Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador leadership election, August 2011
Encyclopedia
The Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador leadership election, August 2011 was prompted by Yvonne Jones'
announcement that she would be stepping down as Liberal leader, once her successor was chosen, due to health reasons. Her announcement came 62 days before the October 2011 provincial election
.
Former Member of the House of Assembly
(MHA) and cabinet minister Kevin Aylward
was chosen as the Liberal leader on August 14, 2011.
, and was officially sworn in as party leader on May 28, 2011. Jones had been acclaimed leader after being the only candidate to file nomination papers for the leadership in July 2010. On August 16, 2010, she announced she had breast cancer
and would be taking a leave of absence for treatment, but would vowed to return and fight the election. Jones returned to the House of Assembly
for the Spring sitting and had already started making policy announcements for the election when she announced her resignation. Jones held a news conference on August 9, 2011, where she announced her resignation stating that her white blood cell count had not recovered and her immune system was too weak to fight an election as leader, though she would seek re-election in her district.
leadership earlier in the year.
Danny Dumaresque
Former MHA for Eagle River
(1989-1996) and former party president.
.
candidate in Bay of Islands
.
Yvonne Jones
Yvonne Jones is a Canadian politician and former leader of the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador. She currently represents the riding of Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, and was one of only three Liberal incumbents re-elected in the province's...
announcement that she would be stepping down as Liberal leader, once her successor was chosen, due to health reasons. Her announcement came 62 days before the October 2011 provincial election
Newfoundland and Labrador general election, 2011
The 48th Newfoundland and Labrador general election occurred on October 11, 2011, to elect members of the 47th General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, the 19th election for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada...
.
Former 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) and cabinet minister Kevin Aylward
Kevin Aylward
Kevin Aylward is a Canadian politician in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. He has served as leader of the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador since August 14, 2011...
was chosen as the Liberal leader on August 14, 2011.
Timing
Jones served as the interim party leader following the 2007 provincial electionNewfoundland 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:...
, and was officially sworn in as party leader on May 28, 2011. Jones had been acclaimed leader after being the only candidate to file nomination papers for the leadership in July 2010. On August 16, 2010, she announced she had breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
and would be taking a leave of absence for treatment, but would vowed to return and fight the election. Jones returned 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...
for the Spring sitting and had already started making policy announcements for the election when she announced her resignation. Jones held a news conference on August 9, 2011, where she announced her resignation stating that her white blood cell count had not recovered and her immune system was too weak to fight an election as leader, though she would seek re-election in her district.
Process of selecting leader
Due to the timing of Jones' resignation, less then 6 weeks before the writ for the election was set to drop, the Liberal executive met on the night of her resignation to come up with a process of selecting a leader as soon as possible. Nominations for the leadership opened at noon on August 10, and closed on August 12, at noon. Candidates submitted a non-refundable $500 fee in addition to a letter to party president Judy Morrow expressing their interest in the leadership. The party executive engaged in a 48 hour consultation process, that reached out to party members throughout the province. On the afternoon of August 14, the candidates were allowed half an hour to address the executive board. The 19 members of the executive board voted by secret ballot to determine the successful leadership candidate, and Aylward won on the first ballot.Kevin Aylward
Former MHA for St. George's-Stephenville East (1985-2003) and cabinet minister.- Support from caucus members:
- Support from outside caucus:
- Date campaign launched: August 12, 2011.
- Policies:
Brad Cabana
Businessman and blogger, who attempted to run for the Progressive Conservative PartyProgressive 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...
leadership earlier in the year.
- Support from caucus members:
- Support from outside caucus:
- Date campaign launched: August 10, 2011.
- Policies:Get rid of the Muskrat Falls deal and get the province's debt under control.
Bern Coffey
St. John's lawyer.- Support from caucus members:
- Support from outside caucus:
- Date campaign launched: August 11, 2010.
- Policies:Get rid of the current Muskrat Falls deal and sustain government spending.
Danny DumaresqueDanny DumaresqueDanny Dumaresque is a Canadian politician. He represented the riding of Eagle River in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 1989 to 1996 as a member of the Liberal Party....
Former MHA for Eagle RiverCartwright-L'Anse Au Clair
Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair is a provincial electoral district for the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. As of 2011, the are 3,131 eligible voters living within the district....
(1989-1996) and former party president.
- Support from caucus members:
- Support from outside caucus:
- Date campaign launched: August 10, 2011.
- Policies:Get rid of the Muskrat Falls deal, and focus on the fishing industry.
Ryan Lane
Consultant, former teacher and candidate in Terra NovaTerra Nova (electoral district)
Terra Nova is a provincial electoral district for the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. As of 2011 there were 8,425 eligible voters within the district....
.
- Support from caucus members:
- Support from outside caucus:
- Date campaign launched: August 12, 2011.
- Policies:
Rodney Martin
Real-estate agent.- Support from caucus members:
- Support from outside caucus:
- Date campaign launched: August 12, 2011.
- Policies:
Charles Murphy
Former New Democratic Party of Newfoundland and LabradorNew Democratic Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party is a social-democratic provincial political party in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The party is the successor to the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and the Newfoundland Democratic Party...
candidate in Bay of Islands
Bay of Islands (electoral district)
Bay of Islands is a provincial electoral district for the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. As of 2011 the district has 7,688 eligible voters....
.
- Support from caucus members:
- Support from outside caucus:
- Date campaign launched: August 12, 2011.
- Policies:
Potential candidates who did not run
- Paul Antle, businessman, Liberal Party of Canada candidate in St. John's EastSt. John's EastSt. John's East is a federal electoral district in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1949....
in 2006. - Siobhan Coady, former LiberalLiberal Party of CanadaThe Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
Member of Parliament for St. John's South—Mount PearlSt. John's South—Mount PearlSt. John's South redirects here. For the provincial electoral district please see St. John's South St. John's South—Mount Pearl is a federal electoral district in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004.-Demographics:Ethnic groups:...
(2008-2011). - Marshall DeanMarshall DeanMarshall Dean is a Canadian politician and businessman. He represented the district of The Straits - White Bay North in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, as a member of the Liberal Party...
, Current MHA for The Straits - White Bay North. - Chuck FureyChuck FureyChuck Furey is a Canadian politician, who represented the electoral district of St. Barbe in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 1985 to 2000. He sat as a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal Party caucus. He resigned from the legislature in 2000 to run as a federal...
, former MHA for St. BarbeSt. Barbe (electoral district)St. Barbe is a provincial electoral district for the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. As of 2011, there were 7,064 eligible voters living within the district....
(1985-2000) and cabinet minister. - Rick HillierRick HillierGeneral Rick Hillier, CMM, MSC, CD , is the former Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Forces. He held this appointment from February 4, 2005 to July 1, 2008. He retired on July 1, 2008, and was replaced by former Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff Walter Natynczyk...
, former Chief of the Defence StaffChief of the Defence StaffThe Chief of the Defence Staff can refer to:*Chief of the Defence Force *Chief of the Defence Staff *Chief of the Defence Staff *Chief of the Defence Staff...
of the Canadian ForcesCanadian ForcesThe Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
. - Dean MacDonald, businessman and former chair of Newfoundland and Labrador HydroNewfoundland and Labrador HydroNewfoundland and Labrador Hydro is a provincial Crown corporation that generates and delivers electricity for Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, and the north-eastern areas of the United States. It also delivers voice and data services to customers in some areas...
. - Lloyd Matthews, former MHA for St. John's NorthSt. John's North (provincial electoral district)St. John’s North is a provincial electoral district for the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. As of 2011 there were 8,779 eligible voters living within the district....
(1993-2003) and cabinet minister. - John NoseworthyJohn NoseworthyJohn L. Noseworthy is a Canadian accountant and politician who served as Auditor General of Newfoundland and Labrador from April 25, 2002 till July 30, 2011...
, former Auditor General of Newfoundland and Labrador. - Randy SimmsRandy SimmsRandy Simms is the current mayor of Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador. Simms is also host of Open Line, a call-in radio talk show that airs weekday mornings on the VOCM/CFCB radio network, and a political commentator for The Telegram and CBC News....
, mayor of Mount PearlMount PearlMount Pearl is the second largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The city is located southwest of St. John's, on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. Mount Pearl is part of the St...
and host of VOCM-AM's Open Line. - Mark Watton, former candidate, Humber WestHumber WestHumber West is a provincial electoral district for the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. As of 2011, there are 8,403 eligible voters living within the district....
Timeline
- August 9, 2011: Yvonne Jones announces she will step down as leader due to her health.
- August 9, 2011: The Liberal Party executive meet to finalize plans to choose the next leader.
- August 10, 2011: Danny Dumaresque and Brad Cabana announce their candidacy for the leadership.
- August 11, 2011: Bern Coffey announces his candidacy.
- August 12, 2011: Kevin Aylward, Ryan Lane, Rodney Martin and Charles Murphy all announce their candidacy.
- August 14, 2011: Kevin Aylward wins the Liberal leadership election.