John Abbott (Newfoundland and Labrador politician)
John Abbott | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Housing and Minister of Mental Health and Addictions | |
| In office July 19, 2024 – March 4, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Fred Hutton |
| Succeeded by | John Haggie |
| Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure in Newfoundland and Labrador | |
| In office June 14, 2023 – July 19, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Elvis Loveless |
| Succeeded by | Fred Hutton |
| Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development | |
| In office April 8, 2021[1] – June 14, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Brian Warr |
| Succeeded by | Paul Pike |
| Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly for St. John's East-Quidi Vidi | |
| Assumed office May 18, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Alison Coffin |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Residence | Witless Bay |
| Occupation | Public servant |
John Abbott is a Canadian politician who was elected to the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly in the 2021 provincial election.[2] He defeated the leader of the provincial New Democratic Party (NDP), Alison Coffin, to represent the electoral district of St. John's East-Quidi Vidi as a member of the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador.[3][4]
Background
[edit]Prior to being elected, Abbott served as the executive director of the Newfoundland and Labrador chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association.[5] Abbott was also Deputy Minister of Health in the Williams[6] and Ball administrations.[7][8]
Between 1989 and 1999, Abbott held a number of other senior positions: Assistant Secretary to the Treasury Board, Associate Deputy Minister of Health and Community Services, chairman and CEO of the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, Deputy Minister of Works, Services and Transportation and Deputy Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs.[9][10]
Politics
[edit]In 2020, Abbott ran for the leadership of the provincial Liberal party following the pending resignation of Dwight Ball. He lost the two-way race to frontrunner Andrew Furey.[11] Abbott subsequently ran in the 2021 provincial election as the Liberal candidate in St. John's East-Quidi Vidi and narrowly defeated incumbent MHA and provincial NDP leader Alison Coffin. Coffin filed for a recount, but it was rejected by Supreme Court Justice Donald Burrage, who argued that the evidence was not sufficient to justify the process.[12][13] Abbott was subsequently sworn in as MHA on May 18, 2021.
Prior to his swearing-in, Abbott was appointed Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development on April 8, 2021.[14] He later became the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure on June 14, 2023.[15] On July 19, 2024, he was appointed as Minister of Housing and Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.[16]
When Premier Furey announced his pending resignation in 2025, Abbott resigned his cabinet positions and ran for the Liberal leadership in the ensuing election.[17]
Election results
[edit]| 2021 Newfoundland and Labrador general election: St. John's East-Quidi Vidi | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Liberal | John Abbott | 2,447 | 42.95 | +9.57 | ||||
| New Democratic | Alison Coffin | 2,394 | 42.02 | −1.46 | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Vaughn Hammond | 856 | 15.03 | −8.11 | ||||
| Total valid votes | 5,697 | |||||||
| Total rejected ballots | ||||||||
| Turnout | ||||||||
| Eligible voters | ||||||||
| Liberal gain from New Democratic | Swing | −5.52 | ||||||
Source(s)
"Officially Nominated Candidates General Election 2021" (PDF). Elections Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved March 3, 2021. "NL Election 2021 (Unofficial Results)". Retrieved March 27, 2021. | ||||||||
| Candidate | Ballot 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Votes | Points |
| Andrew Furey | 13,645 64.42% |
26,443 66.11% |
| John Abbott | 7,537 35.58% |
13,557 33.89% |
| Total | 21,182 | 40,000 |
References
[edit]- ^ Mike Moore (April 8, 2021). "John Abbott, Pam Parsons among Furey's additions to cabinet". CBC. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
- ^ "Here are all the MHAs elected in the Newfoundland and Labrador election". CBC News. March 27, 2021.
- ^ Mullin, Malone (March 27, 2021). "Liberals claim slim majority in Newfoundland and Labrador, as voters tap Furey to lead". CBC News. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
- ^ Kennedy, Alex (March 30, 2021). "'We pulled it off': Meet the candidates who took down the opposition leaders". CBC News. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
- ^ "CEO John Abbott Granted Leave". Canadian Mental Health Association - Newfoundland and Labrador. June 1, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
- ^ "N.L. government thrown into 'disarray' by cancer tests, inquiry told". cbc.ca. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. May 7, 2008. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
- ^ Roberts, Terry (December 14, 2017). "Meet the bureaucrat poised to shake up N.L.'s health system". cbc.ca. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
- ^ Roberts, Terry (December 18, 2017). "Health minister distances himself from deputy, says Abbott 'one voice of many' in health-care debate". cbc.ca. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
- ^ "Bio: John Abbott". ipolitics.ca. April 23, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
- ^ "Former N.L. bureaucrat John Abbott first to confirm he will seek Liberal leadership". cbc.ca. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. February 28, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
- ^ Maher, David (August 3, 2020). "Andrew Furey becomes premier-designate, will become 14th premier of Newfoundland and Labrador". Saltwire Network. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
- ^ Smellie, Sarah (April 1, 2020). "Leader of Newfoundland and Labrador NDP files for recount after 53-vote election loss". CTV News. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
- ^ "Judge dismisses Coffin's bid for recount in St. John's East-Quidi Vidi". CBC News. May 12, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
- ^ "Premier Furey Appoints New Cabinet". Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. April 8, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
- ^ Furey Shuffles Cabinet in Wake of Derrick Bragg’s Cancer Diagnosis. VOCM News, June 14, 2023.
- ^ Key Portfolios Shift Hands in Newfoundland Cabinet Shake-Up. VOCM News, July 19, 2024.
- ^ Roberts, Terry (March 4, 2025). "John Abbott resigns from cabinet, announces bid for Liberal leadership and premier". CBC News. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
- ^ "Andrew Furey wins Liberal leadership race, will become 14th premier of N.L." Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ Maher, David (August 4, 2020). "Vote breakdown revealed in Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal leadership race". The Telegram. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
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