Premier Ball Appoints Parliamentary Secretaries

  • Executive Council

June 5, 2019

The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced Parliamentary Secretary appointments.  Parliamentary secretaries can make announcements and statements in the House of Assembly, respond to questions in the House of Assembly, represent the department at public meetings or events and participate in the administration of departmental programs.

The following is the list of all Parliamentary Secretary appointments announced today:

  • Derrick Bragg, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment
  • Derek Bennett, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development
  • Pam Parsons, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transportation and Works
  • Sarah Stoodley, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
  • Elvis Loveless, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources

Quote
“Parliamentary secretaries provide vital support to ministers and assist many initiatives within their departments. My best wishes to all appointees as you advance the work of the Provincial Government in collaboration with your colleagues within caucus, and all Honourable Members of the House of Assembly.”
Honourable Dwight Ball
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

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Media Contact
Jason Card
Office of the Premier
709-729-3558
jasoncard@gov.nl.ca

BACKGROUND

Biographies of parliamentary secretaries

Derrick Bragg
Derrick Bragg was born and raised in the community of Greenspond, where he was employed in the municipal sector for 29 years as town clerk/manager. In addition to that role, he demonstrated his commitment to community by also serving 25 years as fire chief and 27 years as chair and vice chair of the recreation committee. Mr. Bragg has also served as president of the Professional Municipal Administrators. He was first elected to the House of Assembly on November 30, 2015.

Derek Bennett
Derek Bennett is a lifelong resident of Lewisporte. A graduate of the Community Recreation Leadership Program at the College of Trades and Technology, Derek worked as the director of recreation and tourism with the town of Lewisporte for 25 years. In his role as director, Derek oversaw major community enhancements such as the development of the Woolfrey’s Pond Boardwalk. Derek served as president of Recreation Newfoundland and Labrador and director with the Atlantic Marine Trade Association. He was first elected to the House of Assembly on November 30, 2015.

Pam Parsons
Pam Parsons grew up in Spaniard’s Bay where she attended Holy Redeemer School followed by Ascension Collegiate. She completed a degree in political science from Mount St. Vincent University and then continued her education in video journalism at Nova Scotia Community College’s radio television arts program. She began her career as a reporter for CBC’s Here and Now television news and CBC Radio, and later worked as a reporter and producer for Rogers TV’s Out of the Fog in St. John’s.  Following this, she worked in Owen Sound, Ontario, as the producer for First Local News at Rogers TV. Upon returning to Newfoundland and Labrador, she reported for NTV News for four years. In 2015, Ms. Parsons was elected as MHA for the District of Harbour Grace – Port de Grave, and since served as a member of the Resource Committee, the Public Accounts Committee, and the Privileges and Elections Committee. She has also served as the Deputy Chair of Committees, as well as a member of the Fisheries Committee.

Sarah Stoodley
Sarah Stoodley is a digital expert in financial services who lives in St. John’s. She grew up in Grand Falls-Windsor and lived and worked for three years in Oxford, United Kingdom. When not leading digital teams and creating online services for insurance customers, she has committed her time to helping three key organizations drive change in Newfoundland and Labrador – she served the Memorial University’s Board of Regents in various roles; she has served on board of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Technology Industries; and she has served on the board of the C.A. Pippy Park Commission. She was elected to the House of Assembly on May 16, 2019.

Elvis Loveless
Elvis Loveless is originally from Seal Cove, Fortune Bay, and is the proud father of two children, Kaitlyn and Ryan. His path to government included community service, commerce and business related work experience, and several years of post-secondary education in business administration and public administration. He has also been dedicated to charitable work involving children, particularly his responsibilities as a Cabinet Committee Member of the Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Care Foundation fundraising campaign, which raised $3.6 million for cancer patients in Newfoundland and Labrador. He was elected to the House of Assembly on May 16, 2019.

2019 06 05 12:15 pm