Avalon

Stretching across much of the Avalon Peninsula south and west of St. John's, this riding takes in the fast-growing bedroom community of Conception Bay South, the historic towns of Ferryland and Placentia, and dozens of smaller coastal settlements along Conception Bay, Trinity Bay, and St. Mary's Bay. Redrawn under the 2012 redistribution, the riding gained territory from St. John's East while shedding portions to neighbouring Bonavista—Burin—Trinity. Its population mix ranges from suburban commuters in the northeast to families in fishing outports and seasonal tourism centres farther south.

Candidates

Ken McDonald (Liberal) — A lifelong resident of Conception Bay South, McDonald ran a home appliance repair business before entering municipal politics. He served as a town councillor for Ward 3 across two separate terms and was elected mayor of Conception Bay South in 2013, overseeing a $40-million deal for a new town hall, stadium, and fire station. He stepped away from the mayor's office to seek the Liberal nomination in Avalon.

Scott Andrews (No Affiliation) — Andrews had held the seat for the Liberals since winning it in 2008, but was permanently expelled from caucus in March 2015 following an independent investigation into allegations of personal misconduct. He chose to run for re-election as an unaffiliated candidate, making the contest an unusual three-way clash between a sitting independent MP, the new Liberal standard-bearer, and the other parties.

Jeannie Baldwin (NDP) — A veteran labour organizer, Baldwin served as Atlantic Regional Vice-President of the Public Service Alliance of Canada. She brought decades of union advocacy experience to the campaign, focusing on workers' rights and employment standards.

Lorraine E. Barnett (Conservative) — Barnett came to the race from a career advising politicians through her work with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. She secured the Conservative nomination after the party passed over other contenders for the Avalon candidacy.

Krista Byrne-Puumala (Green Party) — Byrne-Puumala carried the Green banner in the riding, campaigning on environmental stewardship and sustainable economic development for the Avalon Peninsula.

About the Riding

Avalon's economy blends suburban service-sector employment with traditional resource industries. Conception Bay South, the province's second-largest municipality, has grown rapidly as a commuter town for St. John's workers, and its commercial corridors have expanded accordingly. Farther south, communities along the Southern Shore and on Placentia Bay depend on a mix of fishing, aquaculture, and heritage tourism—Ferryland's Colony of Avalon archaeological site draws visitors each summer. By 2015, falling global oil prices were beginning to pinch the provincial economy; many Avalon residents who commuted to offshore oil-related jobs or worked in supply-chain industries felt the slowdown acutely. Federal infrastructure spending, employment insurance rules, and support for the fishery were recurring campaign themes across the riding.