Alison Coffin steps down as leader of Newfoundland and Labrador's New Democrats
The leader of Newfoundland and Labrador's New Democrats has announced she's stepping down following a vote by her party on Sunday to review her role.
Alison Coffin says she's resigning so the NDP's new executive council can focus on the future of the party and the province.
The council was elected during a provincial NDP convention that saw a 57 per cent vote in favour of a leadership review.
Coffin, an economist, became party leader in March 2019 and won the riding of St. John's East-Quidi Vidi in that year's provincial election.
But she lost the seat by 53 votes to Liberal John Abbott in the province's pandemic-delayed 2021 election, reducing the NDP's presence in the legislature from three seats to two.
Party President Kyle Rees says Jim Dinn, who won in the neighbouring riding of St. John's Centre, will act as interim leader.
Coffin and the NDP are in the midst of a legal challenge of the 2021 results in St. John's East-Quidi Vidi, and Rees, a lawyer, said her resignation will have no effect on that challenge. He said he believes the party has a good case and he hopes Coffin will step forward as the NDP candidate if the challenge is successful and a byelection is called.
He thanked her for her service to the party, noting that she has been a volunteer leader since losing her seat in the provincial legislature in March.
Rees and the NDP's communications official would not let Coffin answer questions from reporters after her short resignation speech.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 19, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
This iconic Canadian song is turning 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Oprah Winfrey: I set an unrealistic standard for dieting
Oprah Winfrey said on Thursday evening that she has long played a role in promoting unhealthy and unrealistic diets.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Toronto police called to Drake's Bridle Path mansion for another alleged intruder on Thursday
Toronto police say a man who allegedly attempted to access Drake’s Bridle Path property was taken to hospital on Thursday after an altercation with security guards.
Flat tire on a highway? Here's why you shouldn't try to fix it
If you're cruising down a highway and realize you have a flat tire, you may want to think twice before stopping to fix it on the side of the road.
Storm-battered U.S. South is again under threat. A boy swept into a drain fights for his life
Dangerous storms crashed over parts of the U.S. South on Thursday even as the region cleaned up from earlier severe weather that spawned tornadoes, killed at least three people, and gravely injured a boy who was swept into a storm drain as he played in a flooded street.
Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post
The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.