NLIS 4
November 8, 2005
(Executive Council)
Premier announces new Cabinet
appointments
In the week that marks the official second
anniversary of this administration, Premier Danny Williams announced today some
changes to his Cabinet.
�I have been blessed to have strong and capable leadership in each and every one
of my ministers and, together with the support of caucus, we have made
tremendous strides over the past two years to create a stronger and more
prosperous Newfoundland and Labrador,� said Premier Williams. �I am pleased
today to announce some changes within Cabinet, as we carry on with implementing
our vision for the future. Our new Cabinet will continue to provide direction
and strong leadership for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.�
The following portfolios will be under new leadership effective immediately:
- Deputy Premier, Minister of Fisheries and
Aquaculture and Minister Responsible for Aboriginal Affairs � Tom Rideout
- Minister of Education and Minister
Responsible for Status of Women � Joan Burke
- Minister of Human Resources, Labour and
Employment; Minister Responsible for Labrador Affairs; and Minister
Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing � Paul Shelley
- Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation
� Tom Hedderson
- Minister of Transportation and Works �
Trevor Taylor
�Each and every one of these ministers has
provided very effective leadership in their previous portfolios, and I wish to
sincerely thank them for the contributions they have made to date,� added the
Premier. �I look forward to their continued advice and guidance in their new
roles.�
In addition to Cabinet changes, Premier Williams also appointed Minister Tom
Rideout as Deputy Premier. �As a former premier and outstanding parliamentarian
and MHA, I am so pleased to appoint Minister Rideout as Deputy Premier,� said
the premier. �The role of Premier is incredibly demanding, including frequent
travel outside of the province. In these circumstances, it is important to have
in my stead an individual who can effectively fulfill some of the duties of the
Premier�s office.�
Media contact: Elizabeth Matthews, Office of the Premier, (709) 729-3960 or
(709) 690-5500, elizabethmatthews@gov.nl.ca
TOM RIDEOUT
Member for Lewisporte
Former Premier, Progressive Conservative Party Leader, long-serving Cabinet
Minister and veteran MHA Tom Rideout is a lawyer and former high school teacher
who was born in 1948. Prior to entering politics in 1975, he was a teacher at
St. Theresa�s All-Grade School at Fleur de Lys and St. Pius X Central High
School at Baie Verte, where he also served as vice-principal. He was elected to
the House of Assembly by the people of Baie Verte-White Bay District in 1975,
1979, 1982, 1985 and 1989. In 1999 and 2003, he was elected to represent the
people of Lewisporte District. While serving as MHA, Mr. Rideout was appointed
Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier (1982-85), Minister of Culture,
Recreation and Youth (1984-85), and Minister of Fisheries (1985-89). While a
Cabinet Minister, he served on the Cabinet Committees for Social Policy,
Resource Policy (Vice-Chair), Treasury Board, Research and Development,
Fisheries Restructuring (Chair), and Planning and Priorities. In 1989, he was
elected Leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador Progressive Conservative Party
and, on March 22, 1989, became the province�s fourth Premier since
Confederation, and served in the First Minister�s post and as Intergovernmental
Affairs Minister until May 5, 1989. From May 1989 until September 1991, he
served as Leader of the Official Opposition. From 1991 to 1993, he served as a
Member of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. In 1994, he enrolled in
the University of Ottawa law school, graduating in May 1997 with a Baccalaureate
of Laws (LL.B.). While studying, he worked with Ottawa�s Mike Bell and
Associates and with the International Directorate of the Department of Fisheries
and Oceans. He articled in St. John�s with Morris, Pittman, Powell (formerly
Morris & Pittman). He was admitted to the Law Society of Newfoundland as a
Barrister, Solicitor & Notary in June 1998, and served as an associate in the
practice of law with Fraize Law Offices. Mr. Rideout has been heavily involved
in the community in many capacities, and with community organizations including
the Kinsmen Club of Canada, the Royal Canadian Legion and the Boy Scouts of
Canada. He has served as the Opposition Justice critic, Deputy House Leader, a
Member of the Strategy Committee and Chair of the Economic Development Committee
of Caucus. Tom and his late wife, Jacinta, have four children.
JOAN BURKE
Member for St. George�s - Stephenville East
Raised in Bishop�s Falls, Joan Burke attended Memorial University of
Newfoundland where she earned a degree in Social Work in 1987, following which
she accepted a position in Stephenville as an Adult Probation Officer with the
Department of Justice. She graduated in 1990 from the University of Toronto with
a Masters degree in Social Work, following which she accepted employment in
Toronto as a Parole Officer with the Correctional Services of Canada, and also
worked part-time as a counselor with the Kids� Help Line. With her husband
Brian, she moved to St. John�s where she worked with the Correctional Services
of Canada and also owned and operated a small business, offering counseling and
assessment services. In 1996, she was asked by the Correctional Services of
Canada to coordinate the Exchange of Service Agreement between the federal and
provincial governments, which resulted in federal offenders being maintained at
the West Coast Correctional Centre in Stephenville. In 1996, she applied for and
was granted a transfer to Stephenville to work at the West Coast Correctional
Centre as a Parole Officer with the Correctional Services of Canada. She handled
case preparation for federal offenders and served as the Staff Trainer for new
Parole Officers in the Atlantic region. She has served as an Executive Member of
the Association of Social Workers and as a member of their Committee of
Examiners. She has been a volunteer with the Canadian Mental Health Association.
She also served on the executive of the Union of Solicitor General Employees (USGE)
and as Shop Steward for Local 90098. She has been very active in the Guiding
movement and, in addition to being a Brownie leader, has served as the Girl
Guides of Canada Deputy Area Commissioner and Area Training Coordinator for the
southwest region. She is also a founding member of the Stephenville Gymnastics
Club and continues to volunteer as a coach. Ms. Burke and her husband have an
eight-year old daughter.
PAUL SHELLEY
Member for Baie Verte
Born in Baie Verte in 1959 and raised in a family of 12 children, Paul Shelley
graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland with a conjoint Bachelor of
Physical Education / Bachelor of Education degree. He began his career as a
construction worker from 1977 to 1981. After graduating from Memorial, he served
as Technical Director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Basketball Association in
1986-87. He worked as a teacher in Baie Verte from 1987 to 1989; served as
Special Assistant to the Premier in 1989; and taught at R.T. Elementary in Baie
Verte from 1989 to 1993. Mr. Shelley was elected to represent the former Baie
Verte-White Bay and the current Baie Verte districts in 1993, 1996, 1999 and
2003. He has served as the Opposition critic for Works, Services and
Transportation, Forest Resources and Agrifoods, Labrador Affairs, Post-secondary
Education, Municipal and Provincial Affairs, Intergovernmental Affairs, and
Mines and Energy. He also served as a member of the Public Accounts Committee,
Deputy House Leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr. Shelley is married
to Beverly Whitten and they have three children - Maria, Laura and Adam.
TOM HEDDERSON
Member for Harbour Main - Whitbourne
The youngest of 19 - a family of nine brothers and ten sisters - Tom Hedderson
graduated with Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) and Bachelor of Education (English)
degrees from Memorial University of Newfoundland and a Master of Education
(Psychology) from Mount Saint Vincent University in Nova Scotia. He served as
principal of Bishop O�Neill Collegiate in Brigus. He is a past president of the
Bay Roberts Branch of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers� Association, a
past vice-president of the NLSH Sports Federation and a past regional director
of the Newfoundland and Labrador Home and School Federation (NLHSF) Sports
Federation. He has served as a coordinator of the Conception Bay North
Volleyball Club, auditor of the Georgetown Recreation Committee, a member of the
Royal Canadian Legion Branch #65, and a member of Cabot Assembly. Elected to the
House of Assembly in 1999 and 2003, Mr. Hedderson has served as Opposition
critic for Education (Primary, Elementary and Secondary) and Youth Services and
Post-secondary Education. He also served as the Parliamentary Assistant to the
Leader of the Opposition. Mr. Hedderson and his wife, Rosemary, have two
daughters: Christa Marie and Julia Anne. They reside in Georgetown.
TREVOR TAYLOR
Member for The Straits & White Bay North
Born and raised in Gunners Cove, Trevor Taylor graduated from Truman Eddison
Memorial in Gunners Cove in 1984 and attended Memorial University and the Marine
Institute. He has been extensively involved in the fishery at several levels. He
worked as a fishermen harvesting cod until the moratorium in 1992. He was
skipper for three years of a 55-foot shrimp / crab boat Cull�s Eclipse. He is a
past executive board member of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers� Union and
worked for six years as a staff member of the union. He served two terms as a
member of the Fisheries Resource Conservation Council. He taught off-campus
fisheries courses for the Marine Institute. He served as a member of the Oxfam
fisheries delegation to Nicaragua. He served on the boards of the Canadian
Centre for Fisheries Innovation, the St. Anthony Basin Resources Inc. (SABRI),
and the White Bay North Rural Development Association. He was first elected to
the House of Assembly in a by-election in The Straits & White Bay North on
January 30, 2001 and subsequently served as the Opposition critic for Fisheries
and Aquaculture and for Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs. Mr. Taylor and his
wife, Michelle, have two children: Ian and Nicholas.
2005 11 08
3:45 p.m.
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