Conservatives, NDP unveil candidates for Conception Bay East-Bell Island byelection

Tina Neary is a town councillor in Portugal Cove-St. Philip's, and has been announced as the Progressive Conservative candidate in the upcoming byelection in the district of Conception Bay East-Bell Island. (Peter Cowan/CBC)

Two of Newfoundland and Labrador's three major political parties have revealed their candidates seeking to be elected in the district of Conception Bay East-Bell Island ahead of a byelection that will happen in the new year.

The PC Party unveiled Tina Neary, a town councillor in Portugal Cove-St. Philips, as its nominee, while the NDP has put forward Kimberly Churchill, a Portugal Cove-St. Philip's mother who has made national headlines in her fight to a proper education for deaf children in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The district of Conception Bay East - Bell Island has voted Conservative for the last 14 years, and will elect a new representative when David Brazil leaves the party. Brazil, the former PC leader, will step down in December to focus on his health after suffering a heart attack in 2022.

Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Neary said Brazil has served as a mentor to her and she is eager to make the jump into provincial politics.

"I think this is a great opportunity I've been working at for a long time," Neary said. "[I'm] just very, very excited to have the opportunity to move forward and continue to represent the district as a whole."

Neary is a mental health advocate and is the Executive Director of Inclusion Canada NL.

She said issues like the rising cost of living and health-care are some things she wants to help address, adding she has already received support from residents.

PC Leader Tony Wakeham told reporters he has no doubt Neary will continue the work in the district established by Brazil and said he sees her as a great candidate. If elected, Neary would become only the second female MHA in the party alongside Helen Conway-Ottenheimer.

NDP candidate prepared to bring fight to government

Churchill, the NDP candidate, told CBC Radio that she never saw politics in her future until her fight for proper deaf education began.

Her son, Carter, is deaf and has cerebral palsy. The Churchills fought a years-long battle to ensure Carter could be taught using American Sign Language, and won a human rights case against the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District in March.

"Every time we were asking for help from government, all we received was a lot of lip service. It was indifference. We never felt that anyone was really, truly, genuinely interested in Carter. And no one showed any compassion," Churchill said.

"Carter's entire life could have changed had one person in government actually cared to do something…That was the real driving force behind why I entered into this race. I feel that there are people out there who don't have the energy, may not be able to fight the government the way that I can."

Kimberly Churchill will represent the NDP Party in the byelection in Conception Bay East- Bell Island. (Kim Churchill/Facebook)

Churchill said she was drawn to running for the NDP because of party leader Jim Dinn's support for Carter, saying his caring nature made her feel like the family had someone on their side.

Asked if this makes her a one-issue candidate, Churchill said she's prepared to take what she's learned and apply it to other issues in Newfoundland and Labrador.

"I have fought, and I can fight again, and I know how to do it because I've done it and I won," she said.

"Whether it is a senior who has lost their apartment because of rental income, the inflation…or if it's someone that's not able to purchase enough and needs to go to the food bank…the NDP party is the only party that is actually holding government accountable for all of these issues."

The candidate for the Liberal party hasn't been announced, but Tony Wakeham told CBC News earlier this month he believes the party is tapping Fred Hutton to run. Hutton is a prominent former journalist and current advisor to Premier Andrew Furey.

The Liberal Party hasn't confirmed or denied his intent to run in the district.

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