17 February 2020, Ball announced his pending resignation as leader of the Liberal Party and Premier amidst accusations of cronyism. The decision came after CBC News linked Ball to awarding the sole-source contract for the Crown corporation Nalcor Energy to Gordon McIntosh, former Deputy of Natural Resources Minister Siobhan Coady and the designer of Newfoundland and Labrador's off-shore energy plan. [58] [59]

The Liberal Party initially planned to elect a new leader in May 2020; however, the election was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the 2020 Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador leadership election, surgeon Andrew Furey was chosen as Ball's successor. Furey was sworn in on 19 August 2020. [2] On 7 September 2020 Ball resigned as MHA for Humber-Gros Morne. [4]

Electoral record

2019 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Dwight Ball4,24769.9
Progressive Conservative Greg Osmond1,82530.1
Total valid votes
Humber - Gros Morne - 2015 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Dwight Ball4,61075.98%–
Progressive Conservative Graydon Pelley98316.20%–
New Democratic Mike Goosney4747.81%–
2013 Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador leadership election
Ballot 1Ballot 2Ballot 3
CandidateVotes %Points %Votes %Points %Votes %Points %
Dwight Ball10,94445.94%2,130.0544.38%11,30648.45%2,257.1547.02%12,59860.64%2,832.2959.01%
Paul Antle6,34026.61%1,321.1527.52%6,60028.28%1,397.8629.12%8,17839.36%1,967.7140.99%
Cathy Bennett 5,25222.05%1,089.0522.69%5,43123.27%1,144.9923.85%
Danny Dumaresque 6702.81%131.692.74%
Jim Bennett 6172.59%128.052.67%
Total23,823100.004,800.00100.0023,337100.004,800.00100.0020,776100.004,800.00100.00
Humber Valley - 2011 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Dwight Ball2,60948.14%+1.05
Progressive Conservative Darryl Kelly 2,54146.88%- 4.54
New Democratic Sheldon Hynes2704.98%–
Humber Valley - 2007 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Progressive Conservative Darryl Kelly3,02351.42%+2.88
Liberal Dwight Ball2,76947.09%-1.61
New Democratic Kris Hynes871.47%–
Humber Valley - By-election, 13 February 2007
Resignation of Kathy Goudie
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Dwight Ball2,15348.70%+1.42
Progressive Conservative Darryl Kelly2,14648.54%–
New Democratic Shelley Senior1222.76%–
Humber Valley - 2003 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Progressive Conservative Kathy Goudie 2,79652.73%–
Liberal Dwight Ball2,50747.28%–

[60]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Premier Ball Announces Changes to Cabinet". Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. 8 November 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 Lindsay Bird (19 August 2020). "New N.L. premier, new finance minister: Andrew Furey takes office and shuffles cabinet". CBC News. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  3. ↑ Interim: 3 January 2012 – 5 July 2013
  4. 1 2 "Ball resigns as MHA, Furey will run in his place". CBC News. 7 September 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  5. ↑ Dunn, Christopher (12 March 2020). "Dwight Ball". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Gushue, Lisa (23 November 2015). "Take us to your leaders: What you may not know about Davis, Ball and McCurdy". CBC News . Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  7. ↑ "Dwight Ball takes the quiet approach to leadership". Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  8. ↑ "Judicial recount set for Humber Valley ballots". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . 22 February 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  9. ↑ "Liberal declared winner in Humber Valley recount". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . 2 March 2007. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  10. ↑ Hutchings, Paul (12 October 2011). "Race with incumbent was too close to call: Ball". The Western Star. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  11. ↑ "Dwight Ball named Liberal Party leader". The Telegram. 14 December 2011. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  12. ↑ "Dwight Ball wants to lead Liberals into 2015 vote". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . 15 December 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  13. ↑ "Liberal Party Announces Date of Leadership Convention". Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  14. ↑ "Dwight Ball officially in Liberal leadership race". CBC. 5 July 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  15. ↑ "Dwight Ball wins Liberal leadership". CBC News. 17 November 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  16. 1 2 "Dwight Ball, new Liberal cabinet sworn in at Government House". CBC News. 14 December 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  17. ↑ "4 Tory cabinet ministers fall to defeat in Liberal rout". CBC News. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  18. ↑ "Outsiders like Crosbie, Wakeham only hope for PC Party rebuild, says political scientist". CBC News. 4 December 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  19. ↑ Grenier, Éric (18 May 2019). "What didn't happen in the N.L. election – and why that matters". The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  20. ↑ Cooke, Ryan (16 May 2019). "Liberals to hold minority government in N.L., PCs not conceding defeat". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  21. ↑ "Cabinet ministers Letto and Hawkins among 9 defeated Liberals". CBC News Newfoundland and Labrador, 17 May 2019.
  22. ↑ "NDP clinging to 5-vote victory in Lab West after official addition of vote tally". CBC News. 19 May 2019. Archived from the original on 20 May 2019.
  23. ↑ MacEachern, Daniel (16 May 2019). "Exuberant NDP celebrates 'new era' as it holds St. John's seats, and wins back Labrador West". CBC News. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  24. ↑ Roberts, Kelly-Anne (17 May 2019). "'We have the balance of power,' Alison Coffin says as NDP wins three seats". NTV. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  25. ↑ "NDP newcomer won by 5 votes in Labrador, causing minority Liberal N.L. government | Globalnews.ca". globalnews.ca. 19 May 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  26. ↑ "Five NDP votes in Labrador to determine status of N.L. Liberal government | The Star". The Toronto Star. 19 May 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  27. ↑ "Todd Russell sits down with Dwight Ball | CBC.ca".
  28. ↑ Dwight Ball: N.L.'s unlikely premier and the problems he faces
  29. ↑ Vaughan, Andrew (29 September 2017). "Newfoundland Premier announces inquiry into Muskrat Falls project". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  30. ↑ "Premier Ball Announces Muskrat Falls Public Inquiry". Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. 20 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  31. ↑ McKenzie-Sutter, Holly (10 March 2020). "Final report from Muskrat Falls inquiry released to the public". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  32. ↑ "Keith Russell gets an earful at Labrador budget rally | CBC News".
  33. ↑ "Thousands swarm Confederation Building for anti-budget protest | CBC News".
  34. ↑ "NAPE budget fight hitting the road | CBC News".
  35. ↑ "Ed Martin fired after quitting Nalcor, triggering $1.4M severance, says Dwight Ball | CBC News".
  36. ↑ "PCs hammer premier on 'incompetence' during Ed Martin scandal | CBC News".
  37. ↑ ""Blame The PCs": Government Reacts To Dire Muskrat Falls Report". Archived from the original on 25 June 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  38. ↑ Flowers, Bill (13 December 2016). "Inadequate consultation on the Muskrat Falls project". Policy Options. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  39. ↑ Careen, Evan (20 November 2016). "Methylmercury levels downstream from Muskrat Falls concern researcher". Saltwire Network. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  40. ↑ "Timeline - Independent Expert Advisory Committee". Independent Expert Advisory Committee. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
  41. ↑ "Nunatsiavut president pleads with premier to pump the brakes on Muskrat Falls flooding". CBC News. 22 July 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  42. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Ashley (8 April 2019). "Advisory committee recommendations about Muskrat Falls deserve action: chair". The Telegram. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  43. ↑ Maher, David (7 June 2019). "United Nations calls for methyl mercury mitigation at Muskrat Falls". The Telegram. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  44. ↑ Maher, David (4 July 2019). "Newfoundland and Labrador government 'unintentionally' missed Muskrat Falls wetland capping deadline". The Telegram. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  45. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Ashley (20 June 2019). "No time left for reservoir work prior to flooding, deputy minister tells Muskrat Falls Inquiry". The Telegram. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  46. ↑ "Methylmercury deal struck with 2 of 3 Labrador Indigenous groups". CBC News. 23 July 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  47. ↑ White, Bailery (24 July 2019). "Nalcor's $10M deal with NunatuKavut hammered out in a page and a half". CBC News. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  48. ↑ "Government skipped methylmercury deadline then offered 'hush money,' says Nunatsiavut president". CBC News. 11 August 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  49. ↑ "Liberal minister dismisses call for investigation into Muskrat Falls wetland capping failure". CBC News. 23 August 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  50. ↑ ""Last supper" held tonight by Muskrat Falls protestors". The Telegram. 6 August 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  51. ↑ Roberts, Terry (27 June 2019). "Too late to mitigate: Inquiry hears how wetland capping no longer a Muskrat option". CBC News. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  52. ↑ "Dwight Ball 2nd most approved of premier in Canada | CBC News".
  53. ↑ "Dwight Ball, Liberals take knock in new post-budget opinion poll | CBC News".
  54. ↑ "Premiers' Performance: Ball drops, Wall bounces post-election - Angus Reid Institute". 25 May 2016.
  55. ↑ "VOCM - Petition Calling for Premier to Resign Building Steam". Archived from the original on 21 September 2016.
  56. ↑ "VOCM - "I Have No Intentions of Resigning": Dwight Ball". Archived from the original on 18 June 2016.
  57. ↑ "Ball guarantees 2019 victory, maintains support at Liberal AGM | CBC News".
  58. ↑ "'How deep does this go?' Opposition leaders question latest sole-source Liberal hire". CBC News. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  59. ↑ "Dwight Ball stepping down as Newfoundland and Labrador premier". CBC News. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  60. ↑ Newfoundland & Labrador Votes 2003. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 22 May 2003.
Newfoundland and Labrador provincial government of Dwight Ball
Cabinet post (1)
PredecessorOfficeSuccessor
Paul Davis Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
14 December 2015 – 19 August 2020		 Andrew Furey
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