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Andrew Furey

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The Honourable
Andrew Furey
MHA FRCSC
Furey in 2024
14th Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
Incumbent
Assumed office
August 19, 2020
MonarchsElizabeth II
Charles III
Lieutenant GovernorJudy Foote
Joan Marie Aylward
DeputySiobhán Coady
Preceded byDwight Ball
Leader of the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
Incumbent
Assumed office
August 3, 2020
Preceded byDwight Ball
Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
for Humber-Gros Morne
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 22, 2020
Preceded byDwight Ball
ConstituencyHumber-Gros Morne
Personal details
Born
Andrew John Furey

(1975-07-02) July 2, 1975 (age 49)
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Political partyLiberal
Parents
RelativesChuck Furey (uncle)
Residence(s)Portugal Cove–St. Philip's, Newfoundland, Canada
Alma materMemorial University of Newfoundland (BS, MD)
Profession
  • Politician
  • Orthopedic surgeon

Andrew John Furey MHA FRCSC (born July 2, 1975[1]) is a Canadian politician and surgeon who has served as the 14th premier of Newfoundland and Labrador since August 19, 2020. A member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal Party, Furey represents Humber-Gros Morne in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly.

On February 25, 2025, Furey announced his intention to resign as premier and leader of the Liberal Party as soon as a successor is chosen.[2][3]

Early life and career

[edit]

Furey was born in St. John's in July 2, 1975.[4][5] His father George Furey, a school principal and barrister, was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 1999 and served as the speaker of the Senate of Canada from 2015 until his retirement in 2023.[6] His uncle Chuck Furey was MHA for St. Barbe and subsequently served as a cabinet minister in the provincial governments of Clyde Wells and Brian Tobin.[7]

Raised in St. John's, Furey earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) and graduated from the MUN School of Medicine in 2001. He would later accept a Fellowship in orthopedic trauma from R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland in Baltimore, U.S., from 2006–2007,[8] before returning to Newfoundland to practise medicine at his own clinic. He was later named Memorial University of Newfoundland's Alumnus of the Year in 2012, and became a recipient of the Ignatian Spirit Award in 2015.[9] He also completed a diploma in organizational leadership from the University of Oxford that same year.[4] In 2017, Furey was named the Canadian Red Cross' humanitarian of the year for Newfoundland and Labrador.[10]

Philanthropic work

[edit]

In 2011, Furey co-founded Team Broken Earth, a volunteer task force supporting the relief effort in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake.[11][12] By 2013, the organization assisted hundreds of patients a week in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, with Furey often personally leading the missions there.[13] The organization's efforts were temporarily halted in 2019 due to safety concerns amid rising violence in the country.[14]

Furey also co-founded the "A Dollar a Day" foundation alongside singer-songwriter Alan Doyle and businessman Brendan Paddick, which aims to provide funding for mental health initiatives in Newfoundland and Labrador.[15] In addition to this, Furey also serves as the co-chair for the Jack Hand Foundation.[9]

In 2020, Furey released a book, Hope in the Balance: A Newfoundland Doctor Meets a World in Crisis, discussing his experiences in Haiti.[16]

Political career

[edit]
The logo of the Liberal Party during Furey's premiership.
Furey in 2020

Furey first expressed interest in entering politics in 2015, saying that his work with Team Broken Earth "left me with a want and desire to do more".[17] Speculation that Furey was being pitched to replace incumbent Premier Dwight Ball emerged as early as 2017.[18]

When Ball announced his eventual resignation in February 2020, Furey quickly became a potential contender and was almost immediately regarded as the frontrunner to succeed him.[19] Furey announced his intention to run for the leadership of the Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal Party on March 3, 2020 in St. John's,[20] and he was swiftly endorsed by the majority of Ball's cabinet.[21] On August 3, 2020, he was elected leader at the party's convention, receiving approximately two-thirds of votes cast.[22] On August 19, 2020, Furey was formally sworn in as Premier, along with his provincial cabinet.[23]

As Furey did not hold a seat in the legislature, he announced on September 7, 2020 that he would contest the by-election for Ball's former seat of Humber-Gros Morne.[24] On October 6, 2020 Furey won the by-election in Humber-Gros Morne.[25][26]

On January 15, 2021, Furey asked for consent from Lieutenant Governor Judy Foote to dissolve the House of Assembly to call for an election in order to obtain a stronger mandate in the form of a majority government.[27] The election was originally scheduled for February 13, 2021, but a COVID-19 outbreak in St. John's forced Elections NL to switch to a mail-in election, cancelling in-person voting for all districts.[28][29][30][31] The deadline was set on March 25, 2021, and the results were announced on March 27, 2021, with Furey's Liberals winning a majority government.[32][33]

On June 23, 2021, Furey announced Nalcor Energy would be dismantled and folded into Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro.[34]

On December 23, 2021, during the Omicron variant outbreak that put over 1,000 health-care workers in isolation, Furey helped administer vaccines to current and retired public service workers and their families at the Confederation Building.[35] Furey then travelled to Labrador, particularly Happy Valley-Goose Bay, on January 3, 2022, to help a team of physicians administer vaccines.[36] Furey then travelled to Bell Island to help administer vaccines on January 13, 2022.

Furey in 2023

On January 30, 2024, Liberal candidate Fred Hutton was elected in the Conception Bay East - Bell Island by-election gaining the seat from the Progressive Conservatives.[37]

In December 2024, Furey and Quebec premier François Legault signed a 50-year agreement renegotiating the 1969 Churchill Falls Generating Station agreement, which had become vastly more profitable for Hydro-Québec after energy prices significantly rose but the cost for Hydro-Québec to purchase energy was frozen by the contract until 2041. If ratified by both provinces, the rates for Churchill Falls would go up and Quebec would pay Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro $3.5 billion for co-development rights for two anticipated Churchill River energy projects.[38]

On February 25, 2025, Furey announced that he would be resigning as premier as soon as the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador elected a successor.[2][39] In a letter shared publicly, Furey wrote that "it has been my honour to serve as your 14th Premier. With a heart full of pride and confidence in our future, my family and I have decided it is time for me to leave the Premier’s Office."[39]

Personal life

[edit]

Furey resides in Portugal Cove–St. Philip's.[4] He is married to Allison Furey and they have three children.[40] His wife works as an emergency physician at the Janeway Children's Health and Rehabilitation Centre in St. John's. She was part of a 9-person, federally-funded volunteer team sent to Toronto to help with surging hospitalizations during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario in April 2021.[41]

Electoral record

[edit]
2021 Newfoundland and Labrador general election: Humber-Gros Morne
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Andrew Furey 2,838 63.96 +0.01
Progressive Conservative Jim Goudie 1,492 33.63 +8.58
New Democratic Sheina Lerman 107 2.41 +0.14
Total valid votes 4,437
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
Eligible voters
Liberal hold Swing -4.28
Source(s)
"Officially Nominated Candidates General Election 2021" (PDF). Elections Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
"NL Election 2021 (Unofficial Results)". Retrieved March 27, 2021.
Humber-Gros Morne - By-election, 6 October 2020
Resignation of Dwight Ball
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Andrew Furey 3,401 63.95 -5.99
Progressive Conservative Mike Goosney[42] 1,332 25.05 -5.01
NL Alliance Graydon Pelley[43][44] 464 8.73 +8.73
New Democratic Graham Downey-Sutton[45] 121 2.28 +2.28
Total valid votes 5,318 55.11 -13.00
Eligible voters 9,650[46]
Liberal hold Swing -0.49
2020 Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador leadership election [47][48]
Candidate Ballot 1
Name Votes Points
Andrew Furey 13,645
64.42%		 26,443
66.11%
John Abbott 7,537
35.58%		 13,557
33.89%
Total 21,182 40,000

References

[edit]
  1. ^ @nlliberals (July 2, 2024). "Happy birthday to Premier Dr. Andrew Furey! Thanks for all that you do" – via Instagram.
  2. ^ a b Cooke, Ryan (February 25, 2025). "Andrew Furey steps down as premier of N.L. after 4½ years in office". CBC News. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  3. ^ "'Complete and utter shock' after abrupt resignations of two Atlantic premiers". Global News.
  4. ^ a b c Maher, David (July 26, 2020). "Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal leadership hopeful Andrew Furey's vision for the future, plus a glimpse at his past". The Telegram. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  5. ^ Dooley, Danette (January 19, 2013). "20 Questions: Dr. Andrew Furey". The Telegram. St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  6. ^ Galloway, Gloria (December 3, 2015). "Liberals to set up advisory board for Senate nominees, but B.C. won't take part" – via www.theglobeandmail.com.
  7. ^ "Furey steps down as electoral officer". CBC News. March 28, 2007. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  8. ^ "Professional Profile – Dr. Andrew Furey". andrewfurey.ca. Archived from the original on January 17, 2018.
  9. ^ a b "Ignatian Spirit Award, 2015 Recipient – Dr. Andrew Furey". St. Bonaventure's College. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  10. ^ "Andrew Furey, founder of Team Broken Earth, named Red Cross humanitarian of the year". CBC News. June 16, 2017.
  11. ^ "Team Broken Earth will keep going as long as there is a need: Dr. Andrew Furey". The Telegram. October 20, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  12. ^ "Newfoundland & Labrador – TeamBrokenEarth". brokenearth.ca. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  13. ^ Sage, Amanda (May 11, 2013). "Dr. Andrew Furey, surgeon-educator-leader-healer". Kickass Canadians. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  14. ^ Kelly, Janelle (October 5, 2019). "Team Broken Earth delays mission to Haiti amid escalating violence". CBC News.
  15. ^ McNeish, Sam (February 6, 2018). "A Dollar A Day foundation launches in St. John's, aims to change front lines of mental health". The Telegram. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  16. ^ "From premier to published author: Andrew Furey releases book about work in Haiti". CBC News. October 13, 2020. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  17. ^ "Political life a 'noble calling', says surgeon Andrew Furey". CBC News. April 13, 2015. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  18. ^ "No immediate plans to enter politics, Andrew Furey says amid rumours". NTV News. October 19, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  19. ^ "With Deadline Looming, Still No Contenders for Liberal Leadership". No. 27 February 2020. VOCM. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  20. ^ Maher, David (March 3, 2020). "Andrew Furey launches bid for Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal leadership". The Telegram. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  21. ^ McKenzie-Sutter, Holly (March 5, 2020). "Nearly all of Dwight Ball's cabinet backs Andrew Furey as he enters N.L. Liberal leadership race". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  22. ^ Maher, David (August 3, 2020). "Andrew Furey becomes premier-designate, will become 14th premier of Newfoundland and Labrador". Saltwire Network. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  23. ^ "Andrew Furey takes office as 14th premier of N.L., names cabinet". CBC News. August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  24. ^ "Ball resigns as MHA, Furey will run in his place". CBC News. September 7, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  25. ^ "N.L. Premier Andrew Furey wins byelection, seat in House of Assembly". CBC News. October 6, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  26. ^ "Andrew Furey Takes Humber-Gros Morne Byelection and Secures Seat in Legislature". VOCM News. October 6, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  27. ^ "N.L. heading to the polls on Feb. 13 as Andrew Furey seeks Liberal majority". CBC News. January 15, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  28. ^ "COVID-19 count soars to 30 in N.L., as Fitzgerald orders 'circuit breaker' for St. John's region". CBC News. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  29. ^ "N.L. logs record 30 new COVID-19 cases, implements 'circuit breaker' in St. John's". CTV News. February 9, 2021. Archived from the original on February 9, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  30. ^ "'Hold fast Newfoundland and Labrador': Province confirms outbreak of U.K. COVID-19 variant". Global News. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  31. ^ Jackson, Peter (February 12, 2021). "Back to Alert Level 5: Newfoundland and Labrador on full lockdown with arrival of COVID-19 variant; voting will now be by mail-in ballot only". The Chronicle Herald. Archived from the original on February 13, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  32. ^ Mullin, Malone (March 27, 2021). "Liberals claim slim majority in Newfoundland and Labrador, as voters tap Furey to lead". CBC News. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  33. ^ "Here are all the MHAs elected in the Newfoundland and Labrador election". CBC News. March 27, 2021.
  34. ^ "Nalcor Energy to be no more: Crown corporation being folded into N.L. Hydro". CBC News. June 23, 2021.
  35. ^ Ward, Nick. "Premier Furey Helps Administer Booster Doses at Local Clinic". VOCM. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  36. ^ Furey, Andrew (January 3, 2022). "Andrew Furey on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  37. ^ "Fred Hutton Elected MHA for Conception Bay East-Bell Island". VOCM. January 30, 2024.
  38. ^ Smellie, Sarah (December 17, 2024). "After fanfare of Churchill Falls deal, Newfoundland urged to learn its dam lessons". CTV News. The Canadian Press. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  39. ^ a b Kilfoy, Cameron (February 25, 2025). "UPDATED: NL Premier Andrew Furey announces he's stepping down, calls it 'a wild and unprecedented journey'". The Telegram. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  40. ^ "Family Life in Newfoundland". Dr. Andrew Furey. April 25, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  41. ^ "Small team, 'big impact': N.L. medical volunteers depart for Ontario". CBC News. April 27, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  42. ^ Connors, Michael [@MikeConnors] (September 9, 2020). "Mike Goosney officially has the Tory nomination for the byelection in Humber-Gros Morne. #nlpoli" (Tweet). Retrieved January 3, 2021 – via Twitter.
  43. ^ NL Alliance [@alliance_nl] (August 10, 2020). "***ANNOUNCEMENT*** The Provincial Executive is pleased to announce that Graydon Pelley (@gepelley) will represent NL Alliance in the District of Humber-Gros Morne in the next Provincial Election #nlpoli #workingtogetherforchange #jointheteam https://t.co/g1KtzKzjkH" (Tweet). Retrieved January 3, 2021 – via Twitter.
  44. ^ Bradshaw, Don [@DonBradshawNTV] (September 9, 2020). "It's official. Nfld and Labrador Alliance party leader Graydon Pelley says he will be a candidate in the upcoming by-election in Humber-Gros Morne; the seat vacated by former Premier Dwight Ball earlier this week. Pelley speaks exclusively with @NTVNewsNL tonight at 6 pm. @nlpoli https://t.co/ltDJG36eef" (Tweet). Retrieved January 3, 2021 – via Twitter.
  45. ^ Michael Connors [@MikeConnors] (September 14, 2020). "Graham Downey-Sutton has been nominated as the NDP candidate for the Humber-Gros Morne byelection" (Tweet). Retrieved September 14, 2019 – via Twitter.
  46. ^ Crocker, Diane (October 6, 2020). "Slow start at the polls in Humber-Gros Morne". The Telegram.
  47. ^ "Andrew Furey wins Liberal leadership race, will become 14th premier of N.L." Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  48. ^ Maher, David (August 4, 2020). "Vote breakdown revealed in Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal leadership race". The Telegram. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
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