View source for Graham Letto

{{Short description|Canadian politician}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[The Honourable]]
| name = Graham Letto
| honorific-suffix = [[Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly|MHA]]
| image =
| image_size = 125 px
| caption =
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| residence =
| constituency_AM = [[Labrador West (electoral district)|Labrador West]]
| assembly        = Newfoundland and Labrador House of
| term_start = November 30, 2015
| term_end = April 16, 2019
| predecessor = [[Nick McGrath]]
| successor = Jordan Brown
| party = [[Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador|Liberal]]
| website = 
| religion =
| occupation = 
| spouse =
}}

'''Graham Letto''' is a [[Canadians|Canadian]] politician, who served in the [[Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly]] from 2015 until 2019.<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/defeated-incumbents-1.5139759 "Cabinet ministers Letto and Hawkins among 9 defeated Liberals"]. [[CBC News]] Newfoundland and Labrador, May 17, 2019.</ref> He represented the district of [[Labrador West (electoral district)|Labrador West]] as a member of the [[Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal Party]].

Prior to his election to the legislature, Letto served as mayor of [[Labrador City]], [[Newfoundland and Labrador]]  from 2001 until 2009.<ref>{{cite news|title=IOC donates land for residential project in Labrador City|url=http://www.ironore.ca/main.php?sid=m&mid=54&lng=1|accessdate=24 May 2024|newspaper=Ironore|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203122339/http://www.ironore.ca/main.php?sid=m&mid=54&lng=1|archivedate=3 December 2010}}</ref>

==Background==
He was born in [[Forteau]] and grew up in [[L'Anse-au-Clair]].

==Political career==
In 1989, Letto sought election to the town council of Labrador City, and was elected. He was also re-elected to the council in 1993 and 1997. Then in 2001, Letto was elected as mayor of Labrador City.<ref>{{cite web|first=Ty|last=Dunham|url=http://www.theaurora.ca/news/local/2015/8/13/-this-is-my-home-.html|title='This is my home'|work=The Aurora|date=13 August 2015|accessdate=2 December 2015}}</ref> During the [[2003 Newfoundland and Labrador general election]], he ran in the provincial [[Electoral district (Canada)|riding]] of [[Labrador West (electoral district)|Labrador West]] as the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador|Progressive Conservative]] candidate, but was defeated by [[Randy Collins]] of the [[Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party|NDP]].

On May 24, 2005, Letto ran for the [[Conservative Party of Canada]] in the [[Labrador (electoral district)|Labrador]] riding in a by-election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/five-candidates-vie-for-labrador-seat/article979801/|title=Five candidates vie for Labrador seat|work=The Globe and Mail|date=4 May 2005|accessdate=2 December 2015}}</ref> Letto lost, but increased the Conservative vote in the traditional Liberal riding substantially.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/liberals-win-by-election/article1119287/|title=Liberals win by-election|work=The Globe and Mail|date=24 May 2005|accessdate=2 December 2015}}</ref>

On September 27, 2005, Letto was re-elected mayor of Labrador City in the [[2005 Newfoundland and Labrador municipal elections|2005 municipal election]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Status quo in Goose; new faces in Lab City|work=The Telegram|location=St. John's|date=28 September 2005}}</ref> He did not seek a third term during the [[2009 Newfoundland and Labrador municipal elections|2009 municipal elections]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thetelegram.com/Regional/2009-09-01/article-1445642/Labrador-City-mayor-says-its-time-to-go/1 |title=Labrador City mayor says it's time to go |work=The Telegram |location=St. John's |date=September 1, 2009 |accessdate=December 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082920/http://www.thetelegram.com/Regional/2009-09-01/article-1445642/Labrador-City-mayor-says-its-time-to-go/1 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and was succeeded by Janice Barnes.

Letto received a Federation of Canadian Municipalities Roll of Honour Award in June 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=Recognizing Graham Letto on receiving a Federation of Canadian Municipalities Roll of Honour Award|url=http://liberaloppositionnl.com/house_entry_page/recognizing-graham-letto-on-receiving-a-federation-of-canadian-municipalities-roll-of-honour-award/|accessdate=June 15, 2014|date=June 4, 2014|url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714110445/http://liberaloppositionnl.com/house_entry_page/recognizing-graham-letto-on-receiving-a-federation-of-canadian-municipalities-roll-of-honour-award/|archivedate=July 14, 2014}}</ref>

In August 2015, Letto was nominated as the Liberal candidate in Labrador West for the [[2015 Newfoundland and Labrador general election|2015 provincial election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/graham-letto-takes-liberal-nomination-for-labrador-west-1.3202671|title=Graham Letto takes Liberal nomination for Labrador West|publisher=CBC News|date=August 25, 2015|accessdate=December 2, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theaurora.ca/news/local/2015/8/25/letto-takes-liberal-nomination.html |title=Letto takes Liberal nomination |work=The Aurora |date=August 25, 2015 |accessdate=December 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926230512/http://www.theaurora.ca/news/local/2015/8/25/letto-takes-liberal-nomination.html |archive-date=26 September 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> On November 30, 2015, Letto won the seat, defeating New Democrat and former Wabush Mayor Ron Barron and Progressive Conservative incumbent [[Nick McGrath]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Election-2015/2015-11-30/article-4360662/Liberal-Graham-Letto-wins-Labrador-West-district/1 |title=Liberal Graham Letto wins Labrador West district |work=The Telegram |location=St. John's |date=November 30, 2015 |accessdate=December 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208104809/http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Election-2015/2015-11-30/article-4360662/Liberal-Graham-Letto-wins-Labrador-West-district/1 |archive-date=8 December 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/labrador-districts-vote-liberal-election-2015-1.3344556|title=Labrador goes Liberal in Election 2015 as party sweeps all 4 seats|publisher=CBC News|date=December 1, 2015 |accessdate=December 2, 2015}}</ref>

On November 8, 2018, Letto was appointed Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/premier-dwight-ball-cabinet-shuffle-1.4897463|title=Dwight Ball recruits new blood for cabinet to replace Kirby, Joyce|publisher=CBC News|date=November 8, 2018|accessdate=May 25, 2019}}</ref>

In the 2019 provincial election Letto was defeated by NDP candidate [[Jordan Brown (Newfoundland and Labrador politician)|Jordan Brown]] in a major upset.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/judicial-recount-for-labrador-west-district-1.5142220|title=NDP clinging to 5-vote victory in Lab West after official addition of vote tally|date=May 19, 2019|publisher=[[CBC News]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190520114223/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/judicial-recount-for-labrador-west-district-1.5142220|archive-date=May 20, 2019|url-status=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=CBC News|access-date=Nov 25, 2020 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/ndp-three-seats-1.5139681 |title=Exuberant NDP celebrates 'new era' as it holds St. John's seats, and wins back Labrador West|date=May 16, 2019 |first=Daniel|last=MacEachern}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=NTV|url=http://ntv.ca/we-have-the-balance-of-power-alison-coffin-says-as-ndp-wins-three-seats/|title=‘We have the balance of power,’ Alison Coffin says as NDP wins three seats|date=May 17, 2019|first=Kelly-Anne|last=Roberts|access-date=May 24, 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524022102/http://ntv.ca/we-have-the-balance-of-power-alison-coffin-says-as-ndp-wins-three-seats/|archivedate=May 24, 2019}}</ref>

==Electoral record==

===Provincial===
{{Canadian election result/top|NL|2019|percent=yes|change=yes|}}
{{CANelec|NL|NDP|[[Jordan Brown (Newfoundland and Labrador politician)|Jordan Brown]]|1,364|42.2|+7.47}}
{{CANelec|NL|Liberal|'''Graham Letto'''|1,362|42.1|-1.71}}
{{CANelec|NL|PC|Derick Sharron|509|15.7|-5.76}}
{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|||}}
{{CANelec/total|Total rejected ballots|||}}
{{CANelec/total|Turnout|||}}
{{CANelec/total|Eligible voters||}}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|NL|2015|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|NL|Liberal|'''Graham Letto'''|1,453|43.8|}}
{{CANelec|NL|NDP|Ron Barron|1,152|34.7|}}
{{CANelec|NL|PC|Nick McGrath|712|21.5|}}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|NL|2003|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec |NL |NDP|[[Randy Collins]] |2,762|55.71|+7.88}}
{{CANelec |NL |PC |'''Graham Letto''' |1,142 | 23.03 |+15.93}}
{{CANelec|NL|[[Labrador Party]]|[[Ern Condon]]|631| 12.73|&ndash;}}
{{CANelec|NL|Liberal|Doris Sacrey |423| 8.53|-36.54}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|4,958|99.72}}
{{CANelec/hold|NL|NDP|+22.21}}
{{CANelec/source| Source: [http://www.cbc.ca/nlvotes2003/riding/024/ Newfoundland & Labrador 2003]}}
{{end}}

===Federal===

{{CANelec/top|CA|May 24, 2005|Labrador (electoral district)|Labrador|by=yes|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|[[Todd Russell]]|5,438|51.48|-10.75|$53,970.30 }}
{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|'''Graham Letto'''|3,415|32.33|+16.56| $73,509.62}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Frances Fry|1,045|9.89|+0.25| $26,121.42}}
{{CANelec|CA|Independent|[[Ern Condon]]|598|5.66|-4.69|$254.00 }}
{{CANelec|CA|Green|Jason Crummey|68|0.64|-1.37| $78.45}}
{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes/Expense limit| 10,564|100.0 &nbsp;|&ndash;| $74,995}}
{{CANelec/total|Total rejected, declined and unmarked ballots|58|0.55|+0.03}}
{{CANelec/total|Turnout |10,622 |53.44 |+8.62}}
{{CANelec/total|Eligible voters|19,876}}
{{CANelec/hold|CA|Liberal|-13.6}}
{{CANelec/note|<small>Called on the death of [[Lawrence D. O'Brien]], December 16, 2004</small>}}
{{end}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

{{s-start}}
{{Canadian cabinet member navigational box header |ministry=Dwight_Ball}}
{{ministry box cabinet posts
| post1preceded = [[Andrew Parsons (Canadian politician)|Andrew Parsons]]
| post1         = Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment
| post1years    = November 8, 2018&ndash;
| post1note     =April 16, 2019
| post1followed =[[Lisa Dempster]]
}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Letto, Graham}}
[[Category:Conservative Party of Canada candidates for the Canadian House of Commons]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:21st-century mayors of places in Newfoundland and Labrador]]
[[Category:Members of the Executive Council of Newfoundland and Labrador]]
[[Category:People from Labrador City]]
[[Category:Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador MHAs]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]