West coast Liberal MHAs reflect on their first year in office

One year ago, on Oct. 14, 2025, the people of western Newfoundland elected five rookie MHAs to represent them in the provincial government:  Liberal Michael King in Burgeo-La Poile, Liberal Jim Parsons in Corner Brook, PC Hal Cormier in St. George’s-Humber, PC Mike Goosney in Humber-Gros Morne and PC Andrea Barbour in St. Barbe-L’Anse aux Meadows.

The first two would find themselves as members of the Official Opposition, while the other three became part of the governing PC cabinet.

Barbour was appointed minister of Tourism, Culture and Arts shortly after the election and was shuffled to the role of minister of Environment, Conservation and Climate Change in August.

Goosney would replace her as tourism minister, and is also the minister of Sport, Recreation and Parks.

The Telegram contacted all five MHAs to find out what their first year in office has been like.

Only the two Liberal MHAs responded prior to publication.

Q. What has the first year in office been like for you? What have you learned and what have been the challenges of being an MHA?

A. My first year in office has been very rewarding. I have spent a lot of my time over the past year building relationships with community leaders, organizations and residents throughout my district so we can identify the challenges they are facing, find solutions to those challenges, and prioritize the opportunities before us so we can make sure we are all working in the same direction.

As a new MHA, you are also constantly learning and absorbing a lot of information. I have been an avid follower of politics for many years and worked in the background during that time, but balancing the work we do in our constituency with our duties in the legislature takes time and effort. This is not a nine-to-five job, so being accessible and available to my constituents is something I have learned is important to fulfilling this role to the best of my ability.

My district has many different communities that require a lot of travel both to different parts of the district and to the city for the House of Assembly and other meetings as required. Trying to balance that travel and taking in all the different issues and concerns has certainly been a challenge, but I have been working hard to make sure I balance all of that.

Q. What are the concerns that you are hearing from the constituents in your district?

A. Some of the concerns I hear on a more regular basis from my constituents are the challenges with road infrastructure throughout the entire district, accessing health care and affordability.

Coming from a rural district, many of my constituents have to travel to other areas of the province to access a number of services. With the high cost of fuel, groceries, and electricity, these are the pressures facing residents on a daily basis.

Q. What have you done or are doing to address those concerns?

A. I have been working diligently with the ministers and departments to address the challenges facing communities in my district. For example, Route 480 (the Burgeo Highway) has faced significant issues with potholes and the time it is taking to fix them.

I have been constant in my outreach to the department, in the media, and on the air to bring attention to this matter and get the issues resolved in a timely manner. It has been a significant challenge no doubt, but I never give up and will continue to raise these issues with those responsible for addressing them.

In the Official Opposition, we have a responsibility to hold the government to account. As a part of our duties, we also offer solutions to the challenges we face. I have brought forward petitions, and we have proposed cost-of-living measures like removing the tax from fuel, prepared foods and electricity and home heating. These are tangible actions that can help reduce costs for folks in my district.

Access to health care continues to be a challenge, but by working closely with health-care professionals, we continue to explore ways to improve access to services in our communities and better support those who must travel to receive the care they need.

Q. What is the biggest opportunity in your district right now?

A. I believe the biggest opportunity in my district right now is tourism. Burgeo–La Poile has some of the best scenery, facilities and outdoor experiences this province has to offer.

Port aux Basques is the gateway to our province, and with increased traffic arriving through Marine Atlantic, particularly during the summer months, we have a tremendous opportunity to work together as a region to encourage visitors to stay in our communities, experience what we have to offer and contribute to our local economy.

Groups like Barrens to Beaches and BASCA are being created throughout the district and are doing important work to develop trail networks that are already becoming major attractions for visitors.

From our fishery and lighthouses to our trails, beaches and unique communities, every part of this district has something to offer. I believe now is the time to build on those opportunities, work together as a region, grow our communities and showcase to the world everything Burgeo–La Poile has to offer.

Q. Is the province in a better situation now than when you were elected? How so or how not?

A. No, I do not believe the province is in a better situation today.

Since this government was elected, we have seen no meaningful measures to address the challenges I outlined earlier.

Health-care access continues to deteriorate, with patients being transferred from one hospital to another, emergency room wait times increasing, and no significant improvements to recruitment and retention.

Our roads are getting worse by the day, with far too many stories of serious accidents and fatalities on our highways.

At the same time, nothing significant has been introduced to address the affordability pressures families and residents are facing.

And then there is the Churchill Falls Agreement, a 50-year contract with no market-based pricing and no meaningful off-ramps, an agreement that raises serious concerns about whether this province is getting the value it deserves from the resources we have fought so long to protect. The challenges facing Newfoundlanders and Labradorians continue to pile up, while the government has yet to demonstrate a clear plan to address them.

Q. Do you have any regrets about your decision to run for provincial politics?

A. I have absolutely zero regrets about my decision to step up and represent my community and district. It is the honour of a lifetime to represent this incredible district and the amazing people who call it home. I take that responsibility extremely seriously, and I will continue to work hard every day, to the best of my ability, to be the voice the people of Burgeo–La Poile deserve.

When I ran, I committed to being open, accessible and a strong advocate for the people of this district. That is a commitment I intend to keep.

Q. What has the first year in office been like for you? What have you learned and what have been the challenges of being an MHA?

A. It’s been an interesting change. The types of issues I deal with are different than when I was mayor, but the practice is still the same — engage people with empathy and respect, and have honest conversations. Do your best to help them.

At my constituency office, we hear a lot from people experiencing tough situations around health care, housing and affordability. We don’t have all the answers, but my assistant and I try to link people with the services and government staff that can help them.

The other side of this work is the House of Assembly. Taking what we’re hearing from constituents, putting your head around big, complex issues, and trying to affect long-term change is interesting and important work.

When the House of Assembly is in session, you often don’t know what you’re dealing with from day to day. It’s frenetic and busy.

What’s clear is that Confederation Building is a long ways away from Corner Brook, and I know how important it is that we raise our voice there.

Q. What are the concerns that you are hearing from the constituents in your district?

A. The biggest concerns are around health care and affordability.

Whether it’s getting a family doctor, the overcapacity issue at Western Memorial or having to travel to St. John’s for treatment, residents and health-care providers alike present concerns to me every day. Access to health care is a serious issue.

The cost of living, whether it’s groceries, gas or home heating, is escalating to a breaking point for many. Pensions and salaries are not increasing to meet the rising costs of everyday life.

Q. What have you done or are doing to address those concerns?

A. We’re always working to break down the barriers people are facing to get access to health care. My constituency assistant and I are constantly seeking information on the residents’ behalf.

People are very reasonable in their expectations, but we need to improve communication in our health-care system. I’ve been very vocal in the House about the need to improve the medical transportation program to help reduce the cost of accompanying loved ones when they have to travel for medical treatment.

As an Opposition, we’ve suggested affordability measures to help people make ends meet, like reduced gas and electricity taxes. I’m hoping government will heed that call.

Q. What is the biggest opportunity right now in your district?

A. One of the most exciting and hopeful developments facing Corner Brook right now is Kruger’s Project Tuckamore. This project, which combines wind energy development, reinvestment in the mill and new forestry opportunities, will mean long-term sustainable employment for hundreds of people in our area. It is a solid plan and an exciting second act for the industry that has anchored this city for 100 years.

Q. Is the province in a better situation now than when you were elected? How so or how not?

A. The province is not in a better situation now. Besides failing to make progress on the issues I’ve mentioned like health care, affordability, housing, etc., the new government has rushed into a half-baked deal with Quebec on Churchill Falls and Gull Island.

This is not a fair, well-considered deal, and I hope government listens to the overwhelming sentiment that the people of this province do not support it.

Q. Do you have any regrets about your decision to run for provincial politics?

A. Not at all. I am enjoying taking on new issues as I continue to work for the people of Corner Brook. Being mayor for eight years was a privilege, and I do miss the staff I got to work with at city hall every day, but I am really enjoying representing Corner Brook in the House of Assembly.

Responses from the Progressive Conservative MHAs were requested but were not provided prior to publication. If they are received, the article will be updated.