Shawn Skinner is a Canadian politician in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Skinner is a former St. John's City Councillor (1993-1997; 2020-2021) and former Member of the House of Assembly (MHA) for the district of St. John's Centre. He served as a MHA from 2003 to 2011 and was a minister in the cabinets of Danny Williams and Kathy Dunderdale. He is currently the training director for the Carpenter Millwright College (United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America).
Shawn Skinner | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly for St. John's Centre | |
| In office 2003–2011 | |
| Preceded by | Joan Marie Aylward |
| Succeeded by | Gerry Rogers |
| Minister of Natural Resources of Newfoundland and Labrador | |
| In office December 6, 2010 – October 28, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Kathy Dunderdale |
| Succeeded by | Jerome Kennedy |
| Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development of Newfoundland and Labrador | |
| In office October 31, 2008 – December 6, 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Trevor Taylor |
| Succeeded by | Susan Sullivan |
| Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment of Newfoundland and Labrador | |
| In office January 19, 2007 – October 31, 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Paul Shelley |
| Succeeded by | Susan Sullivan |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Progressive Conservative |
| Residence(s) | St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada |
Background
editSkinner was born and raised in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. He studied at Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) before earning a diploma in applied arts from Cabot College and a Certificate in Adult Education from St. Francis Xavier University. In 1998, he became a member of the Canadian Institute of Management, from which he was granted the Professional Manager designation. For 20 years Skinner operated Keyin Technical College in St. John's, a private college specializing in business, information technology and health-related fields. From 1993 to 1997 he served as ward two councillor on St. John's City Council.[1][2]
Provincial politics
editIn November 2002, Skinner lost the Progressive Conservative Party (PC Party) nomination in St. John's Centre to Paul Brown, who had been the party's candidate in the previous two elections. However, Brown resigned as the party's candidate the following year and Skinner won the nomination for the district in August 2003. In the October 2003, election Skinner easily defeated Minister of Finance Joan Marie Aylward, winning 55% of the popular vote.[3][4] In 2006, Skinner was appointed Parliamentary Assistant to Premier Danny Williams.
Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment
editOn January 19, 2007, Skinner was appointed Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment and the Minister responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing. His appointment came after Paul Shelley, the department's former minister, announced he would not be seeking re-election in the October election.[5] In August 2007, Skinner said he planned to bring forth legislation to protect jobs of reservists who leave work for military duty.[6] Skinner's announcement was in response to Major Wallace Noseworthy, who called for the legislation after he was forced to quit his job in order to serve in Afghanistan. Noseworthy's employer would not grant him a leave of absence to serve.[7] In April 2008, the government brought forth changes to The Labour Standards Act to provide for unpaid leave for reservists.[8]
In the October 9, 2007, general election Skinner was re-elected, winning 76% of the popular vote. Weeks later his ministerial portfolio was added to when he became Minister Responsible for Persons with Disabilities and Minister Responsible for the Labour Relations Agency.[9]
Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development
editOn October 31, 2008, Skinner was appointed Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development.[10]
Minister of Natural Resources
editOn December 3, 2010, Kathy Dunderdale succeeded Williams as Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador. The following week Dunderdale appointed Skinner as Minister of Natural Resources, her former portfolio. His appointment came on the heels of the government signing a partnership agreement to develop a multi-billion dollar hydro development at Muskrat Falls in Labrador.[11][12]
Despite easily winning his seat in 2003 and 2007, Skinner's St. John's Centre district was seen as being in play in the 2011 election. In the months leading up to the provincial election support for the New Democratic Party had surged and they were running businesswoman and filmmaker Gerry Rogers against Skinner. Skinner received support late in the campaign from St. John's Mayor Dennis O'Keefe, which was seen as an indication that Skinner was in risk of losing his seat.[13] Despite the Progressive Conservative government easily being re-elected, Skinner went down to defeat on election night.[14][15][16]
2014 leadership
editFollowing the resignation of Dunderdale as Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, Skinner's name was brought up as a potential successor. In February 2014, in an interview with The Telegram Skinner said “I don’t mind sharing with you that I’m very, very seriously considering this.” Skinner's major issue with regards to entering the race was the spending limit for candidates. Under the party constitution leadership candidates cannot spend over $200,000, but the party was looking at revising that amount upward. Skinner was worried about racking up debt if he lost the race, but felt he could raise $200,000.[17]
Later life
editSkinner served as chair of End Homelessness St. John’s from 2012-2018. In 2015, Skinner served on the Electoral Boundaries Commission charged with reducing the number of seats from 48 to 40. He is currently the senior director, business development for Aecon Construction Group Limited.[1] Skinner co-chaired the provincial PC Party's 2018 leadership convention. In 2020, Skinner announced his candidacy for the Ward 2 municipal by-election in St. John's.
In 2020, Skinner was elected to the St. John's City Council. He won 22.8% of the vote and defeated 7 other candidates.[18] He did not run for re-election in 2021.
Electoral results
edit| Ward 2 by-election, 2020 | ||
| Candidate | Vote[19] | % |
|---|---|---|
| Shawn Skinner | 1,242 | 22.88 |
| Ophelia Ravencroft | 936 | 17.24 |
| Lorne Loder | 923 | 17.00 |
| Greg Smith | 586 | 10.79 |
| Carol Anne Furlong | 570 | 10.50 |
| Matt House | 480 | 8.84 |
| Greg Noseworthy | 470 | 8.66 |
| Wallace Ryan | 222 | 4.09 |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NDP | Gerry Rogers | 2,569 | 54.44% | ||
| Progressive Conservative | Shawn Skinner | 2,041 | 43.25% | – | |
| Liberal | Carly Bigelow | 109 | 2.31% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive Conservative | Shawn Skinner | 3332 | 76.49% | – | |
| NDP | Jane Robinson | 650 | 14.92% | ||
| Liberal | Lori Ann Campbell-Martino | 374 | 8.59% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive Conservative | Shawn Skinner | 3349 | 54.82 | – | |
| Liberal | Joan Marie Aylward | 1763 | 28.85 | ||
| NDP | Carol Cantwell | 956 | 15.65 | ||
References
edit- ^ a b "Shawn Skinner Biography" (PDF). Newfoundland and Labrador Employers Council. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
- ^ "Premier Williams Announces Changes to Cabinet". Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. 19 January 2007. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
- ^ "District Profile St. John's Centre". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
- ^ Callahan, Brian (22 October 2003). "Big winners, near losers". The Telegram. p. A1.
- ^ "Williams shuffles cabinet heading into N.L. election stretch". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 19 January 2007. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
- ^ "Provincial government to introduce legislation to protect jobs of reservists". The Telegram. 8 August 2007. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- ^ "Protect job status, reservist pleads with N.L." Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 30 July 2007. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- ^ "Province Introduces Amendments to Support Job Protection for Military Reservists". Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. 22 April 2008. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- ^ "Premier Announces the Appointment of New Cabinet". Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. 30 October 2007. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
- ^ "Marshall, Kennedy swap seats as Williams shuffles cabinet deck". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 31 October 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
- ^ "Dunderdale announces changes to cabinet". The Telegram. 6 December 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
- ^ Bailey, Sue (18 November 2010). "$6.2B deal reached for Lower Churchill power project". The Toronto Star. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
- ^ "O'Keefe steps up for Skinner campaign". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
- ^ "Shawn Skinner loses seat to NDP" Archived 2012-09-13 at archive.today. The Telegram, October 11, 2011.
- ^ "NDP celebrates historic gains". CBC News. 11 October 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
- ^ "Skinner, Pottle lose but most PC ministers re-elected". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 12 October 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ^ McLeod, James (6 February 2014). "Skinner looking at Tory leadership 'very very seriously'". The Telegram. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
- ^ "Shawn Skinner wins Ward 2 seat on St. John's city council | CBC News".
- ^ "2020 By-Election Results | City of St. John's".
- ^ Newfoundland & Labrador Votes 2007. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved May 22, 2009.
- ^ Newfoundland & Labrador Votes 2003. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved May 22, 2009.