{{Short description|Canadian politician}} {{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = The Honourable | name = Graham Letto | honorific_suffix = MHA | image = | image_size = 125 px | caption = | birth_date = | birth_place = | constituency_AM = 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 | website = | occupation = | spouse = | office1 = Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment, Registrar General, Minister Responsible for the MMSB, And Minister Responsible for the office of Climate Change | term_start1 = November 8, 2018 | term_end1 = May 30, 2019 | predecessor1 = Andrew Parsons | successor1 = Lisa Dempster }}
'''Graham Letto''' is a 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 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 riding of Labrador West as the Progressive Conservative candidate, but was defeated by Randy Collins of the NDP.
On May 24, 2005, Letto ran for the Conservative Party of Canada in the 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 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 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 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 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|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|–}} {{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 |–| $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 | post1 = Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment | post1years = November 8, 2018– | 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)