Tom Osborne (Canadian politician)

The Honourable
Tom Osborne
Speaker of the House of Assembly
Assumed office
December 14, 2015[1]
Preceded by Wade Verge
Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
for St. John's South
In office
1996  November 5, 2015
Preceded by Tom Murphy
Succeeded by riding dissolved
Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
for Waterford Valley
Assumed office
November 30, 2015
Preceded by first member
Minister of Environment and Conservation Newfoundland and Labrador
In office
2003–2006
Succeeded by Clyde Jackman
Minister of Health and Community Services Newfoundland and Labrador
In office
2006–2007
Preceded by John Ottenheimer
Succeeded by Ross Wiseman
Minister of Justice and Attorney General Newfoundland and Labrador
In office
2007–2007
Preceded by Paul Shelley
Succeeded by Jerome Kennedy
Personal details
Born St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Political party Liberal (2013-present)
Independent (2012-2013)
Progressive Conservatives (1996-2012)

Tom Osborne (born 1964), is a politician in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. He represents the district of St. John's South in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly. He is a member of the Liberal Party, a former member of the Progressive Conservative Party, and a former Minister in Danny Williams' first cabinet.[2]

Osborne is currently the province's longest consecutively-serving MHA having been in the House of Assembly since 1996.

Politics

Opposition

Osborne was first elected to the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly in the 1996 provincial election in the district of St. John's South. The election resulted in a landslide victory for Brian Tobin's Liberals and Osborne was one of only nine Progressive Conservative elected. Osborne was re-elected in the 1999 election and though the PC's had gained 5 seats the Liberals still won a large majority government.

In government

With the victory of the Progressive Conservatives in the 2003 election Premier Danny Williams appointed Osborne to Cabinet as the Minister responsible for Environment and Labour. On February 20, 2004 Government announced a restructuring of departments, which saw the creation of the new Department of Environment and Conservation, which Osborne remained minister of.

On March 14, 2006, Osborne became Minister of Health and Community Services succeeding John Ottenheimer. During his time as Minister of Health more information on errors in hormone receptor breast cancer testing were coming to light. The errors eventually led to the Commission of Inquiry on Hormone Receptor Testing.

In January 2007, with the announcement that several cabinet Ministers would not be seeking re-election in that October's general election Williams shuffled his Cabinet. Osborne was assigned the Justice portfolio taking over for Paul Shelley who was retiring from politics in October.[3]

With the re-election of the Progressive Conservatives in 2007, Osborne was replaced as Justice Minister by Jerome Kennedy. Williams announced he would be nominating Osborne to serve as Deputy Chair of Committees in the House of Assembly and On November 1, 2007, he was confirmed to serve as Deputy Chair of Committees in the House of Assembly.[4]

In 2008, Osborne testified at the Commission of Inquiry on Hormone Receptor Testing and was asked about his time as Minister of Health.[5]

Opposition

In September 2012, Osborne resigned from the Progressive Conservative party citing the leadership of Premier Kathy Dunderdale and began sitting as an Independent.[6] On August 29, 2013, Osborne joined the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador.[7]

Speaker of the House of Assembly

In the 2015 election the Liberal Party won control of the House of Assembly and Osborne was chosen as Speaker.

Electoral record

Waterford Valley - Newfoundland and Labrador general election, 2015
Party Candidate Votes % ±
LiberalTom Osborne 3,588 65.9%
     NDP Alison Coffin 1,062 19.5%
Progressive ConservativeAlison Stoodley 792 14.6%
St. John's South - Newfoundland and Labrador general election, 2011
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Progressive ConservativeTom Osborne 2,966 57.90%
     NDP Keith Dunne 1,994 38.92%
LiberalTrevor Hickey 163 3.18%
St. John's South - Newfoundland and Labrador general election, 2007
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Progressive ConservativeTom Osborne 3887 79.6%
     NDP Clyde Bridger 571 11.69%
LiberalRex Gibbons 425 8.7%

[8]

St. John's South - Newfoundland and Labrador general election, 2003
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Progressive ConservativeTom Osborne 4,532
LiberalDennis O'Keefe* 756
     NDP Tom McGinnis 676

[9]

St. John's South - Newfoundland general election, 1999
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Progressive ConservativeTom Osborne 4,041 66.32%
LiberalPatrick Kennedy 1563 25.65%
     NDP Judy Vanata 374 6.14%
     Independent Jason Crummey 101 1.66%

[10]

St. John's South - Newfoundland general election, 1996
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Progressive ConservativeTom Osborne 2,521 42.17%
LiberalTom Murphy 2,417 40.43%
     NDP Sue Skipton 858 14.35%
     Independent Bill Maddigan 155 2.59%

[10]

References

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