Tony Wakeham | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Wakeham in 2022 | |
| 16th Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador | |
| Assumed office October 29, 2025 | |
| Monarch | Charles III |
| Lieutenant Governor | Joan Marie Aylward |
| Deputy | Barry Petten |
| Preceded by | John Hogan |
| Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador | |
| Assumed office October 14, 2023[1] | |
| Preceded by | David Brazil (interim) |
| Leader of the Opposition in Newfoundland and Labrador | |
| In office October 14, 2023 – October 29, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | David Brazil |
| Succeeded by | John Hogan |
| Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly for Stephenville-Port au Port | |
| Assumed office May 16, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | John Finn |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 16, 1956[2] Placentia, Newfoundland, Canada |
| Party | Progressive Conservative |
| Spouse | Patricia Wakeham |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Kippens, Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Alma mater | Memorial University of Newfoundland |
| Occupation |
|
| Website | www |
Tony Wakeham (born July 16, 1956) is a Canadian politician and businessman who has served as the 16th premier of Newfoundland and Labrador since 2025. He has represented Stephenville-Port au Port in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly since 2019, and has served as the leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador Progressive Conservative Party since 2023.[3][4]
Life and early career
[edit]Tony Wakeham was born on July 16, 1956, in Placentia, Newfoundland and Labrador, to James and Mary Wakeham. His father worked at Naval Station Argentia and his mother was a teacher.[2] After attending Laval High School in Placentia, Wakeham graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland with a Bachelor of Arts in 1979. He played basketball during his time at Memorial. Wakeham is married to his wife, Patricia, and has 2 children.[5]
Prior to entering politics, Wakeham was the CEO of Labrador-Grenfell Health Authority, was a franchisee of many KFC restaurants[6][7] and has served as the president of both the Newfoundland and Labrador Basketball Association and Basketball Canada. He has also worked as a public servant in the provincial government and as a basketball coach.
Political career
[edit]In 2018, Wakeham ran for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador, but was defeated by St. John's lawyer Ches Crosbie. The final tally was Crosbie with 2,298.92 and Wakeham with 1,701.08 points respectively.[8][9][10]
On January 17, 2023, Wakeham announced he would be a candidate in the 2023 provincial PC leadership election.[11] He won the election and became Leader of the Opposition.[12]
Premier (2025–present)
[edit]Wakeham led his party to a majority government in the 2025 Newfoundland and Labrador general election, in a major political upset.[13] He was re-elected in his own seat of Stephenville-Port au Port, and will be the first Progressive Conservative premier of the province since 2015. Primarily campaigning on affordability and healthcare, Wakeham promised to conduct an independent review and a referendum on the Churchill Falls memorandum of understanding.[14][15][16] He formed the Wakeham ministry on October 29, 2025, following his swearing-in.[17]
Electoral history
[edit]Leadership elections
[edit]- 2023 Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador leadership election
| Candidate | Ballot 1 | Ballot 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Votes | Votes |
| Tony Wakeham | 1,816 45.4% |
2,091 52.0% |
| Eugene Manning | 1,636 40.9% |
1,909 48.0% |
| Lloyd Parrott | 548 13.7% |
Eliminated |
| Total Points | 4,000.00 | 4,000.00 |
| Candidate | Ballot 1 |
|---|---|
| Name | Points |
| Ches Crosbie | 2,298.92 57.47% |
| Tony Wakeham | 1,701.08 42.53% |
| Total points | 4,000.00 |
Provincial elections
[edit]| 2025 Newfoundland and Labrador general election: Stephenville-Port au Port | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Tony Wakeham | 3,820 | 76.29 | +16.63 | ||||
| Liberal | Jeff Young | 1,044 | 20.85 | -17.00 | ||||
| New Democratic | Susan Jarvis | 143 | 2.86 | +0.38 | ||||
| Total valid votes | 5,007 | |||||||
| Total rejected ballots | ||||||||
| Turnout | ||||||||
| Eligible voters | ||||||||
| Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | +16.81 | ||||||
| [18] | ||||||||
| 2021 Newfoundland and Labrador general election: Stephenville-Port au Port | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Tony Wakeham | 2,481 | 59.67 | +9.36 | ||||
| Liberal | Kevin Aylward | 1,574 | 37.85 | -11.83 | ||||
| New Democratic | Jamie Ruby | 103 | 2.48 | |||||
| Total valid votes | 4,158 | 99.59 | ||||||
| Total rejected ballots | 17 | 0.41 | ||||||
| Turnout | 4,175 | 43.41 | ||||||
| Eligible voters | 9,618 | |||||||
| Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | +10.60 | ||||||
Source(s)
"Officially Nominated Candidates General Election 2021" (PDF). Elections Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved March 3, 2021. "NL Election 2021 (Unofficial Results)". Retrieved March 27, 2021. | ||||||||
| 2019 Newfoundland and Labrador general election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Tony Wakeham | 2,512 | 50.3 | +25.0 | ||||
| Liberal | John Finn | 2,481 | 49.7 | -15.1 | ||||
| Total valid votes | ||||||||
| Total rejected ballots | ||||||||
| Turnout | ||||||||
| Eligible voters | ||||||||
References
[edit]- ^ Whitten, Elizabeth (October 14, 2023). "Tony Wakeham wins PC leadership, setting stage for next election". CBC News.
- ^ a b Boyko, John M. (2013). "Tony Wakeham". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
- ^ "Here are all the MHAs elected in the Newfoundland and Labrador election". CBC News. March 27, 2021.
- ^ "Cabinet ministers Letto and Hawkins among 9 defeated Liberals". CBC News Newfoundland and Labrador, May 17, 2019.
- ^ https://ca.news.yahoo.com/quick-sketch-n-l-progressive-203128196.html
- ^ "Liberals on the offensive, while PCs promise big in Stephenville-Port au Port showdown". www.cbc.ca. May 9, 2019. Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
- ^ "Tony Wakeham enters PC leadership race | The Telegram". www.thetelegram.com. December 5, 2017.
- ^ "Tony Wakeham launches PC leadership quest with promises of new ideas, rebuilding confidence in party - Newfoundland & Labrador - CBC News". www.cbc.ca. Archived from the original on December 6, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
- ^ "The new leader of the Progressive Conservative party in N.L. has a familiar last name". CBC News. April 28, 2018. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ "Ches Crosbie is the new leader of Newfoundland and Labrador's PC party". The Telegram. April 28, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
- ^ Moore, Mike (January 17, 2023). "MHA Tony Wakeham makes bid for PC Party's leadership". CBC News. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
- ^ "Tony Wakeham wins PC leadership, setting stage for next election". CBC News. October 14, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
- ^ "Liberals and Tories in tight race as polls close in Newfoundland and Labrador election". The Globe and Mail. October 14, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
- ^ https://thewalrus.ca/churchill-falls-could-make-newfoundland-rich-or-break-it-again/
- ^ "Newfoundland and Labrador 2025 live results". CBC News. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
- ^ "Wakeham Claims PC Party Leadership With Second-Ballot Victory". VOCM News. October 14, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
- ^ "After big win, big challenges await premier-designate Tony Wakeham". CBC News. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
- ^ https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/elections/newfoundland-labrador/2025/results/#/riding/27312
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