November 25, 2025 SWEARING-IN OF MEMBER
Member-Elect met in the Assembly Chamber on the morning of November 25, 2025, for the Swearing-In Ceremony.
CLERK (Hawley George): Good morning.
Please rise for the entrance of the hon. Chief Justice of Newfoundland and Labrador, Deborah Fry, Administrator in and for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Thank you.
You may be seated.
Honourable Administrator, invited guests, friends and colleagues, welcome to the Swearing-In Ceremony for the Member-Elect for the District of Topsail - Paradise.
My name is Kim Hawley George and I’m the Clerk of the House of Assembly. On behalf of my fellow Table Officers, Kimberley Hammond, Bobbi Russell and all of the House of Assembly Service, I offer my congratulations to the Member-Elect. We look forward to working with you in the 51st General Assembly on behalf of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.
There are three elements to a Swearing-In Ceremony for a Member of the House of Assembly.
Firstly, before a Member-Elect can assume their seat in the House, they must swear or affirm allegiance to the King. The Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance is a requirement under the Constitution Act, 1867, for Members of all legislatures in Canada, which must be witnessed by the hon. Chief Justice Deborah Fry, Administrator in and for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Secondly, a Member-Elect must make an Oath or Affirmation of Office, which is a requirement of the House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act. Both Oaths or Affirmations are then signed by the Member-Elect and Her Honour the Administrator.
Lastly, the Member-Elect will sign the Roll of Members for the 51st General Assembly, which includes an alphabetical listing of all districts and the signatures of Members elected to those electoral districts in this General Assembly.
I have a proclamation from Her Honour, the hon. Chief Justice of Newfoundland and Labrador, Deborah Fry, Administrator in and for Newfoundland and Labrador.
“TO: Kim Hawley George KC, Clerk of the House of Assembly, and Kimberley Hammond, Principal Clerk of Proceedings, and Bobbi Russell, Principal Clerk of Committees
GREETING;
A PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS under section 128 of the Constitution Act, 1867,I, as Administrator in and for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, am authorized to administer the Oaths or Affirmations of Allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III to those persons elected to be Members of the House of Assembly in the General Election held on October 14th, 2025;
AND WHEREAS under section 5 of the House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act, I, as Administrator in and for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, am authorized to administer the Oaths or Affirmations of Office to those persons elected to be Members of the House of Assembly in the said General Election;
AND WHEREAS the said sections of the Constitution Act, 1867,and the House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act, further require that the person declared elected as the Member for the District of Topsail - Paradise during the said General Election held on the said date must take their Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance and Oath or Affirmation of Office before they can take their seat in the House of Assembly;
NOW THEREFORE, I, the Administrator in and for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, do authorize and direct you, the said Kim Hawley George KC, Kimberley Hammond and Bobbi Russell, or any of you, to request that the Member Elect gather in the House of Assembly Chamber on Tuesday, November 25th, 2025, at 9:00 o’clock in the morning in order to take their Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance and Oath or Affirmation of Office before me.”
Honourable Administrator, I am pleased to report that Travis Wooley, the Chief Electoral Officer, has published a report in the November 24, 2025, edition of The Newfoundland and Labrador Gazette assuring us that the Member-Elect for the District of Topsail - Paradise has been duly elected and is entitled to take their Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance and Oath or Affirmation of Office.
The November 24, 2025, edition of The Newfoundland and Labrador Gazette, containing the report of the Chief Electoral Officer, is deemed to be tabled and formally entered into the House records.
We will now begin the swearing-in of the Member-Elect.
The Member-Elect for the electoral District of Topsail - Paradise, Paul Dinn.
P. DINN: I, Paul Dinn, do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His Heirs and Successors, according to law. So help me God.
I, Paul Dinn, do swear that
(a) I am fully qualified to hold the office of Member for the District of Topsail - Paradise, to which I have been elected;
(b) I have not knowingly contravened the Elections Act, 1991, respecting any matter in relation to my election;
(c) I will faithfully, to the best of my ability, perform the duties and responsibilities of my office and will not allow any direct or indirect monetary or other personal or private interest to influence my conduct or affect my duties in public matters; and
(d) I affirm, ascribe to and agree to the follow the Code of Conduct of Members adopted by the House of Assembly. So help me God.
(Signing of Oath.)
CLERK: Thank you.
I now ask the Member-Elect to proceed to the Clerk’s Table to sign the Roll of Members.
(Signing of the Roll of Members.)
CLERK: Congratulations to the Member for Topsail - Paradise, Paul Dinn.
This concludes today’s ceremony. Congratulations to the Member for Topsail- Paradise, and thank you to those in attendance today.
I now ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort Her Honour the Administrator from the Chamber. Please rise but remain in your seats until Her Honour the Administrator has exited.