Tony Wakeham has been sworn in as Newfoundland and Labrador’s 16th premier, marking the Progressive Conservative’s first return to power in the province in almost a decade.

Wakeham led the PCs to a majority victory in the Oct. 14 provincial election.

The ceremony took place at Government House in St. John’s on Wednesday morning.

Wakeham’s first cabinet was also sworn in, with many PC MHAs holding multiple and important portfolios.

The list, as follows:

Conception Bay South MHA Barry Petten is minister of transportation and infrastructure, public procurement and deputy premier.Harbour Main MHA Helen Conway Ottenheimer is minister of justice and public safety, attorney general, minister of emergency preparedness and disaster management, minister of women and gender equality, minister responsible for access to information and protection of privacy office, and minister responsible for the human rights commission.Topsail-Paradise MHA Paul Dinn is the minister of education and early childhood development, and advanced education and skills.Torngat Mountains MHA Lela Evans is minister of health and community services, minister of mental health and addictions, minister responsible for N.L. Health Services, minister of Labrador affairs and Indigenous relations and reconciliation.Exploits MHA Pleaman Forsey is minister of forestry, agriculture and lands, and minister of Crown lands.Ferryland MHA Loyola O’Driscoll is minister of fisheries and aquaculture.Bonavista MHA Craig Pardy is minister of finance, president of the treasury board, minister of seniors, minister responsible for the public service commission, and minister responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation.Terra Nova MHA Lloyd Parrott is minister of energy and mines, and government House leader.Grand Falls-Windsor-Buchans MHA Chris Tibbs is minister of municipal and community affairs, registrar general, minister of community engagement, minister of environment, conservation and climate change, and minister responsible for the multi-material stewardship board.Cape St. Francis MHA Joedy Wall is minister of social supports and wellbeing, minister of housing, minister of poverty reduction, minister responsible for the status of persons with disabilities and deputy government House leader.Baie Verte-Green Bay MHA Lin Paddock will be minister of jobs and growth, minister of rural development, minister of immigration, and minister of francophone affairs.St. Barbe-L’Anse aux Meadows MHA Andrea Barbour is minister of tourism, culture and arts, minister of sports, recreation and parks, minister responsible for PictureNL, minister responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council, and minister responsible for the Pippy Park Commission.Humber-Gros Morne MHA Mike Goosney is minister of government services, minister responsible for office of the chief information officer, minister of labour, and minister responsible for WorkplaceNL.WATCH | Signed and sealed, Wakeham is now N.L.’s premier:

Tony Wakeham sworn in as 16th premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

Tony Wakeham and the PC caucus were sworn in by Lt.-Gov. Joan Marie Aylward at Government House in St. John’s on Wednesday. Wakeham has a cabinet of 16, as the PCs assume power in the provincial legislature for the first time in a decade.
Recounts in the works

The PCs won 21 seats in the October general election, earning the party a majority government while winning the popular vote by less than one point. The Liberals won 15 seats, the NDP won two seats and another two seats are held by Independents.

The PCs were last in power in 2015, which ended when then PC premier Paul Davis was defeated by Dwight Ball’s Liberals.

The outgoing Liberals have requested a recount for three closely contested districts — Placentia West-Bellevue, Topsail-Paradise and Lewisporte-Twillingate.

In a statement released on Tuesday afternoon, the party said a judicial recount in the three districts will “ensure that every vote is properly accounted for in accordance with legislation and in respect of the democratic process.”

However, in a statement the PCs called the move a “waste of the court’s time” and a “scheme.”

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