Premier not ruling out spring election

Despite athird byelection loss for the provincial Liberals on Thursday night,Premier Dwight Ball says he can't rule out a spring election.

• An early election? Get ready for one, and all the wildcards that come with it

"I'm ready for an election, that I can assure you," Ball said, laughing in front of a noisy crowd.

Thursday's vote in theTopsail-Paradise district, which saw Liberal Patricia Hynes-Coateslose to Progressive Conservativecandidate Paul Dinn,islikely the last byelection before a general election sometime later this year.

Speaking to the crowd after learning the results, Ball said his party isalready thinking about what to do next.

"We'regonnakeep going, we're going to get ready now for a campaign, a general election where it all matters," he said.

Set election date could move

The official date for the next general election in Newfoundland and Labrador is Oct. 8, only a few weeks before the scheduled federal election on Oct. 21.

I'm ready for an election, that I can assure you.- Dwight Ball

Election rules in the province allow for a change in the set dateif the premier, in themonths before voting day, feels the provincialdate overlaps with a federal election.

In this case the provincial election would be pushedto the last Monday of November.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said he won't call an early federal election.

PC Leader Ches Crosbie says he wants an early election in Newfoundland and Labradorto avoid any confusion from overlapping federal and provincialcampaigns.

• Trudeau rules out snap election, so vote will fall Oct. 21
• Crosbie wants to change date of next provincial election
• Dwight Ball kicks off election year with 'political jabs' at opposition

Ball says it's too soon to say what will happen.

"What I'm saying right now is we're planning for a fall election," he said. "But right now a lot of this will depend on what the federal government decides, and when they select their election date."

Either way, Crosbie says, his party is ready.

"Ultimately it's his call," he said. "If he thinks we're unprepared and he wants to call an early election, then it may justmean I'll be premier in May."

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