ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — For the first time since 1971, it appears Newfoundland and Labrador are headed towards a minority government.
After the vast majority of votes were cast and counted at polling stations throughout the province, Dwight Ball's Liberals emerged with 20 seats.
Ches Crosbie's Progressive Conservative party, meanwhile, gained seven seats with 15 candidates voted into office.
Despite polls that had the NDP hanging on to just one seat, Alison Coffin's party came away with three: her St. John's - Quidi Vidi riding, Jim Dinn's St. John's Centre district and, in a surprising win, Labrador West where Jordan Brown defeated Liberal incumbent and cabinet minister Graham Letto by a mere five votes.
Independent candidates Paul Lane (Mount Pearl - Southlands) and Eddie Joyce (Humber - Bay of Islands) reclaimed their respective seats by a sizeable margin
