Rex Barnes is going to Parliament Hill. The Newfoundland paramedic has won an upset victory in one of seven by-elections held on May 13 across the country.
Barnes is a long-time member of Local 990, Central Newfoundland Hospital in Grand Falls. He recently stepped down as Secretary-Treasurer of CUPE Newfoundland and Labrador to run in the federal by-election as the P.C. candidate. Barnes was also a local town councillor.
He defeated onetime Newfoundland premier Beaton Tulk by 740 votes in what is considered to be a major blow to the Chretien Liberals. The riding of Gander-Grand Falls has been Liberal since 1949, except for one term.