January 13, 2011
Premier Announces Changes to Cabinet
The Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador,
today announced changes to her Cabinet. The Cabinet Ministers were sworn in
at a ceremony at Government House in St. John’s today.
The following Cabinet appointments were made:
• Minister of Business – The Honourable Derrick Dalley
• Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services – The Honourable
Charlene Johnson
• Minister of Education - The Honourable Joan Burke
• Minister of Environment and Conservation – The Honourable Ross
Wiseman
• Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment; Minister
Responsible for the Status of Persons with Disabilities; Minister
Responsible for the Labour Relations Agency; Minister Responsible for Youth
Engagement; and Minister Responsible for Newfoundland Labrador Housing
Corporation- The Honourable Darin King
"I am pleased to welcome these ministers to their new Cabinet positions, in
particular, Minister Dalley, the newest member to join us around the Cabinet
table,” said Premier Dunderdale. “I look forward to the fresh perspectives
and experiences they will bring to their particular portfolios, and
personally thank them for their unwavering commitment and overall
contributions to the people and the province.”
See attached backgrounder for additional details.
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Media contacts:
| Glenda Power Director of Communications Office of the Premier 709-729-3960 glendapower@gov.nl.ca |
Andrea Nolan Press Secretary Office of the Premier 709-729-4304, 727-0991 andreanolan@gov.nl.ca |
BACKGROUNDER
The Honourable Derrick Dalley, The Member for The Isles of Notre Dame
Derrick Dalley was born in Twillingate, Notre Dame Bay. He spent his early
childhood in Springdale and later returned to Twillingate where he completed
high school at J.M. Olds Collegiate. He graduated from Memorial University
in 1987 with Bachelors of Arts and Education which included a Political
Science major. In 1992, he completed a Masters in Guidance and Counselling
at the University of New Brunswick.
Mr. Dalley started his career as a social worker in Twillingate. After a year he moved to education and became the guidance counsellor in Baie Verte. For seven years Mr. Dalley continued in his role as guidance counsellor for several schools on the Baie Verte Peninsula before moving to Twillingate in 1995. He continued his career in education in various capacities, including principal of Inter Island Academy of New World Island and guidance counselor and principal of J. M. Olds Academy of Twillingate.
He has always been very active in the area of sports having participated in many including hockey and softball. Mr. Dalley spent much of his free time coaching and teaching hockey and working with students who are actively involved in school life.
Mr. Dalley was first elected as a member of the House of Assembly for the
District of The Isles of Notre Dame in the Provincial General Election of
October 9, 2007. He was appointed as Vice-Chair of the Public Accounts
Committee on January 9, 2008. He was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary to
the Minister of Education on April 9, 2009.
He lives in Twillingate with his wife Anne Marie and two children Zachary
and Samantha.
The Honourable Charlene Johnson, The Member of Trinity – Bay de Verde
Charlene Johnson, the youngest woman ever elected to serve in the
Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, is passionate about sustainable
development and the protection of our natural resources. Born in Carbonear
and raised in the Conception Bay community of Gull Island, Ms. Johnson holds
a Bachelor of Science in Forest Engineering from the University of New
Brunswick and a Masters of Applied Science in Environmental Engineering from
Memorial University of Newfoundland.
During her academic years, Ms. Johnson held work placements not only in Newfoundland and Labrador but also in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, British Columbia and California; yet she has never been far in spirit from her home province. She strongly believes Newfoundland and Labrador's most valued resource is its people and is determined to help put an end to the exodus of our people and resources through the creation of new, sustainable opportunities.
Ms. Johnson was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources on July 5, 2006.
Re-elected to the House of Assembly on October 9, 2007, Ms. Johnson was
appointed Minister of Environment and Conservation on October 30, 2007.
The Honourable Joan Burke, The Member for St. George’s – Stephenville
East
Joan Burke was born and raised in Bishop's Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Settling with her husband and daughter in Stephenville, she was first
elected to the House of Assembly in the District of St. George's -
Stephenville East in October 2003.
Ms. Burke’s first Cabinet appointment was as Minister of Human Resources and Employment and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women in November 2003. In February 2004, her responsibilities expanded to include the newly formed Labour Relations Agency, the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, and the Workplace Health and Safety Compensation Commission. At that time, she was also named lead Minister for Immigration in the Province. On November 8, 2005, Ms. Burke was appointed Minister of Education and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women.
Ms. Burke was re-elected to represent the District of St. George’s-Stephenville East on October 9, 2007. On October 30, 2007 Ms. Burke was again appointed as Minister of Education and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women.
In May, 2008 Ms. Burke was named Government House Leader, the first time a woman has been appointed to this position in the history of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Ms. Burke’s work in government is greatly supported by her prior
educational and professional experience. In 1987 she graduated with a
Bachelor of Social Work from Memorial University of Newfoundland and
Labrador and obtained her Master of Social Work from the University of
Toronto in 1990. Prior to entering public life she worked as a parole
officer with the Correctional Services of Canada and served on the executive
of the Union of Solicitor General Employees and as a Shop Steward for Local
90098. Ms. Burke has also spent many years volunteering for a variety of
community events and initiatives.
The Honourable Ross Wiseman, The Member for Trinity North
Ross Wiseman, MHA for Trinity North, was first elected in a by-election on
April 25, 2000.
Prior to entering political life, he had a successful 15-year career in health administration with the Peninsulas Health Care Corporation and the former Clarenville Area Hospital Board.
He also has extensive experience in the financial services industry, having held several branch and regional management positions throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
Mr. Wiseman has demonstrated a strong volunteer commitment to his community. He is a member of the Clarenville Area Chamber of Commerce. Prior to his election, he was chairperson for Bonavista-Trinity-Placentia Integrated and Vista School Board, as well as an executive member and a coach in the Clarenville area minor hockey system. He was also involved as a leader in the scouting movement.
While a Member in the House of Assembly, Mr. Wiseman has served as the deputy chair of Public Accounts Committee. He was also appointed in April 2001 to chair of the House of Assembly Select Committee to inquire into Bill 9 entitled An Act to Provide for the Recovery of Tobacco Related Health Care Costs. In 2005, he also chaired the public consultations on the “Smoking Ban in Bars and Bingo Halls”, resulting in a new Act entitled The Smoke Free Environment Act (2005). He chaired the Provincial Advisory Council on Aging and Seniors and also the Public Consultations on Healthy Aging, a process to assist government in developing a Provincial Healthy Aging Plan.
On September 26, 2001, he was appointed the Opposition Critic for Health and Community Services. Following his victory in the Provincial General Election in the district of Trinity North on October 21, 2003, Mr. Wiseman was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Community Services. On January 19, 2007, he was appointed Minister of Health and Community Services.
On October 9, 2007, he was re-elected to the House of Assembly and subsequently appointed Minister of Health and Community Services on October 30, 2007.
Mr. Wiseman was appointed Minister of Business on July 9, 2009.
He is committed to being accessible to his constituents and, along with his wife Sandra, continues to reside in the district of Trinity North.
The Honourable Darin T. King, Ph.D, The Member for Grand Bank
Dr. Darin King was born in Grand Bank and raised in the community of
Fortune, on the south coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. He holds a
Bachelor of Education and a Diploma in School Resources Services from
Memorial University of Newfoundland; a Master of Education from Saint Mary's
University, Halifax; and a Ph.D (Business) from Northcentral University,
Arizona.
Dr. King has an extensive background in community service and rural development. He has served on the Burin Peninsula Learning Center Board, Grand Bank Summer Festival and Winter Carnival Committees, Fortune Bay-North Shore Tourism Association, the Newfoundland and Labrador Parks and Recreation Association, Chairperson of the Grand Bank Recreation Commission, and Chairperson of the Grand Bank Development Corporation.
Prior to his election, Dr. King was the CEO/Director of Education for the Eastern School District with responsibility for 127 schools and approximately 46,000 students, and served on the administrative team which guided the district through the provincial restructuring of school districts in 2004. Through his career in education, Dr. King served as a classroom teacher; school administrator; and school district administrator, including senior positions with responsibility for human resources as well as educational programs. He has taught graduate studies with Memorial University of Newfoundland, and served as a supervisor of doctoral students.
Dr. King was elected as a Member of the House of Assembly for the District of Grand Bank on October 9, 2007, and was named Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Education on October 30, 2007. He has also served on the House of Assembly Social Services Budget Estimates Committee, and on December 9, 2008 was appointed to the Public Accounts Committee.
Dr. King and his wife reside in Conception Bay South with their two children.
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