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Tom Osborne (Canadian politician)

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The Honourable
Tom Osborne
MHA
Minister of Health and Community Services Newfoundland and Labrador
In office
July 6, 2022 – July 5, 2024
Preceded byJohn Haggie
Succeeded byJohn Hogan
In office
2006–2007
Preceded byJohn Ottenheimer
Succeeded byRoss Wiseman
Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
for Waterford Valley
St. John's South (1996-2015)
In office
February 22, 1996 – July 5, 2024
Preceded byTom Murphy
Succeeded byJamie Korab
Speaker of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
In office
December 14, 2015[1] – July 31, 2017
PremierDwight Ball
Lieutenant GovernorFrank Fagan
Preceded byWade Verge
Succeeded byPerry Trimper
Minister of Environment and Conservation Newfoundland and Labrador
In office
2003–2006
Succeeded byClyde Jackman
Minister of Justice for Newfoundland and Labrador
In office
2007–2007
Preceded byPaul Shelley
Succeeded byJerome Kennedy
Minister of Education in Newfoundland and Labrador
In office
August 19, 2020[2] – July 6, 2022
Preceded byposition established
Succeeded byJohn Haggie
Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board of Newfoundland and Labrador
In office
July 31, 2017 – August 19, 2020
Preceded byCathy Bennett
Succeeded bySiobhán Coady
Personal details
Born1964 (age 59–60)
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Political partyLiberal (2013-present)
Independent (2012-2013)
Progressive Conservative (1996-2012)

Tom Osborne (born 1964) is a former politician in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. He represented the district of Waterford Valley in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 1996 to 2024. He was a member of the Liberal Party, a former member of the Progressive Conservative Party, and a former Minister in Danny Williams' first cabinet.[3] He served as Minister of Health and Community Services, and Minister of Education in the Furey government. He was Speaker of the House of Assembly from 2015 to 2017.

At the time of his retirement, Osborne was the province's longest consecutively-serving MHA having been in the House of Assembly from 1996 to 2024.[4][5]

Politics

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Prior to entering politics Osborne worked for Statistics Canada, Small Business Enterprise, and with the Penney Group of Companies.[6] He is the son of former MHA Sheila Osborne.[7]

Opposition

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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 Conservatives 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

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With the victory of the Progressive Conservatives in the 2003 election[8] 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.[9]

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.[10]

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.[11]

In 2008, Osborne testified at the Commission of Inquiry on Hormone Receptor Testing and was asked about his time as Minister of Health.[12]

He was re-elected in the 2011 general election.

Opposition

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In September 2012, Osborne resigned from the Progressive Conservative party citing the leadership of Premier Kathy Dunderdale and began sitting as an Independent.[13] On August 29, 2013, Osborne joined the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador.[14]

Ball and Furey governments (2015-2024)

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In the 2015 election the Liberal Party won control of the House of Assembly and Osborne was chosen as Speaker. Following the resignation of Cathy Bennett, Osborne was appointed Minister of Finance in the Ball government on July 31, 2017.[15][16] He was re-elected in the 2019 provincial election. On August 19, 2020, he was appointed Minister of Education in the Furey government.[17][18]

He was re-elected in the 2021 provincial election.[19] On July 6, 2022, he was appointed Minister of Health and Community Services.[20] On May 24, 2024, Osborne announced his retirement effective in July 2024.[21] On July 5, 2024, Osborne resigned.[22] The Waterford Valley provincial by-election was scheduled for August 22, 2024.[23] On August 22, 2024, Liberal Jamie Korab won the provincial by-election.[24]

Electoral record

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2021 Newfoundland and Labrador general election: Waterford Valley
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Tom Osborne 3,592 66.79 -1.77
Progressive Conservative Michael Holden 1,348 25.07
New Democratic Peter Young 438 8.14 -23.29
Total valid votes 5,378 99.13
Total rejected ballots 47 0.87 -1.42
Turnout 5,425 52.80 +0.26
Eligible voters 10,274
Liberal hold Swing -13.42
Source(s)
"Officially Nominated Candidates General Election 2021" (PDF). Elections Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
"2021 Provincial General Election Report" (PDF). Retrieved August 8, 2024.
Waterford Valley - 2019 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Tom Osborne 3,487 68.6% –
  NDP Matthew Cooper 1,599 31.4%

[25]

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

[26]

St. John's South - 2003 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Tom Osborne 4,532 76.0% –
Liberal Dennis O'Keefe* 756 12.7%
  NDP Tom McGinnis 676 11.3%

[27]

  • Dennis O'Keefe who ran as the Liberal candidate is not the same Dennis O'Keefe that was Mayor of St. John's.
St. John's South - 1999 Newfoundland general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Tom Osborne 4,041 66.32% –
Liberal Patrick Kennedy 1563 25.65%
  NDP Judy Vanata 374 6.14%
  Independent Jason Crummey 101 1.66%

[28]

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

[28]

References

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  1. ^ "New House Speaker Tom Osborne first to be chosen by election". CBC News. December 18, 2015. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  2. ^ "New N.L. premier, new finance minister: Andrew Furey takes office and shuffles cabinet". CBC News. December 6, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  3. ^ "Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly Member Profile". Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly. Retrieved November 20, 2008.
  4. ^ "Yvonne Jones says goodbye to fellow MHAs". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. March 28, 2013. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  5. ^ "Osborne Breaks Provincial Record for Longest-Sitting Member of Legislature".
  6. ^ "Cabinet of Premier Dwight Ball Sworn in as New Government is Formed". May 30, 2019.
  7. ^ "There are 3 sets of siblings running in the Newfoundland and Labrador election". CBC News Newfoundland and Labrador, May 5, 2019.
  8. ^ "Tories sweep to power in Newfoundland and Labrador". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. October 22, 2003. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  9. ^ "Government Releases Cameron Inquiry Report". Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. March 3, 2009.
  10. ^ "Williams shuffles cabinet heading into N.L. election stretch". CBC News. January 19, 2007. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  11. ^ "Tom Osborne | Dunderdale 2011 | PC Party Newfoundland and Labrador". Archived from the original on August 11, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  12. ^ "No regrets over how cancer case was handled, former minister says". CBC News. April 8, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  13. ^ "Osborne quits Tories, cites Dunderdale leadership". CBC News. September 13, 2012. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  14. ^ "Tom Osborne joins Liberals". CBC News. August 29, 2013. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  15. ^ "Cathy Bennett out, Tom Osborne in as finance minister amid cabinet shuffle | CBC News".
  16. ^ "N.L.'s financial situation deteriorated further in just-ended fiscal year | CBC News".
  17. ^ "Newfoundland and Labrador's new premier doesn't clear the deck, but he certainly shuffled it | SaltWire".
  18. ^ "Andrew Furey takes office as 14th premier of N.L., names cabinet". CBC News. August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  19. ^ "Here are all the MHAs elected in the Newfoundland and Labrador election". CBC News. March 27, 2021.
  20. ^ Mullin, Malone; Kennedy, Alex (July 6, 2022). "Surprise N.L. cabinet shuffle sees John Haggie, Tom Osborne switch roles". CBC News.
  21. ^ Kennedy, Alex (May 24, 2024). "Health Minister Tom Osborne, N.L.'s longest-serving MHA, announces retirement". CBC News.
  22. ^ "Health Minister Tom Osborne retiring in July after 28 years in politics". NTV. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  23. ^ Kennedy, Alex (July 24, 2024). "Waterford Valley voters headed to the polls in late August for byelection". CBC News.
  24. ^ Arlette Lazarenko, "Jamie Korab holds Waterford Valley for the Liberals with byelection victory". CBC News Newfoundland and Labrador, August 22, 2024.
  25. ^ Newfoundland & Labrador Votes 2019. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
  26. ^ Newfoundland & Labrador Votes 2007. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved May 22, 2009.
  27. ^ Newfoundland & Labrador Votes 2003. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved May 22, 2009.
  28. ^ a b General Election Reports Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine. Elections Newfoundland & Labrador. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
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