Gudie Hutchings

Hutchings was born on September 1, 1959 in Corner Brook to Arthur Lundrigan and Ida Lundrigan (née Johnson) and grew up in the Humber Valley.[2][3] She attended Acadia University.[1]

Prior to her election, Hutchings was a local businessperson with a nearly three-decade career primarily in the tourism and outfitting industries.[4] She owned fly fishing lodges in Labrador, spent more than ten years on the board of the Newfoundland and Labrador Outfitters Association – rising to the position of president, and served on the inaugural national board of the Canadian Federation of Outfitting Associations.[3] She is also a former president of the Corner Brook Chamber of Commerce.[5] At the time of her election, Hutchings was also the chair of the Battle Harbour Historic Trust.[3] She volunteered for over 15 years with Girl Guides of Canada as a Brownie, Guide, Pathfinder, and Ranger Leader, and was a girl member during her childhood, calling it a "huge part of her growing up".[6]

Gerry Byrne, who held the riding of Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte for the Liberal Party of Canada since 1996, decided in June 2014 to not to run in the 2015 federal election and instead run in the 2015 Newfoundland and Labrador general election.[4][7] Hutchings, endorsed by Byrne,[7] decided to run for the nomination in November 2014.[3] She secured the nomination in March 2015 to run as the Liberal candidate in the riding of Long Range Mountains,[8] and was elected in the federal election with about 74% of the vote.[7]

On December 2, 2015, Hutchings was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Tourism.[9] On November 6, 2017, Hutchings was appointed to the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians.[10]

Hutchings was re-elected in the 2019 federal election, and on December 12, 2019, was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development.[11]

• Official website
• Gudie Hutchings – Parliament of Canada biography