ST JOHNS, N.L. – Tom Marshall was sworn in Friday as the interim premier for Newfoundland and Labrador.
The finance minister takes over for Kathy Dunderdale, the province’s first female premier who announced Wednesday she was stepping down from that role and as leader of the province’s Progressive Conservatives.
Marshall quoted Russian novelist Boris Pasternak to describe his reaction upon hearing she was quitting and asking him to take the reins.
“Surprise is the greatest gift which life can grant us,” Marshall said, prompting laughter from caucus colleagues after he was sworn in at Government House in St. John’s.
“But to be brutally frank, surprise is hardly strong enough a word to describe my reaction when Premier Kathy Dunderdale asked me earlier this week to take on this significant responsibility today.”
Marshall, the province’s first Jewish premier, said he was humbled and added that Dunderdale earned his admiration as one of the most dedicated and compassionate people he has worked alongside.
Dunderdale did not attend the ceremony.
Her resignation came amid questions about her leadership and pressure mounted after two members left the Tory caucus to join the Opposition Liberals.
A major flashpoint was public criticism over her handling of rolling power outages that left 190,000 customers without electricity at one point earlier this month.
Dunderdale, 61, has not said when she will leave politics altogether, though Marshall has said she will remain as a member of the legislature for a while but then “move on.”
Marshall, who has said he won’t seek re-election, will serve as acting premier until a new leader is chosen later this year.
He practised law before entering politics in October 2003. In addition to overseeing the Finance Department, he has served in a variety of cabinet portfolios including justice and natural resources.
The Tories have 34 seats in the legislature, the Liberals nine and the NDP three. There are also two Independents.
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