Peter Fenwick

Who is Peter Fenwick?

Peter Fenwick is a Canadian politician. He is a former leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party.

Fenwick was born in St. Thomas, Ontario to Digby and Benoit Fenwick of Montreal and Stanbridge East. He and his wife Jennifer moved to Cape St George, Newfoundland in 1968 and had 6 children. His oldest son attended school at Notre Dame du Cap in the first early immersion French program in 1975 of which 5 of the 6 graduated.

He is a former member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, representing the Menihek district, and the leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party from 1981 to 1989. He was also the first member of the party to be elected to a seat in the House of Assembly.

Fenwick was first elected in his riding in a 1984 by-election. He was re-elected in 1985. He did not run for re-election in 1989. While leader of the party in 1986, he was arrested along with union representatives who participated in a strike by the Newfoundland Association of Public Employees.

In the 2000 federal election, Fenwick ran in the federal riding of Burin—St. George's for the Canadian Alliance Party, the predecessor of the Conservative Party, and came in fourth out five candidates.