Executive Council
October 19, 2012
Premier Announces Changes to Cabinet and
New Office of Public Engagement
The Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, announced significant restructuring of her Cabinet and a new Office of Public Engagement.
The following Ministers have taken on new portfolios or new responsibilities:
The Honourable Thomas W. Marshall Q.C. is appointed Attorney General, in addition to his existing responsibilities as Minister of Finance, President of Treasury Board, Minister Responsible for the Human Resource Secretariat, Minister Responsible for the Public Service Commission, and Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation.
The Honourable Tom Hedderson is appointed as Minister of Environment and Conservation, Minister Responsible for the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board and Minister Responsible for the Office of Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Emissions Trading.
The Honourable Darin King is appointed as Minister of Justice, Government House Leader, and Minister Responsible for the Labour Relations Agency.
The Honourable Felix Collins is appointed as Minister for Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs.
The Honourable Terry French is appointed as Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation.
The Honourable Derrick Dalley is appointed as Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
The Honourable Keith Hutchings is appointed as Minister Responsible for the Office of Public Engagement and Deputy House Leader, in addition to his existing duties as Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development and Minister Responsible for the Research & Development Corporation.
The Honourable Paul Davis is appointed as Minister of Transportation and Works and Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation.
The Honourable Nick McGrath is appointed as Minister of Service NL, Minister Responsible for the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission, Minister Responsible for the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Minister Responsible for the Government Purchasing Agency, in addition to his existing responsibilities as Minister Responsible for Labrador Affairs.
“I am pleased to thank these Ministers for their commitment and diligence and look forward to continuing working with them in their new roles,” said Premier Dunderdale.
The Premier also announced the establishment of the Office of Public Engagement within Executive Council, which will include the Rural Secretariat, the Voluntary and Non-Profit Secretariat, the Youth Engagement office, the Strategic Partnership Initiative, and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Office.
“The new mandate of the Office of Public Engagement will ensure every department can launch effective, targeted and interactive public consultations, including social media and rich information resources,” said Premier Dunderdale. “The office will build on the existing strengths of current functions and coordinate the efforts of departments to increase access to information resources. It is a clear demonstration of our commitment to open, accountable and transparent government which includes pro-active disclosure of information to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Existing mandates will not be diluted – the Rural Secretariat will continue to support the Regional Councils and rural dialogue; the Voluntary and Non-Profit Secretariat will continue to liaise with and support the voluntary and non-profit sectors; the Strategic Partnership Initiative office will continue to support the Strategic Partnership Council and its sub-committees; the Youth Engagement office will continue with its engagement efforts; and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Office will continue to provide coordinating services to government departments.
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Media contacts:
| Lynn Hammond Director of Communications Office of the Premier 709-729-3960 lynnhammond@gov.nl.ca |
Debbie Marnell Press Secretary Office of the Premier 709-729-4304, 699-9048 debbiemarnell@gov.nl.ca |
BACKGROUNDER
Biographies
Hon. Tom Marshall Q.C., 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. Mr.
Marshall grew up in Corner Brook before attending Memorial University, 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.
Mr. Marshall was appointed Minister of Justice and Attorney General on October 31, 2008.
On October 7, 2009, Mr. Marshall was appointed as Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board, and on October 26, 2009, was appointed Acting Minister of Transportation and Works and Acting Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland Labrador Housing Corporation. Mr. Marshall was re-elected to the House of Assembly on October 11, 2011.
Hon. Tom Hedderson, Member for Harbour Main
First elected to the
House of Assembly on February 9, 1999 to represent the District of Harbour
Main - Whitbourne. Mr. Hedderson has served as Opposition Critic for
Education (K-12), Parliamentary Assistant to the Leader of the Opposition
and as Critic for Youth Services and Post-Secondary Education.
Re-elected for a second term on October 21, 2003, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Education and Youth Services and Post-Secondary Education. Mr. Hedderson was appointed Minister of Education on October 1, 2004. He was appointed Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation on November 8, 2005.
Mr. Hedderson was appointed Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture on October 31, 2008, and served as Acting Minister of Municipal Affairs; on November 27, 2009 as Minister of Transportation and Works, and was Acting Minister Responsible for Emergency Preparedness, and Registrar General from October 26, 2009 to March 18, 2010.
On October 9, 2007, Mr. Hedderson was re-elected to the House of Assembly for a third term, and on October 30, he was appointed Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister Responsible for the Volunteer and Non-Profit Sector. He was re-elected once again on October 11, 2011.
Hon. Darin King, Member for Grand Bank
Darin King was first elected
to the House of Assembly for Newfoundland and Labrador on October 9, 2007,
and was named Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Education. He has
served on the House of Assembly Social Services and Public Accounts
Committees. He was re-elected to the House of Assembly on October 11, 2011.
Dr. King was appointed to Executive Council and sworn in as the Minister of Education in April, 2009. On January 13, 2011, he was appointed as 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; Minister Responsible for the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission; and Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation.
He was born in Grand Bank, and raised in Fortune, on the south coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. After high school, he completed a Bachelor of Education and Diploma in School Resources Services from Memorial University; Masters of Education at Saint Mary's University, Halifax; and a PhD from Northcentral University, Arizona.
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. Through his career in education, he served as a classroom teacher; and in a variety of leadership positions at the school and school district levels. He has taught graduate studies at Memorial University and served as a supervisor of doctoral students.
Dr. King has acquired an extensive background in community service and rural development as a result of serving on a variety of boards and organizations.
Hon. Felix Collins, Member for Placentia-St. Mary’s
Born in St.
Anne’s, Placentia Bay, Felix Collins graduated from Memorial University 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.
Mr. Collins 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 practised law in St. John’s until 2007.
Mr. Collins was Mayor of the Town of Placentia for 16 years and a member of the Placentia Council for 19 years. He was chairperson of the first Joint Councils of the Placentia area and served as Chairperson of the Placentia Area Recreation Commission. He has served on numerous boards and committees and has acted as Commissioner for a number of municipal public hearings under the Rural and Urban Planning Act. 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 Mr. Collins was named first winner of the Johnson Foundation Award, presented 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 as MHA for Placentia - St. Mary’s in a by-election. He was re-elected in the October 9, 2007 general election.
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 as a Member of the Public Accounts Committee. He 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.
On October 7, 2009, Mr. Collins was appointed Minister of Justice and Attorney General. Mr. Collins was re-elected as the Member for Placentia – St. Mary’s on October 11, 2011.
Hon. Terry French, Member for Conception Bay South
Terry French was
elected to represent the people of Conception Bay South District in a
by-election on Tuesday, November 12, 2002. Two days later he took the Oath
of Allegiance as MHA, and on the same day took his seat in the House of
Assembly for the first time.
In 2003, Mr. French was named the Opposition critic for Government Services and Lands as well as Parliamentary Assistant to the Leader.
On October 21, 2003, he was re-elected Member for Conception Bay South. Mr. French was appointed Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier in November 2003 and confirmed in this role in the departmental restructuring of February 20, 2004.
On April 6, 2005 he was appointed Caucus Whip. Mr. French was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment on January 19, 2007.
Mr. French was re-elected to the House of Assembly on October 9, 2007, and on October 30, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Community Services. He was re-elected once again on October 11, 2011.
Mr. French was sworn in as the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation on November 27, 2009.
Before being elected to the House of Assembly, Mr. French from 1997 to 2002, served as Executive Assistant to the Member of Parliament for St. John's East.
His political experience began early. He became President of the PC Youth wing of the local PC Association in the early eighties. He served on the Provincial Executive of the PC Association of Newfoundland and Labrador and was Campaign Chairman of two successful PC campaigns in the district during the 1996 and 1999 general elections. He has served as a member of the Provincial PC Election Readiness Committee. He was heavily involved in the 2001 and 2002 provincial PC by-election wins on the Northern Peninsula and in Bonavista North.
Mr. French graduated Queen Elizabeth High School in Foxtrap in 1984 and subsequently attended Memorial University until joining his father in a family business in 1986.
Hon. Derrick Dalley, 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 Bachelor Degrees in Arts and Education which included a Political
Science major. In 1992, he completed a Masters Degree 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 Counsellor and Principal of J. M. Olds Academy of Twillingate.
Mr. Dalley has always been very active in the area of sports, having participated in many sports including hockey and softball. He has 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 MHA for the District of The Isles of Notre Dame in the election of October 9, 2007. He was appointed as Vice-Chair of the Public Accounts Committee on January 9, 2008.
On January 13, 2011, Mr. Dalley was appointed Minister of Business. He was re-elected to the House of Assembly on October 11, 2011. On October 28, 2011, he was appointed Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation.
Hon. Keith Hutchings, Member for Ferryland
Keith Hutchings was born
the youngest of six children and grew up in the small community of Mobile on
the Southern Shore. Keith attended St. Bernard's Elementary School in
Witless Bay and Mobile Central High. He has been active in the sporting
community, involved in coaching, active as a volunteer, serving on various
sporting executives and as well chairing various fundraising events.
Mr. Hutchings graduated from Memorial University with a Bachelor of Arts, Majoring in Political Science and obtained a Certificate in Public Administration from Memorial, as well as an Occupational Health and Safety Program from Ryerson University in Toronto.
Mr. Hutchings’ professional career has included 11 years with the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission. He also served as Chief of Staff and Executive Assistant to then Leader of the Official Opposition in the Provincial House of Assembly (1996 -1998) and successfully ran his own consulting business.
Mr. Hutchings was elected as the 9th Member of the House of Assembly for the District of Ferryland since Confederation in a by-election on February 8th, 2007. In the general election of October 9, 2007 he was re-elected and appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment on October 30, 2007. On November 27, 2009 Mr. Hutchings was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Community Services.
Mr. Hutchings was re-elected as the Member for Ferryland on October 11, 2011. On October 11, 2011, he was appointed as Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development and Minister Responsible for the Rural Secretariat, and the Research & Development Corporation.
Hon. Paul Davis, Member for Topsail
Paul Davis was elected as the
Member of the House of Assembly for the District of Topsail in a by-election
on March 16, 2010. Mr. Davis was re-elected to the House of Assembly as the
Member for Topsail on October 11, 2011. On October 28, 2011, he was
appointed as Minister of Service NL and Minister Responsible for the
Government Purchasing Agency, Office of the Chief Information Officer, and
the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission.
Mr. Davis joined the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary in 1985 after graduating from Holland College. In 1987, he transferred to the Corner Brook Division where he served the citizens of western Newfoundland for a five-year period until being re-assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division based at RNC Headquarters in St. John’s. During his service there, he received several assignments including Property Crimes, Major Crimes and the Child Abuse Sexual Assault Units. Mr. Davis also enjoyed serving the public in assignments with the Mount Pearl Community Policing Unit, West District Patrol Services and most recently as the RNC Media Relations Officer.
Mr. Davis has always been an active community member. He has served on a variety of local, regional and national boards and executives. He served nine years as a Conception Bay South town councillor, being elected in 2001, 2005 and 2009. He was twice chosen as Deputy Mayor by his council colleagues and chaired the Finance and Administration Committees.
Some of his career highlights include being named the Crime Stoppers Police Officer of the Year and the Conception Bay South Citizen of the Year. He is a recipient of the Canada 125 Medal, Queen’s Jubilee Medal and Police Exemplary Service Medal. In 2005, he was elected to the RNC Association Executive and remained an active member until his retirement in 2010.
Hon. Nick McGrath, Member for Labrador West
In the October 11, 2011
general election, Nick McGrath was elected to represent the people of the
District of Labrador West in the House of Assembly. On October 28, 20111, He
was appointed as Minister for Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs and
Minister Responsible for Labrador Affairs, and the Voluntary and Non-Profit
Sector.
In the past three decades, Mr. McGrath has established himself as a successful businessman who has owned and operated six businesses in Labrador West. He has embraced challenges and enjoyed many successes over his years in Labrador West working and volunteering in his community.
Mr. McGrath has been a strong advocate for Labrador West and has a long and varied list of volunteer activities and leadership roles he has been a part of. These include: Northern Shotokan Karate Club; Lab West Rotary Club (Past President); Labrador West Rowing Association (President); Labrador West Coxswains Association (Past President); Labrador City Town Council (Councillor); Carol Players Drama Club (Past President); a member of Northern Lights Drama Club; the Labrador Chair of East, West, North Expo; Hospitality NL (Past President); a member of the Labrador West Chamber of Commerce; board member of Destination Labrador; Labrador West Tourism Association (Past President); Our Lady of Perpetual Help – Sacristan, Lector, Altar Server; Labrador Grenfell Health – Director 2004 -2008; Councillor – Town of Labrador City (elected in 2009); and President of Combined Councils of Labrador (elected in 2010).
With a solid and experienced background on a municipal, regional, provincial and national level, Mr. McGrath stepped forward to put that experience to work in the House of Assembly for the betterment of his constituency.
2012 10 19 2:45 p.m.