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Steve Kent (politician)

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Steve Kent
MHA
Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
for Mount Pearl North
In office
1 November 2007 – 11 October 2017
Preceded byHarvey Hodder
Succeeded byJim Lester
Deputy Premier of
Newfoundland and Labrador
In office
30 September 2014 – 13 December 2015
Preceded byKathy Dunderdale
Succeeded bySiobhán Coady
Minister of Health and Community Services
In office
30 September 2014 – 13 December 2015
Preceded byClyde Jackman
Succeeded byJohn Haggie
Minister of Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs, Minister Responsible for Fire and Emergency Services – Newfoundland and Labrador, and Registrar General
In office
9 October 2013 – 3 July 2014
Preceded byKevin O'Brien
Succeeded byDan Crummell
Minister Responsible for the Office of Public Engagement
In office
29 January 2014 – 13 December 2015
Preceded byCharlene Johnson
Succeeded bySiobhan Coady
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister Responsible for the Office of Public Engagement
In office
24 October 2012 – 9 October 2013
Preceded byPosition Established
Succeeded byPaul Lane
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister Responsible for the Forestry and Agrifoods Agency
In office
13 October 2010 – September 2011
Preceded byHarry Harding
Succeeded byVaughn Granter
8th Mayor of Mount Pearl
In office
October 2003 – 30 October 2007
Preceded byDave Denine
Succeeded byRandy Simms
Councillor/Deputy Mayor of Mount Pearl
In office
October 1997 – October 2003
Succeeded byRandy Simms
Personal details
Born (1978-05-07) 7 May 1978 (age 46)
Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Political partyConservative Party of Canada
Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
SpouseJanet Kent
Children3 (Benjamin, Ciaran, Samuel)
Residence(s)Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador
Alma materMemorial University of Newfoundland, McGill University
Signature
Websitestevekent.ca

Stephen Kent (born 7 May 1978) is a former Canadian politician from Newfoundland and Labrador. After serving as the mayor and deputy mayor of Mount Pearl, he was elected as the member of the House of Assembly for Mount Pearl North in 2007. Kent was a cabinet minister in the administrations of premiers Kathy Dunderdale, Tom Marshall, and Paul Davis.

Kent was appointed as the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Mount Pearl in October 2017, and he subsequently left the House of Assembly. He resigned as CAO in 2020 amid investigations relating to his workplace conduct.

Background

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Kent was born in Stephenville before his family moved to Mount Pearl in 1980. He attended O'Donel High School, where he had held the position of student council president, and graduated in 1996. In 2001, he completed a bachelor's degree in business administration with a Certificate in public administration at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Two years later in May 2003, he received his master's degree in management from McGill University in Montreal.[citation needed]


Federal politics

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In March 2000, Kent announced he was seeking the Liberal Party of Canada nomination for a by-election to be held in the riding of St. John's West.[1] His nomination campaign was supported by fellow Mount Pearl City Councillor Lucy Stoyles.[2] After his announcement, The Telegram published a string of emails which revealed that Kent had been considering seeking the Canadian Alliance nomination in the riding and had been thinking of asking the party to conduct a poll gauging public opinion on him running under their label. Kent responded by telling The Telegram that he thought the Canadian Alliance were too right-wing, and he affirmed that he "support[ed] the work that the Liberal governments are doing."[3] Anthony Sparrow went on to win the Liberal nomination for the by-election. Kent, who reportedly came a close second in the nomination, conceded by declaring that he would "be working for Mr. Sparrow first thing in the morning."[4]

Kent was a delegate from St. John's South—Mount Pearl at the 2006 federal Liberal leadership convention in Montreal.[5] On 5 December 2006, Kent donated $425 to the Liberal Party of Canada.[6]

In 2025, Kent was nominated to be the Conservative candidate for the district of Avalon.[7] The sudden appointment was made in the midst of an ongoing nomination contest.[8] Kent faced pushback and controversy in media and online for this.[9] An image of Kent wearing a MAGA hat resurfaced causing controversy over the fact that Trump administration had been treating tariffs on Canada for several weeks at that point. Kent said it was "Photoshopped image."[10]

Early vote ballot for Avalon riding in the 2025 Canadian federal election

Provincial politics

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Progressive Conservative member of the House of Assembly (MHA) Harvey Hodder opted to not to run for re-election in the 2007 Newfoundland and Labrador general election. Kent announced his intentions to seek the PC nomination in the new district of Mount Pearl North.[11] On 19 June 2007, he was elected as the Progressive Conservative candidate for the provincial election, taking 1,151 of 1,352 votes, over the only other contestant, Keith Cassell.[12] In the subsequent general election, he was elected MHA for the electoral district of Mount Pearl North with 85% of the popular vote in the 9 October 2007, provincial election.[13] On 30 October 2007, he resigned as Mayor of Mount Pearl in order to be sworn in as MHA.[citation needed]

On 13 October 2010, Kent was named Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister Responsible for the Forestry and Agrifoods Agency.[14]

Kent was re-elected as the MHA for Mount Pearl North on 11 October 2011.[15]

In October 2013, Kent was named Minister of Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs, Minister Responsible for Fire and Emergency Services and Registrar General. In January 2014, in addition to those portfolios he was also named Minister Responsible for the Office of Public Engagement.[16][17] Kent resigned from his Cabinet positions on 3 July 2014, in order to run for the leadership of the provincial Progressive Conservative Party.[18]

Kent was a candidate in the 2014 PC leadership election to succeed Kathy Dunderdale.[19][20] He placed third with 20.7% of the vote and was eliminated on the first ballot.[21]

On 30 September 2014, Kent was named deputy premier, Minister of Health and Community Services, and Minister Responsible for the Office of Public Engagement.[22] His cabinet responsibilities ended upon the swearing in of the new Liberal cabinet after change in government on 13 December 2015.

In the 2015 election, Kent was re-elected, defeating Liberal candidate Mount Pearl Mayor Randy Simms.[23][24]

In September 2017, Kent announced that he would resign his seat in October to become chief administrative officer of the City of Mount Pearl. He officially resigned on 11 October.[25]

Personal life

[edit]

Kent resigned his seat on 11 October 2017, to become chief administrative officer of the City of Mount Pearl. In October 2019, an out-of-province labour lawyer was brought in to investigate Kent's workplace interactions with city staff following complaints by several municipal workers.[26] Kent was placed on administrative leave in October 2019.[27] He resigned as CAO on 25 June 2020, days after the City Council of Mount Pearl tabled a motion to dismiss him from the position.[28] Allegations made in the case included that Kent had mocked subordinates in front of other staff and berated workers verbally.[29] In 2019, it was alleged Kent used a city-hired consultant for personal work related to his volunteer work with outside organizations; Kent stated it did not cost the City.[30] However, in 2023 the city shared they had spent over $325,000 on professional fees and further undisclosed legal fees related to the investigation into the former CAO.[31] As of March 2025, there was ongoing litigation between the city and Kent related to his departure.[8]

In August 2024, Kent was elected a voting member of the World Scout Committee by the World Scout Conference for a three-year term.[32]

Electoral history

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2025 Canadian federal election: Avalon
The 2025 general election will be held on April 28.
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Paul Connors
Conservative Steve Kent
Rhinoceros Alexander Tilley
New Democratic Judy Vanta
Total valid votes/expense limit
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
Eligible voters
Source: Elections Canada[33]
2015 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Steve Kent 3120
Liberal Randy Simms 2571
New Democratic Cameron Mercer-Maillet 370
Total valid votes
2011 Newfoundland and Labrador general election[34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Steve Kent 3,727 73.31% –
  NDP Kurtis Coombs 994 19.55%
Liberal Maurice Budgell 363 7.14%
2007 Newfoundland and Labrador general election[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Steve Kent 4,751 85.05% –
Liberal Elaine Reid 516 9.24%
  NDP Janice Lockyer 319 5.71%
Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador nomination, June 19, 2007[35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Steve Kent 1,151 85.45% –
Progressive Conservative Keith Cassell 196 14.55%  

References

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  1. ^ "Gibbons backing out of St. John's West". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 24 March 2000. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  2. ^ Mount Pearl City Council minutes, 3 April 2000. Retrieved 2014-05-29.
  3. ^ Cleary, Ryan (25 March 2000). "Kent shows his colours: Deputy mayor chooses Liberals after flirting with Alliance". The Telegram. p. 1.
  4. ^ Callahan, Brian (12 April 2000). "Sparrow takes off with Liberal nod". The Telegram. p. 1.
  5. ^ Lono, Simon (18 May 2007). "My Liberal credentials are very limited" Offal News. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  6. ^ Liberal Party of Canada Elections Canada financial returns for 2006. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  7. ^ Web Team. "Former deputy premier Steve Kent nominated as federal Conservative candidate in Avalon". NTV News. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  8. ^ a b Roberts, Terry (24 March 2025). "Nomination contenders 'appalled' as Steve Kent is tapped as Avalon Conservative candidate". CBC News. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  9. ^ Tara Bradbury. "Steve Kent's appointment as Conservative candidate in NL's Avalon riding blindsides nomination contenders". The Telegram. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  10. ^ Bradbury, Tara (16 April 2025). "Avalon constituents say Conservative candidate Steve Kent ignoring, blocking questions about MAGA hat selfie". The Telegram. Retrieved 17 April 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ "Kent makes jump for PC nod in Mount Pearl district". CBC News. 18 May 2007. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  12. ^ "Kent glides in as PC candidate in Mount Pearl North". CBC News. 20 June 2007. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  13. ^ a b "CBC.ca Newfoundland & Labrador Votes 2007". CBC News. 9 October 2007.
  14. ^ "Premier Announces Changes to Cabinet". Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  15. ^ "Steve Kent: province wants 'something fresh' in PC leadership". CBC News. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  16. ^ Bailey, Sue (9 October 2003). "Newfoundland Premier refreshes cabinet after rough first half of four-year term". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  17. ^ "Tom Marshall orders review of Bill 29, shuffles cabinet". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 29 January 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  18. ^ "Steve Kent: province wants 'something fresh' in PC leadership". CBC News. 3 July 2014.
  19. ^ "Steve Kent says province wants 'something fresh' in PC leadership". CBC. 3 July 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  20. ^ "Paul Davis enters PC race with call for 'new beginning'". CBC. 2 July 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  21. ^ "Paul Davis wins PC leadership, becomes premier-designate". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 13 September 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  22. ^ Premier Paul Davis Unveils New Cabinet, Innovative Approach. GovNL News Releases. Retrieved 2014-10-02.
  23. ^ "Steve Kent beats Randy Simms in battle of Mount Pearl North". CBC News. 30 November 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  24. ^ "4 Tory cabinet ministers fall to defeat in Liberal rout". CBC News. 1 December 2015. Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  25. ^ Steve Kent resigns as MHA day later than expected, overlaps with new job
  26. ^ "Investigator interviewing Mount Pearl staff about Steve Kent's alleged workplace conduct". CBC News. 25 October 2019.
  27. ^ Antle, Rob (25 June 2020). "Steve Kent out as top bureaucrat at Mount Pearl city hall". CBC. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  28. ^ "Steve Kent resigns as Mount Pearl's top bureaucrat, plans to sue city | SaltWire".
  29. ^ Antle, Rob (25 March 2021). "Facebook chats reveal clandestine planning between Steve Kent, 2 Mount Pearl councillors". CBC Investigates. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  30. ^ Antle, Rob (9 December 2019). "Steve Kent had city-hired consultant do personal work, says no cost to taxpayers". CBC News. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  31. ^ Careen, Evan (8 March 2023). "Workplace misconduct investigation into Steve Kent cost the City of Mount Pearl more than $325,000, not including legal fees". www.saltwire.com. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  32. ^ "Steve Kent Elected to World Scouting Committee". VOCM-FM. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  33. ^ "Voter information service". Elections Canada. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  34. ^ Newfoundland & Labrador Votes 2011. CBC News. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
  35. ^ "Steve Kent to represent PC Party in Mount Pearl North", PC Party of Newfoundland and Labrador (press release), June 19, 2007
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