Shawn Skinner

The Honourable
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 St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

Shawn Skinner is a Canadian politician in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Skinner is a former St. John's City Councillor 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 Senior Director, Business Development for Aecon Construction Group Limited.[1]

Background

Skinner 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

In 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

On 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

On October 31, 2008, Skinner was appointed Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development.[10]

Minister of Natural Resources

On 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]

Leadership

Following 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.[15]

Electoral results

Newfoundland and Labrador general election, 2011
Party Candidate Votes % ±
     NDP Gerry Rogers 2,569 54.44%
Progressive ConservativeShawn Skinner 2,041 43.25% –
LiberalCarly Bigelow 109 2.31%
Newfoundland and Labrador general election, 2007[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Progressive ConservativeShawn Skinner 3332 76.49% –
     NDP Jane Robinson 650 14.92%
LiberalLori Ann Campbell-Martino 374 8.59%
Newfoundland and Labrador general election, 2003[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Progressive ConservativeShawn Skinner 3349 54.82 –
LiberalJoan Marie Aylward 1763 28.85
     NDP Carol Cantwell 956 15.65

References

  1. 1 2 "Shawn Skinner Biography" (PDF). Newfoundland and Labrador Employers Council. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  2. ↑ "Premier Williams Announces Changes to Cabinet". Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. 19 January 2007. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  3. ↑ "District Profile St. John's Centre". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  4. ↑ Callahan, Brian (22 October 2003). "Big winners, near losers". The Telegram. p. A1.
  5. ↑ "Williams shuffles cabinet heading into N.L. election stretch". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 19 January 2007. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  6. ↑ "Provincial government to introduce legislation to protect jobs of reservists". The Telegram. 8 August 2007. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  7. ↑ "Protect job status, reservist pleads with N.L.". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 30 July 2007. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  8. ↑ "Province Introduces Amendments to Support Job Protection for Military Reservists". Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. 22 April 2008. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  9. ↑ "Premier Announces the Appointment of New Cabinet". Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. 30 October 2007. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  10. ↑ "Marshall, Kennedy swap seats as Williams shuffles cabinet deck". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 31 October 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  11. ↑ "Dunderdale announces changes to cabinet". The Telegram. 6 December 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  12. ↑ Bailey, Sue (November 18, 2010). "$6.2B deal reached for Lower Churchill power project". The Toronto Star. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  13. ↑ "O'Keefe steps up for Skinner campaign". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  14. ↑ "Shawn Skinner loses seat to NDP". The Telegram. 11 October 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  15. ↑ McLeod, James (6 February 2014). "Skinner looking at Tory leadership 'very very seriously'". The Telegram. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  16. ↑ Newfoundland & Labrador Votes 2007. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved May 22, 2009.
  17. ↑ Newfoundland & Labrador Votes 2003. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved May 22, 2009.
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