The Newfoundland Labrador First Party has received official confirmation on registration with Elections Canada after meeting all required guidelines and fielding candidates in the current Federal election.
The following is an excerpt from a letter to party leader Tom Hickey by elections Canada.
Mr. Thomas V. Hickey
Leader Newfoundland and Labrador Fisrt Party
PO Box 21423
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
A1A 5G6
Dear Mr. Hickey:
I wish to inform you that the Newfoundland and Labrador First Party had at least one candidate whose nomination was confirmed for the October 14, 2008 general election. Pursuant to subsection 370(1) of the Canada Elections Act, your party became a registered political party on September 13, 2008. The registration of your party has been recorded in the Registry of Political Parties.
Your party now has all the rights, privileges and responsibilities of a registered party under the Canada Elections Act...
Since the election writ was dropped the NL-First party has nominated two other candidates and are now running in 3 ridings, St. John's East (Les Coultis), St. John's South-Mt. Pearl (Greg Byrne) and Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte (Wayne Bennett).
The NL-First party is running as a local party with national interests. The belief is that in order for Newfoundland and Labrador's 7 seats to have any value in Ottawa those elected must speak for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians rather than taking their marching orders from the leaders of a nationally controlled party system.
