Andrea Barbour

The Honourable
Andrea Barbour
ECNL MHA
Barbour in 2026
Member of the
Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
for St. Barbe-L'Anse aux Meadows
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 3, 2025
Preceded byKrista Howell
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts, and Minister of Sports, and Recreation and Parks
In office
October 29, 2025 – August 20, 2026
Preceded byFred Hutton
Succeeded byMike Goosney
Minister of Environment, Conservation and Climate Change
Incumbent
Assumed office
August 20, 2026
Preceded byChris Tibbs
Personal details
BornAndrea Cull[1]
St. Anthony, Newfoundland, Canada
PartyProgressive Conservative
SpouseMatthew Barbour
Children1
EducationMemorial University of Newfoundland (B.Sc.)
OccupationReal estate agent
public servant
artist

Andrea Barbour (née Cull) is a Canadian politician from Newfoundland and Labrador. She was elected to the House of Assembly in the 2025 general election for the electoral district of St. Barbe-L'Anse aux Meadows.

Background

Barbour graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical geography.[2] She was a stay-at-home mother and former federal government employee. She became viral on TikTok where she posted traditional home-cooked recipes.[1] She is also the owner of the Rise Above Boutique NL.[3] She told a local newspaper that a near-death experience in 2020 left her "without a doubt that heaven, angels, and God are real."[4]

Political career

Barbour was elected to the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly in St. Barbe-L'Anse aux Meadows in the 2025 general election.[5]

On October 29, 2025 Barbour was appointed to the Executive Council as Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Arts, Minister of Sports, Recreation, and Parks, Minister Responsible of PictureNL, Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council, and Minister Responsible for the Pippy Park Commission.[6]

After her appointment, Barbour wiped her social media feeds. Some of her earlier social media posts drew criticism,[7] including comments made that Newfoundland and Labrador culture was being “washed out”[8] that when she grew up, "it was only Newfoundlanders and Labradorians here."[9]

Barbour told media it was a personal decision to remove some of her platforms.[10] Despite criticisms, Barbour was positive in February 2026 about her position, stating to media "it is a perfect fit for who I am."[11]

In April 2026, during her stent as Minister of Tourism, Barbour came under fire for leveraging ChatGPT to edit a post a photo of herself in front of St. John's cultural centre The Rooms alongside statistics related to the economic effect of tourism in the province. The alteration falsely adjusted proportions of the building, and the iconic caribou, representative of Royal Newfoundland Regiment's pivotal role in World War I, was missing; Barbour apologized for the incident.[12] She later delivered to the House of Assembly "a tearful speech about bullying she says she’s faced since taking office."[13]

On 1 July 2026, Barbour delivered a six-minute speech at the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial in northern France, where she stumbled over several words, failing to pronounce Beaumont-Hamel, shrapnel, and valour.[14] Following the event, Barbour issued an apology in which she noted some people felt she didn’t meet standards of presentation.[15]

On 20 August 2026, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham shuffled his cabinet. Barbour moved to a new role as Minister responsible for Environment, Conservation and Climate Change, as well as being the minister overseeing the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board.[16] Regarding Barbour's new placement, the Premier was quoted as saying "I think we’ve got a great fit."[17]

Election Results

2025 Newfoundland and Labrador general election: St. Barbe-L'Anse aux Meadows
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeAndrea Barbour2,59655.20+8.69
LiberalKrista Howell2,00142.55-8.62
New DemocraticBeth Ryan1062.25+1.44
Total valid votes 4,703
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
Eligible voters
Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +8.65
[18]

References

  1. 1 2 Mercer, Nicholas (31 March 2025). "How a Corner Brook woman is keeping NL traditions alive via TikTok: 20 Questions with Andrea Barbour". The Telegram (SaltWire Network). Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  2. ↑ "ANDREA BARBOUR: St. Barbe - L'Anse aux Meadows". Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  3. ↑ "Not available". andreabarbour.company.site.
  4. ↑ Mercer, Nicholas (31 March 2025). "How a Corner Brook woman is keeping NL traditions alive via TikTok: 20 Questions with Andrea Barbour". The Telegram.
  5. ↑ "Newfoundland and Labrador 2025 live results". CBC News. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  6. ↑ "Premier Wakeham Announces New Cabinet". Government of Newfoundland & Labrador. 29 October 2025. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  7. ↑ "Premier's Office Defends Tourism Minister Following Questions About Five-Year-Old Post". VOCM. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
  8. ↑ "Hogan Questions Why External Advisor is Speaking on Behalf of Premier's Office". VOCM Local News. April 22, 2026. Retrieved 14 Nov 2025.
  9. ↑ "UPDATE: Premier's Office Defends Tourism Minister Following Questions About Five-Year-Old Post". VOCM News. 12 November 2025.
  10. ↑ Head, Jenna (10 Nov 2025). "N.L. tourism minister wipes social media days after MHA swearing-in ceremony". CBC News.
  11. ↑ Whitten, Elizabeth (13 Feb 2026). "Despite the critics, N.L.'s tourism minister says her transition to politics is going well". CBC News.
  12. ↑ "N.L. arts and tourism minister says she regrets posting image altered with AI to social media". CBC News. April 22, 2026.
  13. ↑ Ryan, Maddie (23 Apr 2026). "In tearful speech, N.L. tourism minister decries 'bullying' following AI controversy". CBC News. Retrieved 21 Aug 2026.
  14. ↑ Whitten, Elizabeth (7 July 2026). "N.L. tourism minister 'sorry for any disappointment' over 'stumble'-filled speeches". CBC News.
  15. ↑ "N.L. tourism minister says she's sorry for disappointment she caused during ceremonies in France". CBC News. 6 July 2026.
  16. ↑ Whitten, Elizabeth (20 August 2026). "Andrea Barbour now environment minister, Joedy Wall gets health portfolio as Wakeham's cabinet gets shakeup". CBC News. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  17. ↑ "Premier Calls Barbour a 'Perfect Fit' for Environment Minister". VOCM News.
  18. ↑ "Newfoundland and Labrador Votes 2025". newsinteractives.cbc.ca.
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