Minister of Labrador Affairs
Minister Responsible for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation
Deputy Government House Leader
Member for Cartwright – L’Anse au Clair
Ms. Dempster was first elected to the House of Assembly in 2013 in her home district of Cartwright-L’Anse au Clair. Ms. Dempster was appointed Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly in December 2015. In July 2017, Ms. Dempster was appointed Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development, Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation and Minister Responsible for the Status of Persons with Disabilities. She also served as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment.
Born and raised in Charlottetown, Labrador, Ms. Dempster attended Memorial University, and worked in the tourism and hospitality industry. She worked for 23 years as a career and employment counsellor, including 10 years with the NunatuKavut Community Council, of which Ms. Dempster is a proud member.
Ms. Dempster also served as Deputy Mayor of Charlottetown, Labrador Director on the Board of Directors of Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador, a trustee with the Labrador-Grenfell Regional Health Authority Board, and was a member of Memorial University Faculty of Medicine’s Admissions Committee.
From 2014-19, Ms. Dempster represented the province on the National Steering Committee of Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians, where she shared her perspective on opportunities and challenges available to women interested in pursuing public office.
Ms. Dempster is married with two children: Nicholas (now deceased) and Natalie. She makes her home in Charlottetown, Labrador with her husband, Gaius.
On April 8, 2021, she was sworn in as Minister Responsible for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister Responsible for Labrador Affairs, and Deputy Government House Leader. On April 4, 2023, she was sworn in as Minister of Labrador Affairs.