Brazil eager to take his appetite for hard work to the next political level

By Mark Squibb

Former PC leader David Brazil is trying his hand at federal politics.

Brazil served as leader of the PC Party from 2010 until 2023, when he had to step aside due to health issues.

Following participation in a cardiac rehab program, Brazil said he’s healthier than he’s been in years — this February he even participated in the Health Care Foundation’s 2025 Row4Heart event.

Brazil, who owns and operates McNiven’s Pub & Eatery in Airport Heights, said the federal Conservative Party reached out and asked if he would be interested in running federally when members learned that his health had improved since bowing out of provincial politics.

The former PC Party leader said a “massive” number of people encouraged him to run, including good friend and former colleague Kevin Parsons. Brazil said that Parsons, a former Caucus Chair and longstanding Cape St. Francis MHA, had signed on to help manage his campaign before he died in August after a battle with cancer.

“Parsons was adamant, he was continually after me that I should go,” said Brazil. “He thought I could bring something to the table that would be beneficial to St. John’s East and to the province.”

Brazil announced his candidacy in June, and was officially named the candidate shortly thereafter, his candidacy going unchallenged. He has been campaigning since, meeting with residents, organizations, and other politicians about challenges that need to be addressed.

“It’s time for a change here in Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Brazil. “And not just a change of personnel. It’s about a change in getting our fair share when it comes to Confederation and ensuring that the issues we bring forward on a national basis are beneficial to all Newfoundlanders. And I feel with my background, what I’ve achieved, my no-nonsense approach to politics and my proven record, that I would be an alternative choice for people to be a voice in Ottawa.”

There’s lot of issues Brazil is anxious to sink his teeth in, including the rising cost of living in the riding, which he said is being compounded by the carbon tax, and the dire state of healthcare in the province.

Speaking to immigration, Brazil said government needs to cut red tape blocking skilled workers who move to the province from working in their fields of practice.

“I’ve spoken to dozens, hundreds, in my riding, who, unfortunately, came here with a misconception that they would be able to take their trade and jump right in,” said Brazil. “They want to be gainfully employed, they want to be able to help our society, and help fill gaps, and they haven’t been able to do that because policies, particularly federal policies, don’t allow that.”

Brazil also swore to fight on behalf of the fishery and the province’s oil and gas industry.

He also spoke highly of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.

“He’s a no-nonsense politician,” said Brazil. “He’s pro-Canadian…  he has experience in the political realm. He grew up as an average Canadian doing the same things that a lot of us did. He’s been to Newfoundland and Labrador nine times. And that speaks volumes here when we only have a handful of seats. That tells me he respects eastern Canada; he respects Newfoundland and Labrador.”

He said a recent tactic by the left to colour Poilievre as “just another Trump” is not fair, and he reckons there are two reasons for that line of attack.

“People have watched too much social media, and have been conditioned by what they’ve read, or they’re trying to justify why they don’t vote Conservative, because they’ve voted Liberal or NDP in the past, which has been a failure, and they’re trying to justify it,” said Brazil.

Poilievre has been the most assertive and aggressive when it comes to putting Canada first following Trump’s tariff threat, Brazil said.

“If America doesn’t want to play fair ball with Canada, then there are other markets out there,” Brazil added, adding his hope though, is that America and Canada remain good allies.

Brazil said the redistribution of federal ridings may prove confusing for some voters. In the case of St. John’s East, the district will lose its portion of the Town of Paradise to Cape Spear riding (formerly St. John’s South- Mount Pearl.)

“I still have people reaching out to me saying,’ I can’t wait to vote for you,’ but they live in Paradise, which is no longer going to be a part of the same federal riding,” said Brazil. “So, its an adjustment, and it’s going to be confusing for people, because they are used to voting in one riding and now all of a sudden that’s changed.”

Brazil admitted some folks have said they want to vote for him but are uncertain if they can buy into Poilievre’s brand of politics. To that end, Brazil said that people ought to vote for who they feel would best represent them in Ottawa, and that his track-record recommends him.

“People will say that I’m one of the hardest working politicians they’ve ever seen in this province,” said Brazil. “That’s the reputation that I live by.”

Former PC MHA, David Brazil is the Conservative Party of Canada’s candidate in the riding of St. John’s East.