Bonavista—Burin—Trinity

Bonavista—Burin—Trinity is a vast federal riding covering three major peninsulas on Newfoundland's eastern coast. The by-election was called following the resignation of Liberal MP Judy Foote, who stepped down as Minister of Public Services and Procurement on August 24, 2017, and resigned her parliamentary seat effective September 30, 2017, in order to be closer to family following a health matter.

Candidates

Churence Rogers (Liberal) — Rogers was the mayor of Centreville-Wareham-Trinity and had served as president of Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador (MNL) from 2011 to 2015. During his tenure at MNL, he negotiated a new fiscal framework arrangement with the provincial government that directed millions of dollars annually into municipalities across the province.

Mike Windsor (Conservative) — Windsor was a teacher and guidance counsellor who had also run as the Conservative candidate in the riding in the 2015 general election.

Tyler James Downey (NDP) — Downey was the NDP candidate in the by-election.

Tyler Colbourne (Green Party) — Colbourne was the Green Party candidate in the by-election.

About the Riding

Bonavista—Burin—Trinity is one of the largest ridings in Atlantic Canada by area, encompassing the Bonavista Peninsula, the Burin Peninsula, and the Trinity Bay region. It stretches along Newfoundland's eastern coastline, bordered by Placentia Bay to the south, Trinity Bay to the north, and Bonavista Bay further north. The riding's largest communities include Clarenville, Marystown, and Bonavista, with Clarenville serving as the primary commercial and service hub.

The economy has historically been shaped by the fishery, though the 1992 cod moratorium devastated many coastal communities. Since then, the region has diversified into offshore oil servicing, shipbuilding, tourism, and healthcare. Marystown's shipyard was once a major industrial employer, and the town continues to serve the offshore oil industry. Terra Nova National Park and the historic communities of Trinity and Bonavista draw significant tourism traffic, particularly in summer months.

With a population of approximately 76,000, the riding is predominantly rural with small, widely scattered outport communities connected by long stretches of highway. The population skews older than the national average, reflecting decades of youth outmigration. Average individual income in the riding sits well below the national average, and the region faces ongoing challenges related to population decline and seasonal employment.