# Graham Letto

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{{Short description|Canadian politician}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = [The Honourable](/source/The_Honourable)
| name             = Graham Letto
| honorific_suffix = [MHA](/source/Newfoundland_and_Labrador_House_of_Assembly)
| image            =
| image_size       = 125 px
| caption          = 
| birth_date       = 
| birth_place      = 
| constituency_AM  = [Labrador West](/source/Labrador_West_(electoral_district))
| assembly         = Newfoundland and Labrador House of
| term_start       = November 30, 2015
| term_end         = April 16, 2019
| predecessor      = [Nick McGrath](/source/Nick_McGrath)
| successor        = Jordan Brown
| party            = [Liberal](/source/Liberal_Party_of_Newfoundland_and_Labrador)
| 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](/source/Executive_Council_of_Newfoundland_and_Labrador)
| term_start1      = November 8, 2018
| term_end1        = May 30, 2019
| predecessor1     = [Andrew Parsons](/source/Andrew_Parsons_(Canadian_politician))
| successor1       = [Lisa Dempster](/source/Lisa_Dempster) 
}}

'''Graham Letto''' is a [Canadian](/source/Canadians) politician, who served in the [Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly](/source/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](/source/CBC_News) Newfoundland and Labrador, May 17, 2019.</ref> He represented the district of [Labrador West](/source/Labrador_West_(electoral_district)) as a member of the [Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal Party](/source/Newfoundland_and_Labrador_Liberal_Party).

Prior to his election to the legislature, Letto served as mayor of [Labrador City](/source/Labrador_City), [Newfoundland and Labrador](/source/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](/source/Forteau) and grew up in [L'Anse-au-Clair](/source/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](/source/2003_Newfoundland_and_Labrador_general_election), he ran in the provincial [riding](/source/Electoral_district_(Canada)) of [Labrador West](/source/Labrador_West_(electoral_district)) as the [Progressive Conservative](/source/Progressive_Conservative_Party_of_Newfoundland_and_Labrador) candidate, but was defeated by [Randy Collins](/source/Randy_Collins) of the [NDP](/source/Newfoundland_and_Labrador_New_Democratic_Party).

On May 24, 2005, Letto ran for the [Conservative Party of Canada](/source/Conservative_Party_of_Canada) in the [Labrador](/source/Labrador_(electoral_district)) 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](/source/2005_Newfoundland_and_Labrador_municipal_elections).<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](/source/2009_Newfoundland_and_Labrador_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](/source/2015_Newfoundland_and_Labrador_general_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](/source/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](/source/Jordan_Brown_(Newfoundland_and_Labrador_politician)) 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](/source/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](/source/Jordan_Brown_(Newfoundland_and_Labrador_politician))|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](/source/Randy_Collins) |2,762|55.71|+7.88}}
{{CANelec |NL |PC |'''Graham Letto''' |1,142 | 23.03 |+15.93}}
{{CANelec|NL|[Labrador Party](/source/Labrador_Party)|[Ern Condon](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Andrew_Parsons_(Canadian_politician))
| post1         = Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment
| post1years    = November 8, 2018&ndash;
| post1note     =April 16, 2019
| post1followed =[Lisa Dempster](/source/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)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Graham Letto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Letto) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Letto?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.