Earle McCurdy


Earle McCurdy is a Canadian labour leader and politician from Newfoundland and Labrador. He was the leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party from 2015 to 2017. McCurdy was involved with the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union before entering politics, serving as their secretary treasurer from 1980 to 1993 and as their president from 1993 to 2014.

Background

McCurdy was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1950 as the son of Sherburne McCurdy, an educator who served as president of the Canadian Teachers' Federation, and Elizabeth. He grew up in St. John's, Newfoundland and attended Prince of Wales Collegiate where his father had been the principal. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1972. After graduation, he worked as a labour reporter for The Evening Telegram, but left the paper in 1977 to become involved with the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union as the editor for their newsletter, the Union Forum. He became the organization's president in 1993, succeeding founding president Richard Cashin.
McCurdy presided as the FFAW union president during Canada's fishing dispute with the European Union, which became known as the Turbot War.

New Democratic Party leader (2015–2017)

McCurdy was elected leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador NDP at the party's leadership convention held March 7, 2015, defeating two other contenders with 68% support on the first ballot. In the 2015 provincial election, McCurdy failed to win a seat in the House of Assembly and was defeated by Siobhán Coady by nearly 1000 votes.
On June 11, 2016, McCurdy's leadership was reaffirmed at the party's provincial convention with the support of 91.6% of delegates.
On September 19, 2017, McCurdy announced his resignation as Leader, effective September 30, 2017. His resignation came after Steve Kent announced he would resign his seat of Mount Pearl North where McCurdy resided but which was unlikely to be winnable for the NDP. Following McCurdy's resignation, MHA and former leader Lorraine Michael was named interim leader.

Electoral record