Tom Osborne (born 1964) is a former politician in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. He represented the district of Waterford Valley in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 1996 to 2024. He was a member of the Liberal Party, a former member of the Progressive Conservative Party, and a former Minister in Danny Williams' first cabinet.[3] He served as Minister of Health and Community Services, and Minister of Education in the Furey government. He was Speaker of the House of Assembly from 2015 to 2017.
Tom Osborne | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister of Health and Community Services Newfoundland and Labrador | |
| In office July 6, 2022 – July 5, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | John Haggie |
| Succeeded by | John Hogan |
| In office 2006–2007 | |
| Preceded by | John Ottenheimer |
| Succeeded by | Ross Wiseman |
| Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly for Waterford Valley St. John's South (1996-2015) | |
| In office February 22, 1996 – July 5, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Tom Murphy |
| Succeeded by | Jamie Korab |
| Speaker of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly | |
| In office December 14, 2015[1] – July 31, 2017 | |
| Premier | Dwight Ball |
| Lieutenant Governor | Frank Fagan |
| Preceded by | Wade Verge |
| Succeeded by | Perry Trimper |
| Minister of Environment and Conservation Newfoundland and Labrador | |
| In office 2003–2006 | |
| Succeeded by | Clyde Jackman |
| Minister of Justice for Newfoundland and Labrador | |
| In office 2007–2007 | |
| Preceded by | Paul Shelley |
| Succeeded by | Jerome Kennedy |
| Minister of Education in Newfoundland and Labrador | |
| In office August 19, 2020[2] – July 6, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | position established |
| Succeeded by | John Haggie |
| Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board of Newfoundland and Labrador | |
| In office July 31, 2017 – August 19, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Cathy Bennett |
| Succeeded by | Siobhán Coady |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1964 (age 59–60) St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada |
| Political party | Liberal (2013-present) Independent (2012-2013) Progressive Conservative (1996-2012) |
At the time of his retirement, Osborne was the province's longest consecutively-serving MHA having been in the House of Assembly from 1996 to 2024.[4][5]
Politics
editPrior to entering politics Osborne worked for Statistics Canada, Small Business Enterprise, and with the Penney Group of Companies.[6] He is the son of former MHA Sheila Osborne.[7]
Opposition
editOsborne was first elected to the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly in the 1996 provincial election in the district of St. John's South. The election resulted in a landslide victory for Brian Tobin's Liberals and Osborne was one of only nine Progressive Conservatives elected. Osborne was re-elected in the 1999 election and though the PC's had gained 5 seats the Liberals still won a large majority government.
In government
editWith the victory of the Progressive Conservatives in the 2003 election[8] Premier Danny Williams appointed Osborne to Cabinet as the Minister responsible for Environment and Labour. On February 20, 2004 Government announced a restructuring of departments, which saw the creation of the new Department of Environment and Conservation, which Osborne remained minister of.
On March 14, 2006, Osborne became Minister of Health and Community Services succeeding John Ottenheimer. During his time as Minister of Health more information on errors in hormone receptor breast cancer testing were coming to light. The errors eventually led to the Commission of Inquiry on Hormone Receptor Testing.[9]
In January 2007, with the announcement that several cabinet Ministers would not be seeking re-election in that October's general election Williams shuffled his Cabinet. Osborne was assigned the Justice portfolio taking over for Paul Shelley who was retiring from politics in October.[10]
With the re-election of the Progressive Conservatives in 2007, Osborne was replaced as Justice Minister by Jerome Kennedy. Williams announced he would be nominating Osborne to serve as Deputy Chair of Committees in the House of Assembly and on November 1, 2007, he was confirmed to serve as Deputy Chair of Committees in the House of Assembly.[11]
In 2008, Osborne testified at the Commission of Inquiry on Hormone Receptor Testing and was asked about his time as Minister of Health.[12]
He was re-elected in the 2011 general election.
Opposition
editIn September 2012, Osborne resigned from the Progressive Conservative party citing the leadership of Premier Kathy Dunderdale and began sitting as an Independent.[13] On August 29, 2013, Osborne joined the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador.[14]
Ball and Furey governments (2015-2024)
editIn the 2015 election the Liberal Party won control of the House of Assembly and Osborne was chosen as Speaker. Following the resignation of Cathy Bennett, Osborne was appointed Minister of Finance in the Ball government on July 31, 2017.[15][16] He was re-elected in the 2019 provincial election. On August 19, 2020, he was appointed Minister of Education in the Furey government.[17][18]
He was re-elected in the 2021 provincial election.[19] On July 6, 2022, he was appointed Minister of Health and Community Services.[20] On May 24, 2024, Osborne announced his retirement effective in July 2024.[21] On July 5, 2024, Osborne resigned.[22] The Waterford Valley provincial by-election was scheduled for August 22, 2024.[23] On August 22, 2024, Liberal Jamie Korab won the provincial by-election.[24]
Electoral record
edit| 2021 Newfoundland and Labrador general election: Waterford Valley | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Liberal | Tom Osborne | 3,592 | 66.79 | -1.77 | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Michael Holden | 1,348 | 25.07 | |||||
| New Democratic | Peter Young | 438 | 8.14 | -23.29 | ||||
| Total valid votes | 5,378 | 99.13 | ||||||
| Total rejected ballots | 47 | 0.87 | -1.42 | |||||
| Turnout | 5,425 | 52.80 | +0.26 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 10,274 | |||||||
| Liberal hold | Swing | -13.42 | ||||||
Source(s)
"Officially Nominated Candidates General Election 2021" (PDF). Elections Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved March 3, 2021. "2021 Provincial General Election Report" (PDF). Retrieved August 8, 2024. | ||||||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Tom Osborne | 3,487 | 68.6% | – | |
| NDP | Matthew Cooper | 1,599 | 31.4% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Tom Osborne | 3,588 | 65.9% | – | |
| NDP | Alison Coffin | 1,062 | 19.5% | ||
| Progressive Conservative | Alison Stoodley | 792 | 14.6% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive Conservative | Tom Osborne | 2,966 | 57.90% | – | |
| NDP | Keith Dunne | 1,994 | 38.92% | ||
| Liberal | Trevor Hickey | 163 | 3.18% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive Conservative | Tom Osborne | 3887 | 79.6% | – | |
| NDP | Clyde Bridger | 571 | 11.69% | ||
| Liberal | Rex Gibbons | 425 | 8.7% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive Conservative | Tom Osborne | 4,532 | 76.0% | – | |
| Liberal | Dennis O'Keefe* | 756 | 12.7% | ||
| NDP | Tom McGinnis | 676 | 11.3% | ||
- Dennis O'Keefe who ran as the Liberal candidate is not the same Dennis O'Keefe that was Mayor of St. John's.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive Conservative | Tom Osborne | 4,041 | 66.32% | – | |
| Liberal | Patrick Kennedy | 1563 | 25.65% | ||
| NDP | Judy Vanata | 374 | 6.14% | ||
| Independent | Jason Crummey | 101 | 1.66% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive Conservative | Tom Osborne | 2,521 | 42.17% | – | |
| Liberal | Tom Murphy | 2,417 | 40.43% | ||
| NDP | Sue Skipton | 858 | 14.35% | ||
| Independent | Bill Maddigan | 155 | 2.59% | ||
References
edit- ^ "New House Speaker Tom Osborne first to be chosen by election". CBC News. December 18, 2015. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
- ^ "New N.L. premier, new finance minister: Andrew Furey takes office and shuffles cabinet". CBC News. December 6, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
- ^ "Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly Member Profile". Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly. Retrieved November 20, 2008.
- ^ "Yvonne Jones says goodbye to fellow MHAs". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. March 28, 2013. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
- ^ "Osborne Breaks Provincial Record for Longest-Sitting Member of Legislature".
- ^ "Cabinet of Premier Dwight Ball Sworn in as New Government is Formed". May 30, 2019.
- ^ "There are 3 sets of siblings running in the Newfoundland and Labrador election". CBC News Newfoundland and Labrador, May 5, 2019.
- ^ "Tories sweep to power in Newfoundland and Labrador". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. October 22, 2003. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
- ^ "Government Releases Cameron Inquiry Report". Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. March 3, 2009.
- ^ "Williams shuffles cabinet heading into N.L. election stretch". CBC News. January 19, 2007. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
- ^ "Tom Osborne | Dunderdale 2011 | PC Party Newfoundland and Labrador". Archived from the original on August 11, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
- ^ "No regrets over how cancer case was handled, former minister says". CBC News. April 8, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
- ^ "Osborne quits Tories, cites Dunderdale leadership". CBC News. September 13, 2012. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ "Tom Osborne joins Liberals". CBC News. August 29, 2013. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ "Cathy Bennett out, Tom Osborne in as finance minister amid cabinet shuffle | CBC News".
- ^ "N.L.'s financial situation deteriorated further in just-ended fiscal year | CBC News".
- ^ "Newfoundland and Labrador's new premier doesn't clear the deck, but he certainly shuffled it | SaltWire".
- ^ "Andrew Furey takes office as 14th premier of N.L., names cabinet". CBC News. August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
- ^ "Here are all the MHAs elected in the Newfoundland and Labrador election". CBC News. March 27, 2021.
- ^ Mullin, Malone; Kennedy, Alex (July 6, 2022). "Surprise N.L. cabinet shuffle sees John Haggie, Tom Osborne switch roles". CBC News.
- ^ Kennedy, Alex (May 24, 2024). "Health Minister Tom Osborne, N.L.'s longest-serving MHA, announces retirement". CBC News.
- ^ "Health Minister Tom Osborne retiring in July after 28 years in politics". NTV. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ Kennedy, Alex (July 24, 2024). "Waterford Valley voters headed to the polls in late August for byelection". CBC News.
- ^ Arlette Lazarenko, "Jamie Korab holds Waterford Valley for the Liberals with byelection victory". CBC News Newfoundland and Labrador, August 22, 2024.
- ^ Newfoundland & Labrador Votes 2019. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
- ^ Newfoundland & Labrador Votes 2007. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved May 22, 2009.
- ^ Newfoundland & Labrador Votes 2003. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved May 22, 2009.
- ^ a b General Election Reports Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine. Elections Newfoundland & Labrador. Retrieved April 6, 2011.