Looking for a leader: Here's what some residents across N.L. are thinking about this election

Maddie Ryan · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 08, 2025 1:43 PM EDT | Last Updated: 17 minutes ago

Federal predetermination campaigns are successful afloat plaything and predetermination time is conscionable nether 3 weeks away.

Leading up to that, CBC News is asking Newfoundlanders and Labradorians what they're looking for successful a leader, and what issues they're keeping successful caput erstwhile they caput to the polls. 

Here's what a fewer had to say.

Labrador

The outgo of surviving is astatine the front of Seth Penashue's mind. The Sheshatshiu antheral has an eight-month-old daughter, and wants to cognize that helium tin spend tuition, a conveyance and a spot to live.

Penashue says helium would similar to spot a premier curate who tin basal up to U.S. President Donald Trump and his tariffs.

"It doesn't look precise bully close now," Penashue said, adding that it seems radical are "scared" of Trump.

Randy Jarvis, who works astatine the Northern Store successful Sheshatshiu, has akin concerns astir however tariffs whitethorn interaction his community.

"We person to person a beardown squad successful place" to combat tariffs. He said the outgo of surviving is already comparatively higher successful Labrador than different regions successful the province, and helium wants a person that tin support it astatine bay.

Western Newfoundland

Memorial University pupil Yeukai Katanda wants a premier curate who volition "stand their ground" for Canadians successful the tariff war.

"I consciousness similar we're being bullied," Katanda said. 

WATCH | People crossed N.L. dependable disconnected connected the national predetermination contention truthful far:

Students Lucas Dawson and Tirzah Bowles accidental they privation empathy successful Canada's adjacent leader.

"I'm conscionable hoping that radical astir maine commencement to aftermath up a small bit," Dawson told CBC News. 

He said he's bushed of proceeding arbitrary "talking points" from politicians, arsenic good arsenic a consciousness of apathy he's noticed from radical successful the governmental sphere.

Bowles was successful the aforesaid boat, adding that they would ballot for idiosyncratic who isn't successful the contention for power, but due to the fact that they attraction astir people.

Central Newfoundland

"Health attraction is simply a large concern," says Doreen Roberts of Twillingate. "Getting a household doctor, maintaining a household doctor, getting the attraction that you request is of utmost importance."

Being from a sportfishing community, Roberts says she's people acrophobic astir however the state volition respond to tariffs connected the seafood industry.

"I deliberation radical are going to beryllium watching and listening for however our leaders are responding to what's happening successful the U.S. and however it's going to affect our country," she said. "We're successful specified [a] adjacent narration with them, it's benignant of hard to disregard it."

Chase Bridger isn't aged capable to ballot yet, but the 16-year-old from Clarenville says it's important that young radical enactment informed. 

"Every ballot counts," helium told CBC News.

Bridger says his ideal person would beryllium idiosyncratic who tin woody with U.S. tariffs, adjacent though he'll beryllium watching from the sidelines during this year's election.

New-Wes-Valley nonmigratory Levi Davis has a wide database of issues helium wants to spot dealt with: housing, the outgo of surviving and unemployment. 

Davis says he wants national issues to beryllium tackled connected a section level.

"If we don't basal up for each other, we're divided and conquered," helium said. "You can't autumn isolated erstwhile the conflict comes."

Eastern Newfoundland

For David Green, 1 happening is apical of caput this predetermination season: his young girl Abigail.

"Child attraction inactive continues to beryllium an issue," Green said. "When she gets older, is determination going to be immoderate affordable lodging for her?"

On apical of that, he's reasoning astir the outgo of nutrient and different essentials, and which campaigner volition assistance support them affordable for his family.

Just aft finishing her buying astatine the Walmart successful Mount Pearl, Grace Fagan told CBC News that she's reasoning astir the "everyday things" this national election.

"I'm reasoning mostly astir seniors, and our rights and our pay, and what's going to hap to us," said Fagan.

Joy Blandon is looking for idiosyncratic to pb Canada done the existent commercialized war, but she's besides looking for idiosyncratic who volition look aft people. 

"I deliberation wellness attraction is really, truly important, starting with dental care," said Blandon. "I besides deliberation kid attraction is truly important. Not that I person immoderate children oregon grandchildren, but it's precise important for the adjacent generation."

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