Lela Evans

Lela Margaret Ann Evans is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly in the 2019 provincial election. She was first elected in the 2019 provincial election and was re-elected in 2021.

Evans has over 20 years experience in the environmental field, including environmental assessments, mining and construction.

Biography

Evans was born in Makkovik, a community in Nunatsiavut, Labrador and she is of Norwegian and Inuit descent. Evans is the daughter of Annie Evans and niece of feminist activist Ruth Flowers. In 2016, Evans joined protests against the Lower Churchill Project despite working for the company developing the project, Nalcor Energy. Evans has also worked as a first-aid instructor and at the Voisey's Bay Mine. Evans has also served as a part of a team conducting community consultations on the Uranium mining moratorium in northern Labrador. Evans is a graduate of Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Evans is openly lesbian.

Politics In an interview with The Independent, Evans stated that she had to quit her job to run as a candidate in the 2019 election because her employer would not allow her to take a leave of absence. She was nominated as the Progressive Conservative candidate against her cousin and MHA Randy Edmunds. Evans went on to defeat Edmunds in an upset. She considered herself to be "putting the P in PC,"

On October 25, 2021, Evans left the PC Party to sit as an Independent in the House of Assembly. On March 7, 2022, Evans joined the NDP. On July 16, 2024, she rejoined the PC Party, calling new PC leader Tony Wakeham an "ally" and a "friend."

On October 29, 2025 Evans was appointed to the Wakeham ministry Minister of Health and Community services, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Minister Responsible for NL Health Services. Minister of Labrador Affairs, and Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation.

Cancer diagnosis During the 2026 budget speech, Evans was absent from legislature for the first half of the speech, as it coincided with a biopsy. On June 3, it was announced to the public that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Election results