Premier stepping down
Ball announces decision to leave politics; will stay on until successor is chosen
Dwight Ball is calling it quits as premier of Newfoundland and Labrador.
“To my fellow Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, I want to say thank you for the opportunity you have given me to serve you,” Ball said in a video message released Monday afternoon and kept under strict embargo until 6 p.m.
“I’ve always worked on your best interest. Tonight, I am announcing my time in politics is coming to an end.”
In the video, Ball says he has asked the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador to begin a leadership process at the earliest opportunity. He does not name an immediate successor as leader of the Liberal party, saying only he wants the leadership process to be fair.
Ball will remain leader of the Liberals, and premier, until the leadership process concludes. According to provincial legislation, a provincial election must occur no more than one year after the resignation of the premier.
Ball will also step down as MHA for Humber-Gros Morne, the district he has represented since 2007.
Ball, 62, became leader of the Liberals in 2013 and served for two years as leader of the opposition.
In November 2015, Ball’s Liberals won a landslide victory and he became the 13th premier of Newfoundland and Labrador.
In May 2019, Ball’s Liberals won a narrow minority government, which the next Liberal leader will inherit.
In the video, Ball highlights some of his proudest accomplishments as premier, including his government’s intention to work with federal counterparts on a rate mitigation plan for Muskrat Falls, which he announced a week ago.
“Since joining politics, there has been one priority area that has been very close to me, an area in need of significant improvement — mental health and addiction services for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Not only have we worked together with the community to shine a spotlight on mental health, we are reducing wait lists for mentalhealth services by 68 per cent. We are in the final stages to replace the Waterford Hospital.”
Ball says he is looking forward to spending time with his family in his post-politics life.
“I guess Poppy will now be able to spend more time at your gymnastic classes,” Ball said, directing his comment to his granddaughter.
Progressive Conservative Leader Ches Crosbie thanked Ball for his service to the province.
“Mr. Ball deserves our congratulations and thanks for his public service. It's a tough job, particularly at the top,” said Crosbie.
“At the same time, it's regrettable in that we are left in a lame-duck period without a leader of the province who has the full moral authority to govern. Therefore, the decisions that need to be made are not going to be made for several months.”
Crosbie says this could spell trouble for the coming provincial budget.
“The Liberals have been telling us for four or five years that their plan is to balance the books by 2022-23,” he said.
“Many people will be looking to see if they deliver on that, although many are also skeptical that they can deliver on that. That’s something I'll be looking for.”
New Democratic Party Leader Alison Coffin says the news came as a surprise.
“This is certainly quite a surprise. We’ve heard rumblings that the cabinet and the caucus were a little bit displeased, we knew he was facing a leadership review — the timing of this is quite a surprise,” said Coffin.
Coffin says the announcement could throw a wrench into plans for the coming provincial budget.
“By that time they might have a new leader in place and that person is probably going to want to put their mark on the budget as well, even though the premier did suggest that maybe he was going to help with the handoff. I can't imagine that premier would want someone else to write the budget for them.”