Lela Evans

Lela Margaret Ann Evans[2] is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly in the 2019 provincial election.[1] She represents the electoral district of Torngat Mountains as a New Democrat, having previously been elected as a Progressive Conservative. She was re-elected in the 2021 provincial election.[3]

Lela Evans
MHA
Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
for Torngat Mountains
Assumed office
May 16, 2019
Preceded byRandy Edmunds
Personal details
BornMakkovik[1]
Political partyNew Democratic (2022–present)
Other political
affiliations		Independent (2021–2022) Progressive Conservative (2019–2021)
RelationsAnthony Andersen (uncle)
Wally Andersen (uncle)
Randy Edmunds (cousin)
Alma materMemorial University of Newfoundland

Evans has over 20 years’ experience in the environmental field including environmental assessments, mining and construction.[4]

Biography

Evans was born in Makkovik,[5] a community in Nunatsiavut, Labrador and she is of Norwegian and Inuit descent.[6] Evans is the daughter of Annie Evans and niece of feminist activist Ruth Flowers.[7] In 2016, Evans joined protests against the Lower Churchill Project despite working for the company developing the project, Nalcor Energy.[8] Evans has also worked as a first-aid instructor and at the Voisey's Bay Mine. Evans has also served as a part of a team conducting community consultations on the Uranium mining moratorium in northern Labrador. Evans is a graduate of the Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Evans is openly lesbian.[9][10]

Politics

In an interview with The Independent, Evans stated that she had to quit her job to run as a candidate in the 2019 election because her employer would not allow her to take a leave of absence. She was nominated as the Progressive Conservative candidate against her cousin and MHA Randy Edmunds. Evans went on to defeat Edmunds in an upset.[11] She considered herself to be "putting the P in PC,"[8] meaning that she considers herself to be progressive in her political beliefs.

Evans has called for the Trans-Labrador Highway to be extended to reach communities in the northern part of Labrador.[12]

On October 25, 2021, Evans left the PC Party to sit as an Independent in the House of Assembly.[13] On March 7, 2022, Evans joined the NDP.[14][15]

Election results
Torngat Mountains – 2021 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive ConservativeLela Evans42088.79%
New DemocraticPatricia Johnson-Castle377.82%
LiberalDevon Ryan163.38%
Total valid votes 473
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
Eligible voters
Torngat Mountains – 2019 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive ConservativeLela Evans62356.58%
LiberalRandy Edmunds47843.42%
Total valid votes 1,101
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
Eligible voters
Canada – 2018 Nunatsiavut general election
[16] Name Vote %
  Edward Blake-Rudkowski 477 38.07%
  Roland Saunders 258 20.59%
  Lela Evans 234 18.68%
  Charlotte Winters-Fost 194 15.48%
  Selina Adams 90 7.18%
Total Valid Ballots 1,253 100%

References
  1. "Here are 3 of the 14 first-timers headed to the House of Assembly". CBC News. May 17, 2019. Retrieved Nov 4, 2020.
  2. "Lela Evans | PC Party of NL". www.pcnl.ca. Retrieved 17 January 2021. Lela Margaret Ann Evans (B.Sc. Hons.) was born and raised in Makkovik, Labrador and was elected to the House of Assembly as the Member for Torngat Mountains on May 16, 2019.
  3. "Here are all the MHAs elected in the Newfoundland and Labrador election". CBC News. March 27, 2021.
  4. "Crosbie Strikes Committee to Develop Climate Change Action Plan". pcnl.ca. Sep 25, 2019. Retrieved Nov 4, 2020.
  5. Maher, David (Dec 15, 2019). "Torngat Mountains MHA Lela Evans answers 20 Questions". Saltwire Network. Retrieved Nov 5, 2020.
  6. Kelland, Ariana (Jul 9, 2020). "Hateful words, diminished services: How racism rears its head for N.L.'s Indigenous people". CBC News. Retrieved Nov 5, 2020.
  7. "My speech in the HOA yesterday ..." facebook.com. Sep 17, 2020. Retrieved Nov 5, 2020.
  8. Rollmann, Hans (June 19, 2019). "Lela Evans: From Muskrat Falls Protests to MHA". The Independent. Retrieved Nov 5, 2020.
  9. "YWCA St. John's on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on 2022-04-30.
  10. "Burned Pride flags in Metro area".
  11. "Cabinet ministers Letto and Hawkins among 9 defeated Liberals". CBC News Newfoundland and Labrador, May 17, 2019.
  12. "Torngat MHA Calls for New Road to Open Path to North Coast of Labrador". VOCM News. Sep 23, 2020. Retrieved Nov 5, 2020.
  13. Staff, CBC News (25 October 2021). "Lela Evans, MHA for Labrador's Torngat Mountains district, leaving PC Party". CBC News. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  14. Smith, Greg. "Former PC MHA Joins NDP". VOCM. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  15. "Former PC MHA Lela Evans joins NDP caucus". CBC News. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  16. "General Election for Ordinary Members to the Nunatsiavut Assembly". Nunatsiavut Government. May 1, 2018. Retrieved Nov 5, 2020.
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