Charlene Johnson
Encyclopedia
Charlene Johnson, MHA
is a Canadian politician in Newfoundland and Labrador
, Canada
. She is the Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services in the cabinet
of Kathy Dunderdale
.
Johnson has represented the district
of Trinity-Bay de Verde
for the Progressive Conservative Party
since 2003, and has been re-elected twice. She previously held the post of Minister of the Environment from October 2007, to January 2011. Johnson is the youngest woman ever elected to the House of Assembly
, and the only woman to ever give birth while serving as a Member of the House of Assembly
(MHA).
community of Gull Island. She studied at the University of New Brunswick
, where she was awarded a Bachelor of Science
degree in Forest Engineering. Johnson then obtained a Masters of Applied Science degree in Environmental Engineering
from Memorial University of Newfoundland
.
Johnson became the youngest woman to ever be elected to the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly. Johnson defeated Liberal
incumbent Lloyd Snow in the district of Trinity-Bay de Verde, she won 63 percent of the vote compared to Snow's 32 percent. She was re-elected in the 2007 provincial election
, taking 72 percent of the vote. Following the election Premier Danny Williams
appointed her Minister of Environment and Conservation.
In April 2009, Johnson became the first MHA in Newfoundland and Labrador, and one of only a handful of women in Canada, to give birth while being a member of a provincial or federal legislature.
Johnson served as the Environment Minister till January 2011, when Premier Kathy Dunderdale appointed her Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services. Later that year she was re-elected, winning 62 percent of the popular. Johnson remained in the portfolio of Child, Youth and Family services when Dunderdale named her new cabinet several weeks after the election.
|Progressive Conservative
|Charlene Johnson
|align="right"|2882
|align="right"|61.91%
|align="right"|
|-
|Liberal
|Barry Snow
|align="right"|1114
|align="right"|23.93%
|align="right"|
|-
|NDP
|Sheina Lerman
|align="right"|659
|align="right"|14.16%
|align="right"|
|}
|-
|Progressive Conservative
|Charlene Johnson
|align="right"|3572
|align="right"|71.93%
|align="right"|
|-
|Liberal
|Bruce M. Layman
|align="right"|1137
|align="right"|22.9%
|align="right"|
|-
|NDP
|Don Penney
|align="right"|257
|align="right"|5.18%
|align="right"|
|}
|-
|Progressive Conservative
|Charlene Johnson
|align="right"|4091
|align="right"| 63.2%
|align="right"|
|-
|Liberal
|Lloyd G. Snow
|align="right"|2095
|align="right"|32.37%
|align="right"|
|-
|NDP
|Victoria Harnum
|align="right"|287
|align="right"|4.43%
|align="right"|
|}
Member of the House of Assembly
A Member of the House of Assembly is a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly in Canada.Other Provinces and TerritoriesMembers of other Canadian provincial and territorial assemblies employ the titles:...
is a Canadian politician in Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. She is the Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services in the cabinet
Executive Council of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Executive Council of Newfoundland and Labrador is the cabinet of that Canadian province....
of Kathy Dunderdale
Kathy Dunderdale
Kathleen Mary Margaret "Kathy" Dunderdale MHA is a Canadian politician and the tenth and current Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, having served in this capacity since December 3, 2010...
.
Johnson has represented the district
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
of Trinity-Bay de Verde
Trinity-Bay de Verde
Trinity—Bay de Verde is a provincial electoral district of the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The district covers the eastern edge of Trinity Bay and the tip of Conception Bay...
for the Progressive Conservative Party
Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
For pre-1949 Conservative parties see Conservative parties in Newfoundland The Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is a centre-right provincial political party in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Originally founded in 1949 the party has formed the Government of...
since 2003, and has been re-elected twice. She previously held the post of Minister of the Environment from October 2007, to January 2011. Johnson is the youngest woman ever elected to the House of Assembly
Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly is one of two components of the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, the other being the Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Newfoundland and Labrador General Assembly meets in the Confederation Building at St...
, and the only woman to ever give birth while serving as a Member of the House of Assembly
Member of the House of Assembly
A Member of the House of Assembly is a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly in Canada.Other Provinces and TerritoriesMembers of other Canadian provincial and territorial assemblies employ the titles:...
(MHA).
Background
Johnson was born in Carbonear, Newfoundland and Labrador, and raised in the Conception BayConception Bay
Conception Bay is a Canadian bay located on the northeast coast of the island of Newfoundland. The bay indents the Avalon Peninsula with the opening of the bay to the Atlantic Ocean at the northeast. It is bounded by Cape St. Francis in the south and Split Point near Bay de Verde in the north...
community of Gull Island. She studied at the University of New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
, where she was awarded a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in Forest Engineering. Johnson then obtained a Masters of Applied Science degree in Environmental Engineering
Environmental engineering
Environmental engineering is the application of science and engineering principles to improve the natural environment , to provide healthy water, air, and land for human habitation and for other organisms, and to remediate polluted sites...
from Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland, is a comprehensive university located primarily in St...
.
Politics
In the 2003 provincial electionNewfoundland and Labrador general election, 2003
The 46th Newfoundland and Labrador general election was held on October 21, 2003, to elect the 48 members of the 45th General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, the 17th general election for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada...
Johnson became the youngest woman to ever be elected to the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly. Johnson defeated Liberal
Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is a political party in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada and the provincial wing of the Liberal Party of Canada. It is the Official Opposition and currently holds six seats in the provincial legislature.-Origins:The party originated in...
incumbent Lloyd Snow in the district of Trinity-Bay de Verde, she won 63 percent of the vote compared to Snow's 32 percent. She was re-elected in the 2007 provincial election
Newfoundland and Labrador general election, 2007
The 47th Newfoundland and Labrador general election was held on October 9, 2007 to elect members of the 46th General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, the 18th general election for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.-Campaign:...
, taking 72 percent of the vote. Following the election Premier Danny Williams
Danny Williams (politician)
Daniel E. "Danny" Williams, QC, MHA is a Canadian politician, businessman and lawyer who served as the ninth Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador between November 6, 2003, and December 3, 2010. Williams was born and raised in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador...
appointed her Minister of Environment and Conservation.
In April 2009, Johnson became the first MHA in Newfoundland and Labrador, and one of only a handful of women in Canada, to give birth while being a member of a provincial or federal legislature.
Johnson served as the Environment Minister till January 2011, when Premier Kathy Dunderdale appointed her Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services. Later that year she was re-elected, winning 62 percent of the popular. Johnson remained in the portfolio of Child, Youth and Family services when Dunderdale named her new cabinet several weeks after the election.
Electoral record
|-|Progressive Conservative
|Charlene Johnson
|align="right"|2882
|align="right"|61.91%
|align="right"|
|-
|Liberal
|Barry Snow
|align="right"|1114
|align="right"|23.93%
|align="right"|
|-
|NDP
|Sheina Lerman
|align="right"|659
|align="right"|14.16%
|align="right"|
|}
|-
|Progressive Conservative
|Charlene Johnson
|align="right"|3572
|align="right"|71.93%
|align="right"|
|-
|Liberal
|Bruce M. Layman
|align="right"|1137
|align="right"|22.9%
|align="right"|
|-
|NDP
|Don Penney
|align="right"|257
|align="right"|5.18%
|align="right"|
|}
|-
|Progressive Conservative
|Charlene Johnson
|align="right"|4091
|align="right"| 63.2%
|align="right"|
|-
|Liberal
|Lloyd G. Snow
|align="right"|2095
|align="right"|32.37%
|align="right"|
|-
|NDP
|Victoria Harnum
|align="right"|287
|align="right"|4.43%
|align="right"|
|}