ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — The search for the next premier of Newfoundland and Labrador has been put on hold due to COVID-19.
The Liberal Party of N.L. says the race is suspended effective 12 p.m., with a party executive meeting scheduled for May 1 to determine if the race can continue at that point.
The party says the decision to resume the race will be informed by the Department of Health Chief Medical officer, and whether any “extraordinary public health measures” are in effect, including a province-wide state of emergency.
The party says all campaign activity will be suspended, all campaign websites and social media accounts made inactive, with no candidates allowed to receive donations or incur any expenses through the duration of the suspension.
Campaigns can still input voter registration data into the Liberalist Electronic Database until 8 p.m. on Wednesday. Campaigns will lose access to the database until the suspension is lifted.
Campaigns that break any of the rules will face penalties ranging from fines to disqualification from the race, at the discretion of the Liberal Party executive.
More to come