Here's who's running in the federal election in N.L.'s 7 ridings

Canadian voters will go to the polls on Sept. 20, and while Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau has called a snap election, the major parties were already in position before the writ was dropped.

There are candidates already in place in the seven ridings in Newfoundland and Labrador, representing altogether four parties.

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The deadline to file nominations has now passed, so here's where things stand.

Avalon

• Matthew Chapman, Conservative
• Carolyn Davis, NDP
• Ken McDonald, Liberal (incumbent)
• Lainie Stewart, People's Party

Bonavista-Burin-Trinity

• Anne Marie Anonsen, NDP
• Linda Hogan,People's Party
• Churence Rogers, Liberal (incumbent)
• Sharon Vokey, Conservative

Coast of Bays-Central-Notre Dame

• Jamie Ruby,NDP
• Scott Simms, Liberal (incumbent)
• Clifford Small, Conservative

Labrador

• Shannon Champion, People's Party
• Shane Dumaresque, Conservative
• Yvonne Jones, Liberal (incumbent)
• Amy Norman, NDP

Long Range Mountains

• Carol Anstey, Conservative
• Gudie Hutchings, Liberal (incumbent)
• Kaila Mintz, NDP
• Darrell Shelley, People's Party

St. John's East

• Glenn Etchegary, Conservative
• Dana Metcalfe, People's Party
• Mary Shortall, NDP
• Joanne Thompson, Liberal

St. John's South-Mount Pearl

• Raymond Critch, NDP
• Steve Hodder, Conservative
• Seamus O'Regan, Liberal (incumbent)
• Georgia Stewart, People's Party

More diversity is needed, sayselections group

While the 2021 election features diversity in terms of gender and Indigenous status, an organizationcommitted to supporting and electing more women at all levels of government says more can be done in terms of diversity on the ballot.

"We're really happy to see quite a few women and gender diverse individuals across all the parties...but we're still not there in terms of equity seeking groups,"Courtney Clarke of Equal Voice NL told CBC News Ton uesday.

"We need more people with disabilities. We need to see more racialized, Indigenous, people of colour, and we need to see new Canadians. And we need to look further into those systemic barriers that are keeping people from not only running but engaging."

Clarke said having a more diverse ballot creates opportunities for more Canadians to be represented in politics, along with bringing their own experiences to the decision making table.

Dr. Syed Prizada, who ran for the NDP nomination in St. John's East and lost to Mary Shortall, became the first Muslim to put his name forward for federal politics in Newfoundland and Labrador.

While he has seen great change in terms of local diversity, he said, he and others still don't see it when looking at the province on the national stage.

"We know that the population of Newfoundland is aging, and we know that the demographics has changed quite considerably. I've been here almost 22 years, and from that first day until now, I can see the change in how drastically that has changed," he said.

"We acknowledge that the demographic has changed, but that doesn't really reflect in the representation. That's kind of the most kind of disappointing [thing] for all of us."

Prizada said he believesit's only a matter of time until more diversity reaches the federal ballot. But until then, he says, a growing group of people will not be reflected.

"The mould has to change.This glass ceiling has to be broken," he said.

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