All but three MHAs sworn-in to N.L.'s House of Assembly
CBC
All but three of Newfoundland and Labrador’s 40 MHAs have been sworn in — as Progressive Conservative MHAs-elect Jeff Dwyer, Mark Butt, and education minister Paul Dinn wait on judicial recounts requested by the Liberals.
Premier Tony Wakeham told reporters on Monday that the House of Assembly won’t reopen until the legislature has its full complement of MHAs.
His majority government status hangs in the balance of the recount.
With only 21 seats, the PCs managed to obtain a majority government. If one seat flips, a minority government is formed.
Wakeham isn’t concerned.
“Neither one of those recounts met the judicial recount law. All of them were above 10 votes. That law was brought in for a reason. Ten votes or less, you automatically have to have a recount,” Wakeham said.
“I am very confident that after the recounts are done, I will have three more MHAs join us.”
Liberal Leader John Hogan believes the PCs' slim majority status is why Independent MHA Paul Lane made history when he took over as Speaker, becoming the first Independent MHA in that role since Confederation.
“Obviously, no conservative put their name forward. So there was clearly a discussion between them. And that's fine. That's politics. That's what they wanted to do to ensure they have an extra vote in the House,” Hogan told reporters.
Known for speaking up for his constituents, Lane said he won’t be any less of a representative, but the way he vocally represents his district will change.
“I can assure the people of my district that just because I can’t necessarily get on the phone and call the Open Line, as an example, as I did every so often, I’m not going to be silent. I already told the premier,” Lane said.
Meanwhile, Wakeham said it's up to the House to decide on a Speaker, and one person has put their name forward.
“It wasn’t about me asking Paul Lane about whether he wanted to be Speaker or not; it's about Paul Lane deciding whether he wanted to be Speaker or not,” Wakeham said. “I think that Mr. Lane is going to make a great Speaker.”
Lane said his role benefits the PCs because he’s not changing either government's status.
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