Executive Council
October 7, 2009Premier Announces
Changes to Cabinet
The Honourable Danny Williams, Premier of
Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced changes to
his Cabinet. The new Cabinet ministers were sworn in
today at a ceremony at Government House in St. John�s.
The following portfolios will be under new leadership
effective immediately:
Minister of Finance, President of
Treasury Board, Minister Responsible for the
Public Service Secretariat and Minister
Responsible for the Office of the Chief
Information Officer - The
Honourable Tom Marshall
Minister of Health and Community Services
- The Honourable Jerome Kennedy
Minister of Justice and Attorney
General � The Honourable Felix
Collins
"I am pleased to announce today the addition of Felix
Collins to our Cabinet, as well as new portfolios for
some of our current ministers," said Premier Williams.
"I want to thank both Ministers Kennedy and Marshall for
their outstanding work in their previous departments and
I look forward to their continued contributions
individually as ministers and collectively around the
Cabinet table."
Premier Danny Williams also announced today that
Dianne Whelan, Minister of Municipal Affairs, will serve
as acting Minister of Transportation and Works effective
immediately.
"I thank Paul Oram for his tireless contribution to
the public service and wish him the best in all his
future endeavors," said Premier Williams.
Appointments are effective immediately.
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Media contacts:
BACKGROUNDER
Biographies
The Honourable Tom Marshall � Member for Humber East
Tom Marshall is the son of the late Sylvia Marshall
and Jack Marshall, former Progressive Conservative
Member of Parliament for Humber-St. George�s-St. Barbe.
He grew up in Corner Brook before attending Memorial
University of Newfoundland, where he was awarded a
bachelor of commerce degree in 1969, and Dalhousie
University in Halifax, where he was awarded a bachelor
of laws degree in 1972. After graduation, he returned to
Corner Brook and joined the law firm of Barry, Wells and
Monaghan as an associate lawyer, articling with Kevin
Barry, Q.C., and became a partner in the firm of Barry,
Wells, Monaghan, Seaborn and Marshall in 1975. He
remained senior partner with the firm of Monaghan,
Marshall, Murphy and Watton until his election and
subsequent appointment to Cabinet in 2003 (Minister of
Justice and Attorney General). In 1986, he was appointed
Queen�s Counsel. Mr. Marshall was appointed Minister
Responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs on March 11,
2005. On December 29, 2006 Mr. Marshall was appointed
Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board
until October 31, 2008, when he resumed responsibility
as Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
The Honourable Jerome Kennedy � Member for
Carbonear�Harbour Grace
Jerome Kennedy was born and raised in Carbonear and
graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland in
1981 with a bachelor of arts (honours). He attended the
University of New Brunswick Law School and graduated in
1984 with an LLB and was admitted to the Newfoundland
Bar in 1985. He began practicing criminal law full time
in 1989.
During his career Mr. Kennedy practiced at all levels
of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada. Prior
to his election and subsequent appointment as Minister
of Justice and Attorney General, Mr. Kennedy practiced
with the criminal law firm Simmonds Kennedy in St
John�s.
On October 31, 2008, Mr. Kennedy was appointed
Minister of Finance, President of Treasury Board,
Minister Responsible for the Public Service Secretariat
and Minister Responsible for the Office of the Chief
Information Officer.
He currently lives in St. John�s with his wife and
their two children.
The Honourable Felix Collins � Member for
Placentia�St. Mary�s
Born in St. Anne�s, Placentia Bay, Felix Collins
graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland with
a bachelor of arts degree in education in 1964 and a
bachelor of arts degree in 1968. He completed a masters
of education degree in 1972 from the University of
Boston and a bachelor of laws degree from the University
of Ottawa in 1995, at which time he was awarded the
Newton Rowell Scholarship for his dedication to public
service.
He worked as a school principal, teacher, coordinator
and a superintendent of education until retirement in
1992, at which time he entered law school. He was called
to the Newfoundland Bar in April 1996 and is a member of
the Law Society of Newfoundland. He practiced law in St.
John�s until 2007.
He was Mayor of the Town of Placentia for sixteen
years and a member of the Placentia Council for nineteen
years. He was chairperson of the first Joint Councils of
the Placentia area and served as Chairperson of the
Placentia Area Recreation Commission. He was one of the
founding directors of the Placentia Health Care Board,
and served eight years as its vice-president. He served
six years on the Board of Directors of Marine Atlantic.
In 1990 he was named first winner of the Johnson
Foundation Award, granted annually by the Newfoundland
and Labrador Teachers Association to a provincial
educator who has made a major contribution to community
life. That same year he was named Placentia Citizen of
the Year.
In February, 2006, Mr. Collins was elected to the
Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly for the
District of Placentia and St. Mary�s in a by-election.
He was re-elected on October 9, 2007.
As a Member of the House of Assembly, Mr. Collins has
served as Deputy Chair of Committees, Chair of the
Elections and Privileges Committee, and a Member of the
Public Accounts Committee. He has also served as
Legislative Advisor to the Minister of Natural Resources
and as Commissioner for the St. John�s Urban Region
(Agricultural) Development Area Boundary Review.
Mr. Collins is married, and has three children and
one granddaughter.
2009 10 07 3:10 p.m.