CORNER BROOK, N.L. — The NL Alliance announced Friday morning that Leader Graydon Pelley has permanently suspended his campaign as the party’s candidate for the upcoming provincial election in the District of Humber Gros-Morne.
The decision not to continue running comes after Pelley suffered a medical emergency on Jan. 16 and underwent emergency surgery the next day.
A release issued by the party says the decision not to continue in the election comes after much consideration and consultation with his family, friends and doctors.
Please continue to remember Graydon in your thoughts: *RELEASE* NL Alliance Leader Graydon Pelley Suspends 2021 Campaign in Humber-Gros Morne Permanently #nlpoli
Posted by NL Alliance on Friday, January 22, 2021
The release says the extensive recovery time that Pelley is now facing has rendered him unable to conduct a full-scale campaign.
“This was an extremely difficult decision, and one I put a great deal of thought into over the past days,” Pelley said. “I’ve discussed the possibility of continuing the campaign with my doctors and family at length, and at this time we all feel that focusing on my health and recovery is most important.”
Pelley will stay on as leader of the NL Alliance to support the other candidates in the election.
“This decision was Graydon’s from the start, and whatever he decided, we were going to respect that,” said Rudy Norman, NL Alliance president.
“I fully understand his decision to step aside from the campaign and focus on his health, and I look forward to, when he’s fully recovered, him leading NL Alliance into a bright future.”
With Pelley’s name now off the ballot, the party said it will not be reopening nominations in the district due to time restraints around nomination deadlines.
Meanwhile, Pelley’s recovery is going well, and he said he’s been overwhelmed with the support and love the people of this province have shown him.
“It reminds me that we live in the best place there is, and motivates me to recover well, so I can continue advocating for every Newfoundlander and Labradorian.”
Sorry to hear NL Alliance leader @gepelley has permanently suspended his campaign in Humber - Gros Morne. Hope Mr. Pelley and his family are doing well.
— Andrew Furey (@FureyAndrew) January 22, 2021
Shortly after Friday morning’s announcement Karla Hayward, the Liberal candidate for Mount Pearl-Southlands took to Twitter to wish Pelley “a smooth and speedy recovery.”
Andrea Newbury, his daughter, is running for the NL Alliance in Mount Scio and had this to say on Facebook: “Anyone who knows Graydon Pelley knows how difficult a decision this was.
However, his health is top priority and we all support him. We are all running because of his initial vision for a better way of doing politics in this province. We can all do better.”
Others who’ve wished Pelley well on social media since his illness have included Premier Andrew Furey, former premier Dwight Ball, PC Leader Ches Crosbie, NDP Leader Alison Coffin and Liberal MP Seamus O’Regan.
— Diane Crocker reports on west coast news.
[email protected] | @WS_DianeCrocker
