The first results in the federal election are expected to trickle in shortly as polls closed in this province at 8:30 p.m.

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians were the first to cast their ballots today as Canadians vote to elect the 45th Parliament. With seven seats here in the House of Commons, all eyes will be on Canada’s youngest province for those early results.

Of the seven ridings in this province, only two incumbent Members of Parliament are seeking re-election – Conservative Clifford Small in Central Newfoundland and Liberal Minister Joanne Thompson in St. John’s East. Both races are expected to be close. Thompson is running against former interim PC leader David Brazil, who is running for the Conservatives. Running for the NDP is party president Mary Shortall.

The seven seats in this province include Labrador, Long Range Mountains, Central Newfoundland, Terra Nova-The Peninsulas, Avalon, St. John’s East and Cape Spear. In the 2021 federal election, the Liberals won six of the seats (Ken McDonald, Churence Rogers, Yvonne Jones, Seamus O’Regan, Gudie Hutchings and Joanne Thompson). Clifford Small won the lone Conservative seat, beating Liberal Scott Simms by less than 300 votes.

This province represents merely a fraction of the 343 seats in the House of Commons. However, these seven seats are critical.

Over the course of the campaign, three party leaders made stops in Newfoundland. Liberal leader Mark Carney kicked off his campaign in St. John’s before visiting Gander. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre held an announcement in St. John’s, and rallied in Petty Harbour. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh visited St. John’s East, before making a health care announcement on Signal Hill.

It has been a fascinating 36-day campaign. Just before Christmas, it appeared Poilievre was the nation’s choice with the electorate souring on former prime minister Justin Trudeau. However, following Trudeau’s resignation – and U.S. President’s Donald Trump’s trade war and 51st state narrative – Carney shifted the political landscape. He easily won the Liberal leadership March 9 and was sworn in as prime minister just nine days before triggering an election.

It sets the stage for today with the country deciding its next leader, its next government. Those results will be coming in shortly.