Graham Letto

Graham Letto is a Canadian politician, who served in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 2015 until 2019. He represented the district of Labrador West as a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal Party.

The Honourable Graham Letto MHA
Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly for Labrador West
In office November 30, 2015 – April 16, 2019
Preceded by	Nick McGrath
Succeeded by	Jordan Brown
Personal details
Political party	Liberal

Prior to his election to the legislature, Letto served as mayor of Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador from 2001 until 2009.[1]

Background

He was born in Forteau and grew up in L'Anse-au-Clair.

Political career

In 1989, Letto sought election to the town council of Labrador City, and was elected. He was also re-elected to council in 1993 and 1997. Then in 2001, Letto was elected as mayor of Labrador City.[2] During the 2003 Newfoundland and Labrador general election, he ran in the provincial riding of Labrador West as the Progressive Conservative candidate, but was defeated by Randy Collins of the NDP.

On May 24, 2005, Letto ran for the Conservative Party of Canada in the Labrador riding in a by-election.[3] Letto lost, but increased the Conservative vote in the traditional Liberal riding substantially.[4]

On September 27, 2005, Letto was re-elected mayor of Labrador City in the 2005 municipal election.[5] He did not seek a third term during the 2009 municipal elections,[6] and was succeeded by Janice Barnes.

Letto received a Federation of Canadian Municipalities Roll of Honour Award in June 2014.[7]

In August 2015, Letto was nominated as the Liberal candidate in Labrador West for the 2015 provincial election.[8][9] On November 30, 2015, Letto won the seat, defeating New Democrat and former Wabush Mayor Ron Barron and Progressive Conservative incumbent Nick McGrath.[10][11]

On November 8, 2018 Letto was appointed Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment.

In the 2019 provincial election Letto was defeated by NDP candidate Jordan Brown in a major upset.[12]

Electoral record

Provincial

2019 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	New Democratic	Jordan Brown	1,364	42.2	+7.47
	Liberal	Graham Letto	1,362	42.1	-1.71
	Progressive Conservative	Derick Sharron	509	15.7	-5.76
Total valid votes
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
Eligible voters

2015 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Graham Letto	1,453	43.8
	New Democratic	Ron Barron	1,152	34.7
	Progressive Conservative	Nick McGrath	712	21.5

2003 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	New Democratic	Randy Collins	2,762	55.71	+7.88
	Progressive Conservative	Graham Letto	1,142	23.03	+15.93
	Labrador Party	Ern Condon	631	12.73	–
	Liberal	Doris Sacrey	423	8.53	-36.54
Total valid votes			4,958	99.72
	New Democratic hold		Swing		+22.21
Source: Newfoundland & Labrador 2003

Federal

Canadian federal by-election, May 24, 2005: Labrador
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Liberal	Todd Russell	5,438	51.48	-10.75	$53,970.30
	Conservative	Graham Letto	3,415	32.33	+16.56	$73,509.62
	New Democratic	Frances Fry	1,045	9.89	+0.25	$26,121.42
	Independent	Ern Condon	598	5.66	-4.69	$254.00
	Green	Jason Crummey	68	0.64	-1.37	$78.45
Total valid votes/Expense limit			10,564	100.0	–	$74,995
Total rejected, declined and unmarked ballots			58	0.55	+0.03
Turnout			10,622	53.44	+8.62
Eligible voters			19,876
	Liberal hold		Swing		-13.6
Called on the death of Lawrence O'Brien, 16 December 2004

References

1. "IOC donates land for residential project in Labrador City". Ironore. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
2. Dunham, Ty (13 August 2015). "'This is my home'". The Aurora. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
3. "Five candidates vie for Labrador seat". The Globe and Mail. 4 May 2005. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
4. "Liberals win by-election". The Globe and Mail. 24 May 2005. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
5. "Status quo in Goose; new faces in Lab City". The Telegram. St. John's. 28 September 2005.
6. "Labrador City mayor says it's time to go". The Telegram. St. John's. 1 September 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
7. "Recognizing Graham Letto on receiving a Federation of Canadian Municipalities Roll of Honour Award". 4 June 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
8. "Graham Letto takes Liberal nomination for Labrador West". CBC News. 25 August 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
9. "Letto takes Liberal nomination". The Aurora. 25 August 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
10. "Liberal Graham Letto wins Labrador West district". The Telegram. St. John's. 30 November 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
11. "Labrador goes Liberal in Election 2015 as party sweeps all 4 seats". CBC News. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2015.

Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Government of Dwight Ball
Cabinet post (1)
Predecessor	Office	Successor
Andrew Parsons	Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment November 8, 2018– April 16, 2019	Lisa Dempster