Premier Furey Announces Cabinet Changes

Press Release

March 11, 2025

The Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced changes to his Cabinet.

Effective immediately, the changes are:

The Honourable Lisa Dempster is Government House Leader, in addition to Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Minister of Labrador Affairs, Minister Responsible for Labour, and Minister Responsible for Workplace NL
The Honourable Dr. John Haggie is Deputy Government House Leader and confirmed as Acting Minister of Health and Community Services, in addition to Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs and Registrar General
The Honourable Sarah Stoodley is confirmed as the Acting Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Acting Minister of Housing, in addition to Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills and Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs
The Honourable Andrew Parsons, KC, is the Acting Attorney General, in addition to Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology

Biographies of the ministers are included in the backgrounder below.

Quote

“Our government has made great progress for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians over the past five years, and we are working hard to build a brighter future. As our team undergoes a transition, I thank all ministers and caucus for continuing to rise to the challenges we face as a province and a country.”
Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

-30-

BACKGROUNDER

Biographies

Honourable Lisa Dempster
Ms. Dempster was elected to the House of Assembly in 2013 in her home district of Cartwright-L’Anse au Clair. She was appointed Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly in December 2015. In July 2017, Ms. Dempster was appointed Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development, Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation and Minister Responsible for the Status of Persons with Disabilities. She served as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment in 2019. In 2020, Ms. Dempster was appointed Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister of Labrador Affairs, and Deputy Government House Leader.

Ms. Dempster was re-elected for a fourth time in 2021 and returned to the portfolio of Minister Responsible for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister Responsible for Labrador Affairs and Deputy Government House Leader, becoming Minister of Environment and Climate Change in 2024.

A proud member of the NunatuKavut Community Council, Ms. Dempster is married with two children: Nicholas (deceased) and Natalie. She makes her home in Charlottetown, Labrador with her husband, Gaius, and daughter, Natalie.

Honourable Dr. John Haggie
Born in England, the Honourable Dr. John Haggie completed his medical studies at Victoria University in Manchester.

He held several positions as physician, surgeon, tutor and registrar in the North West region of England and after a two-year fellowship, he received a doctorate in cancer research.

Since moving to Canada in the early nineties, Minister Haggie has had a long and distinguished career in medicine in Newfoundland and Labrador. He practiced initially as a general surgeon in St. Anthony with the Grenfell Region Health Services. In 1997, he was appointed attending surgeon of general and vascular surgery at James Paton Memorial Hospital in Gander. In 2008, he was appointed Chief of Staff at James Paton Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Haggie served as President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association and the Canadian Medical Association.

In Newfoundland and Labrador’s 2015 general election, he was elected MHA for the District of Gander and appointed to Cabinet to serve as the Minister of Health and Community Services until July 6, 2022. He was later appointed Minister of Education, and is presently the Minister of Municipal Affairs.

Dr. Haggie resides in Gander with his wife Jeanette and two Westies, Chloe and Gracie.

Honourable Sarah Stoodley
Sarah Stoodley (M.A.; B.Comm Co-op) was first elected to the House of Assembly on May 16, 2019. Sarah grew up in Grand Falls-Windsor, lived and worked for three years in Oxford, UK and has built a successful career as a digital expert in financial services. Sarah was an elected alumni representative on the Memorial University Board of Regents and served on the C.A. Pippy Park Commission Board and the TechNL (formerly NATI) Board.

Honourable Andrew Parsons, KC
Andrew Parsons received his law degree from the University of Saskatchewan, and was called to the bar in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2005. First elected in 2011, Andrew previously served as Opposition House Leader and critic for multiple departments. Prior to his current role, he has also served as Minister of Justice and Public Safety, Attorney General, Minister of Municipal Affairs & Environment, and Government House Leader.

Andrew is a past president of the Port aux Basques Minor Hockey, and has served on various committees, including the Port aux Basques Chamber of Commerce and Dr. Charles L. LeGrow Health Care Foundation.

ILR5