Tony Wakeham

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The Honourable
Tony Wakeham
MHA
Wakeham in 2022
16th Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 29, 2025
MonarchCharles III
Lieutenant GovernorJoan Marie Aylward
DeputyBarry Petten
Preceded byJohn Hogan
Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 14, 2023[1]
Preceded byDavid Brazil (interim)
Leader of the Opposition in Newfoundland and Labrador
In office
October 14, 2023 – October 29, 2025
Preceded byDavid Brazil
Succeeded byJohn Hogan
Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
for Stephenville-Port au Port
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 16, 2019
Preceded byJohn Finn
Personal details
Born (1956-07-16) July 16, 1956 (age 69)[2]
Placentia, Newfoundland, Canada
PartyProgressive Conservative
SpousePatricia Wakeham
Children2
ResidenceKippens, Newfoundland and Labrador
Alma materMemorial University of Newfoundland
Occupation
  • Politician
  • businessman
  • public servant
Websitewww.tonywakeham.ca

Tony Wakeham (born July 16, 1956) is a Canadian politician and businessman who has served as the 16th premier of Newfoundland and Labrador since 2025. He has represented Stephenville-Port au Port in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly since 2019, and has served as the leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador Progressive Conservative Party since 2023.[3][4]

Life and early career

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Tony Wakeham was born on July 16, 1956, in Placentia, Newfoundland and Labrador, to James and Mary Wakeham. His father worked at Naval Station Argentia and his mother was a teacher.[2] After attending Laval High School in Placentia, Wakeham graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland with a Bachelor of Arts in 1979. He played basketball during his time at Memorial. Wakeham is married to his wife, Patricia, and has 2 children.[5]

Prior to entering politics, Wakeham was the CEO of Labrador-Grenfell Health Authority, was a franchisee of many KFC restaurants[6][7] and has served as the president of both the Newfoundland and Labrador Basketball Association and Basketball Canada. He has also worked as a public servant in the provincial government and as a basketball coach.

Political career

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In 2018, Wakeham ran for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador, but was defeated by St. John's lawyer Ches Crosbie. The final tally was Crosbie with 2,298.92 and Wakeham with 1,701.08 points respectively.[8][9][10]

On January 17, 2023, Wakeham announced he would be a candidate in the 2023 provincial PC leadership election.[11] He won the election and became Leader of the Opposition.[12]

Premier (2025–present)

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Wakeham led his party to a majority government in the 2025 Newfoundland and Labrador general election, in a major political upset.[13] He was re-elected in his own seat of Stephenville-Port au Port, and will be the first Progressive Conservative premier of the province since 2015. Primarily campaigning on affordability and healthcare, Wakeham promised to conduct an independent review and a referendum on the Churchill Falls memorandum of understanding.[14][15][16] He formed the Wakeham ministry on October 29, 2025, following his swearing-in.[17]

Electoral history

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Leadership elections

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2023 Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador leadership election
Point allocation by ballot
Candidate Ballot 1 Ballot 2
Name Votes Votes
Tony Wakeham 1,816
45.4%		 2,091
52.0%
Eugene Manning 1,636
40.9%		 1,909
48.0%
Lloyd Parrott 548
13.7%		 Eliminated
Total Points 4,000.00 4,000.00
2018 Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador leadership election Point allocation by ballot
Candidate Ballot 1
Name Points
Ches Crosbie 2,298.92
57.47%
Tony Wakeham 1,701.08
42.53%
Total points 4,000.00

Provincial elections

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2025 Newfoundland and Labrador general election: Stephenville-Port au Port
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Tony Wakeham 3,820 76.29 +16.63
Liberal Jeff Young 1,044 20.85 -17.00
New Democratic Susan Jarvis 143 2.86 +0.38
Total valid votes 5,007
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
Eligible voters
Progressive Conservative hold Swing +16.81
[18]
2021 Newfoundland and Labrador general election: Stephenville-Port au Port
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Tony Wakeham 2,481 59.67 +9.36
Liberal Kevin Aylward 1,574 37.85 -11.83
New Democratic Jamie Ruby 103 2.48
Total valid votes 4,158 99.59
Total rejected ballots 17 0.41
Turnout 4,175 43.41
Eligible voters 9,618
Progressive Conservative hold Swing +10.60
Source(s)
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2019 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Tony Wakeham 2,512 50.3 +25.0
Liberal John Finn 2,481 49.7 -15.1
Total valid votes
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
Eligible voters

References

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  4. ^ "Cabinet ministers Letto and Hawkins among 9 defeated Liberals". CBC News Newfoundland and Labrador, May 17, 2019.
  5. ^ https://ca.news.yahoo.com/quick-sketch-n-l-progressive-203128196.html
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  14. ^ https://thewalrus.ca/churchill-falls-could-make-newfoundland-rich-or-break-it-again/
  15. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  18. ^ https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/elections/newfoundland-labrador/2025/results/#/riding/27312
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