Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame

This vast riding covers the interior and northern coastline of Newfoundland's central region, anchored by the twin service centres of Grand Falls-Windsor and Gander. It reaches north to the shores of Notre Dame Bay and includes Fogo Island, then sweeps south through the forested interior to the indented coastline of the Bay d'Espoir region. With roughly 160 communities scattered across the riding, most are small, rural, and English-speaking.

Candidates

Scott Simms (Liberal) — A native of Bishop's Falls, Simms studied commerce at Mount Allison University and journalism at Loyalist College before working as a reporter in Gander and Grand Falls-Windsor and later for The Weather Network. First elected to Parliament in 2004 in the predecessor riding of Bonavista—Exploits, he had represented central Newfoundland for over a decade by 2015 and served on the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.

Kevin George O'Brien (Conservative) — O'Brien was a pharmacist and businessman from Gander who had served as the Progressive Conservative MHA for Gander since 2003. He held several provincial cabinet posts, including Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister of Advanced Education and Skills. He resigned his provincial seat in July 2015 to seek the federal Conservative nomination in the newly drawn riding.

Claudette Menchenton (NDP) — Menchenton ran as the NDP candidate in the riding, bringing attention to rural employment challenges and resource-sector concerns.

Elizabeth Perry (Green Party) — Perry represented the Green Party, campaigning on environmental sustainability and support for rural communities.

About the Riding

Central Newfoundland's economy is built on forestry, mining, health care, and aviation services. Grand Falls-Windsor grew up around its pulp and paper mill, though the closure of the Abitibi-Bowater mill in 2009 dealt a severe blow; the town has since leaned more heavily on its regional hospital and retail sector. Gander, famous worldwide for sheltering thousands of diverted air passengers on September 11, 2001, remains an important aviation hub with a large airport and maintenance facilities. The Bay d'Espoir hydroelectric complex generates a significant share of the province's electricity. Fogo Island attracted international attention through the Shorefast Foundation's efforts to revitalize the community through arts, culture, and the architecturally striking Fogo Island Inn, which opened in 2013. Across the riding, the decline in oil prices through 2014 and 2015 compounded longer-term worries about outmigration, aging populations, and the sustainability of small coastal settlements.