Former N.L. cabinet minister withdraws from federal election nomination process

On Jan. 16 Keith Russell announced his bid for the Conservative Party of Canada’s nomination in Labrador. But just over a week later the former provincial cabinet minister backed out, citing issues with the party’s nomination process.

“It would be my honor and privilege for a chance to be the next MP for Labrador,” he wrote in his Jan. 16 Facebook post announcing his bid. “This process is unfolding very very quickly and if you would like to make sure that I am the successful candidate in the upcoming nomination and cast your vote, then I need you to sign up with the link below before 6:00PM tomorrow January 17, 2025.”

Over the next 24 hours, Russell “had a heart warming show of support from people all over Labrador,” he said in another Facebook post on Jan. 24, announcing his withdrawal from the process. “Hundreds of people connected with me as they signed up and renewed their [Conservative Party of Canada] memberships, as a show of support for me, but were simply unable to participate in the nomination process.”

Russell said some of his supporters reported issues with a “credit card only” payment system, “as a lot of people are struggling these days.” He also said seniors without email addresses faced an additional barrier to sign up. “Many people [who] contacted me had difficulty signing up; complained about the quality of internet in their towns. After trying and watching it time out, they gave up,” he wrote. “Unfortunately, some people just couldn’t get it done in time. I forwarded these concerns in summary but was simply told: If I was just going to complain, then don’t do the process. Not very encouraging.”

The party’s electoral district association president, Shannon Tobin, directed The Independent’s query to the Conservative party’s Director of Communications Sarah Fisher, who did not respond by the time of publication.

“[T]he winner of this nomination will be the one who signs up the most members and gets the signatures of members who are members for at least three months – if you can find them,” Russell said in his Jan. 24 post. “I simply do not believe that the ability to sign up members and then go produce signatures from a select few, makes an individual the best option to represent the needs of the people, which is what this is supposed to be all about.”

Russell addressed his supporters directly in his message. “I say this with a heavy heart, that for now, my dream of being the MP for Labrador, as a Federal Conservative, is on hold,” he wrote. “The most important thing to me right now, is that people who stood up and supported me, understand that I cannot and will not, participate in a process, in which I do not believe I have any real chance of success.”

Russell said he hopes the party will “update their processes and have Labrador-specific considerations; inclusive to seniors, low income and those without email and stable internet, especially when requiring quick turnaround times.”

Citing “very serious issues of suicide, mental health and drug addiction, a revolving door legal system, dire health care and seniors needs, housing shortages, uncontrolled crime and violence, costs of living and travel,” Russell said candidates should have the ability to “speak about possible solutions to our problems, not demonstrate their loyalty to colors and raising money.”

In 2012, Russell offended Indigenous people in Labrador when he questioned claims that the land around the Muskrat Falls hydro project was spiritually significant. “I don’t buy into the mumbo jumbo about the trail leading to the Muskrat Falls site as being sacred ground,” he told CBC at the time. “You can romanticize and sensationalize that particular piece of land all you want, but it is a resource.” 

Then Premier Kathy Dunderdale publicly condemned the remarks, and Russell apologized for them. Two years later he was appointed Minister of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs by then Premier Paul Davis. He also previously served as a minister with Nunatsiavut Government, which represents the self-governing Inuit of Labrador, until he was removed from that position in 2011 for reportedly not doing his job.

Russell was elected as the Progressive Conservative member for Lake Melville later that year. A minor hockey coach, in 2012 he was suspended by Hockey NL for six games for allegedly berating referees and using inappropriate language. 

The only other apparent candidate for the Conservative nomination in Labrador is Happy Valley-Goose Bay Deputy Mayor Ella Wallace, who also announced on Facebook on Jan. 16 that she was seeking the Conservative nomination for Labrador. “I want to contribute and seek out opportunities that would provide the best outcomes for the growth and development of Labrador,” she wrote in the post.

Wallace, who was elected to the Central Labrador town’s council in 2021 and also coaches youth sports, was reprimanded last November by her council colleagues after she allegedly verbally attacked a mother during a girls’ soccer tournament last August.

It’s not clear if any other candidates have put their names forward for the Conservative nomination in Labrador. The deadline for submitting nomination documents is 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Current MP Yvonne Jones announced earlier this month she will not be seeking re-election in 2025. The Liberals and NDP have not yet announced candidates for the riding.