Former PC MHA joins Newfoundland NDP in floor crossing

Newfoundland and Labradors NDP is gaining a new members after Torngat Mountains MHA Lela Evans announced today that she is crossing the floor to join them.

In a press conference at the Newfoundland Legislature, Evans said that she needs to support a party that stands for people, "I need the support of a party that's going to understand and advocate for my people, and there's no greater party I believe than the NDP, honestly."

Evans was first elected in 2019 as a member of the Progressive Conservatives. In that election she ran against the sitting Liberal MHA, and her own cousin Randy Edmunds. She captured 56 per cent of the vote in 2019.

In 2021 She was re-elected.

Evans said that the move was about aligning values, "We have the same values. We have the same wish for the province."

This moves gives the NDP 3 seats in the Legislative Assembly, the Governing Liberals have 22, the Official Opposition has 12, and there are currently 3 independent MHAs.

Since the 2021 eleciton the NDP have been without a permanent leader. Current MHA Jim Dinn is serving as Interim Leader until a new leader can be elected in a leadership race.