Campaign Sees Reconciliation Commitments; Voters Prepare to Head to the Polls

St. John’s, NL – In advance of Election Day, First Light is highlighting some of the key reconciliation commitments put forward by Newfoundland and Labrador’s main political parties during the campaign.

Shortly after the election was called, First Light invited each party leader to share their approach to advancing truth and reconciliation with and for urban Indigenous Peoples, including how they would respond to the 42 Calls for Change and the recommendations in Reconciliation Report 2024. Their responses were published last week in the order in which they were received.

Key Commitments from the Parties

• New Democratic Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
  NDP Leader Jim Dinn promised his party “will unequivocally support” the Calls for Change that fall within provincial jurisdiction and will implement the next steps outlined for provincial decision-makers in First Light’s Reconciliation Report 2024. He has also committed to include First Light in “every conversation that addresses” our community’s issues and priorities. The NDP’s full statement is available here.
  
• Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
  PC Leader Tony Wakeham renewed his pledge to “create a Police Oversight Board that is independent of police, civilian-led, politically neutral, and representative of the province’s diverse communities.” That commitment aligns with the recommendations put forward in the 2022 final report of our Working Group on Police Oversight. The PC Party’s full statement is available here.
  
• Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
  Liberal Leader John Hogan committed to introduce modernized Public Safety Legislation that emphasizes accountability, transparency, and community well-being, including pathways for Indigenous self-policing. His party also pledged to make Indigenous history and cultural education mandatory for all students and to embed Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing across the province’s education systems. Mr. Hogan further committed to working with Indigenous communities to ensure better access to housing, healthcare, and other essential services. The Liberal Party’s full statement is available here.

“First Light values the relationships we have built with political leaders across party lines,” said Stacey Howse, First Light’s President and CEO. “No matter which party wins government following Election Day, we look forward to continuing our work with the province to advance truth and reconciliation for the urban Indigenous community in St. John’s and beyond.”

How to Vote

The provincial election will be held on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. Polls are open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time.

To vote in person, you must show identification that confirms both your name and address. This can be:

• One piece of government-issued ID (such as a driver’s licence), or
• Two pieces of ID that together show your name and address (such as a health card and a utility bill).

If you are not already registered, you can still register at your polling station on Election Day. To confirm your registration ahead of time, visit: elections.gov.nl.ca/voters/registration.

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