Yvonne Jean Jones MP (born March 15, 1968) is a Canadian politician in Newfoundland and Labrador, who was elected to the House of Commons of Canada in a by-election on May 13, 2013.[2] She represents the district of Labrador as a member of the Liberal Party caucus.[2] On December 2, 2015, she was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs. Jones is a member of NunatuKavut, an unrecognized Inuit group.[3][4][5]
Yvonne Jones | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Northern Affairs | |
| Assumed office December 2, 2015 | |
| Minister | Carolyn Bennett |
| Preceded by | Mark Strahl |
| Member of Parliament for Labrador | |
| Assumed office May 13, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Peter Penashue |
| Leader of the Opposition in Newfoundland and Labrador | |
| In office November 13, 2007 – January 3, 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Gerry Reid |
| Succeeded by | Dwight Ball |
| Leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal Party | |
| In office Interim: November 13, 2007 – May 28, 2011 May 28, 2011 – August 14, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Gerry Reid |
| Succeeded by | Kevin Aylward |
| Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly for Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair | |
| In office February 22, 1996 – April 8, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Riding Established |
| Succeeded by | Lisa Dempster |
| Mayor of Mary's Harbour | |
| In office 1991–1996 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 15, 1968 Mary's Harbour, Newfoundland, Canada |
| Political party | Liberal Party of Canada (2013-present) |
| Other political affiliations | Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador (1999-2013) Independent (1996-1999) |
| Residence | Mary's Harbour[1] |
| Alma mater | West Viking College |
| Occupation | Journalist, Researcher, Politician |
| Cabinet | Minister Responsible for the Status of Women (2003) Minister of Fisheries & Aquaculture (2003) |
| Website | Official website |
From 1996 to 2013, Jones represented the district of Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly. During her career in provincial politics, she served as Minister of Fisheries in Premier Roger Grimes' government, and later as a leader of the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador and Leader of the Official Opposition.[6]
Provincial politics
editJones has training in journalism and has worked for many community newspapers throughout the province. She has also served as an employment counselor and field worker for the Battle Harbour Development Association with Human Resources Development Canada.
Jones served as mayor of Mary's Harbour, Labrador from 1991 to 1996. In 1996, she sought the Liberal Party nomination for the provincial electoral district of Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair in that year's general election. Jones lost the nomination to incumbent Danny Dumaresque, but subsequently ran as an Independent candidate. She was elected to the House of Assembly in the 1996 general election, defeating Dumaresque, a two-term MHA. Jones became the Liberal Party's candidate for the 1999 election. She was re-elected in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011.[7]
After serving two years as a Parliamentary Secretary Jones was appointed to cabinet In February 2003, by Premier Roger Grimes. She was sworn in as the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture and as the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women.[8] Jones held the post till the Liberal government was defeated in the provincial election in October of that year.[9]
In 2004, Jones was the only member of the House of Assembly to vote against the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement (Bill 44).[10] During the legislative debate Jones stated "The proposed treaty we have before us today is very complex. I certainly do not think and I know it was not the intention of the LIA [Labrador Inuit Association] to stigmatize or exclude the possibility for settlement of a claim with Metis people. I know that, Mr. Speaker. I have asked the government to give me the greatest assurances possible that this treaty would not prejudice the future acceptance of a claim for Metis in Labrador. Those assurances have not been satisfactory to the leadership of the Labrador Metis Nation, to their President, Todd Russell, to their elders and their members, and therefore, Mr. Speaker, it is not satisfactory to me".[10] During this debate Jones also stated "I am a Metis and I am very proud of who I am. I am descendant from the bloodline of Inuit and the English".[10]
Jones was an outspoken critic of the Muskrat Falls hydro development.[11]
Liberal leader
editJones was one of only three Liberal Members of the House of Assembly (MHA) re-elected in the 2007 provincial election. On November 15, 2007, she was named the interim leader of the Liberal Party and Official Opposition Leader, after party leader Gerry Reid was defeated in his own district. Jones became the first woman to lead the Liberal Party in the province.[6] The party originally planned to hold a leadership convention to select a new, permanent leader in 2008, but postponed the vote twice. Jones continued to serve as interim leader during this period of time, and in December 2009, announced her intention to run for the permanent leadership when the convention was to be scheduled.[12] On July 30, 2010, Jones was acclaimed Liberal leader after she was the only person to file nomination papers for the position.[13][14]
She was expected to be sworn in as leader at the party's convention in November of that year, however the convention was delayed when Jones announced in August that she would be taking a leave of absence from her position to undergo treatment for breast cancer.[15] She returned to work in early 2011, and was sworn in as Liberal leader at the party's Spring leadership convention.[16]
By-elections
editOn October 27, 2009, the district of The Straits – White Bay North held a by-election, to replace Minister of Transportation and Works, Trevor Taylor, who resigned on October 2, 2009. Liberal candidate Marshall Dean won the election taking nearly 48% of the vote and defeating the Progressive Conservative candidate by 126 votes.[17]
Public opinion
editUnder Jones' leadership the Liberal Party remained in second place in public opinion polls. After receiving 22% in the 2007 general election, the party's support has not risen above those levels. For the majority of time since the election their support has been in the mid-teens according to polls conducted by Corporate Research Associates (CRA).[18] Jones' own popularity had consistently remained lower than her own party's; CRA's quarterly polls on Newfoundland and Labrador politics have found that no more than 11% of those surveyed have felt Jones would make the best premier.[19] A NTV Telelink poll conducted in February 2011, found that 13% of decided voters would support the Liberal Party and that 12% thought Jones was the best choice to be premier.[20]
The results of the NTV Telelink poll led former Liberal provincial and federal cabinet minister John Efford to criticize Jones's leadership. Efford said that Jones would not become premier and while he did not call on her to resign as leader, he did say that "it's clear what she ought to do in the face of poor polling results".[21]
A CRA poll in March 2011, saw Jones' personal popularity rise to 18%, her highest level since becoming Liberal leader in 2007. Her personal popularity was also tied with that of her party.[22][23] On June 7, 2011, CRA released a poll showing that Jones' popularity had dropped slightly to 16% but her party's support had risen to 22%. While the Progressive Conservatives still held a large lead in the poll, at 57%, the Liberals were statistically tied with the New Democrats, who had the support of 20% of those surveyed.[24]
Resignation
editOn August 9, 2011, two months before the provincial election, Jones announced that she was resigning as leader due to a slower recovery from breast cancer than she expected.[25] She sought re-election in her district during the 2011 provincial election, and won 71 per cent of the popular vote.[26]
Federal politics
editIn April 2013, Jones resigned her seat in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly to run as the Liberal candidate in the federal by-election in Labrador created by the resignation of Peter Penashue.[27][28] She defeated Penashue to win the seat on May 13, 2013. She was sworn in on June 4, 2013.
Upon her election, Jones was appointed the Liberal critic for Northern Development, the Northern Economic Development Agency, the Arctic Council, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and Search and Rescue. In August 2013, Jones was elected Chair of the Liberal Party of Canada Newfoundland and Labrador caucus. In February 2014, she became Vice-Chair of the Public Accounts committee.
On December 2, 2015, Jones was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs.[29]
In late August 2018, Jones was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Intergovernmental and Northern affairs and Internal Trade.[30]
Jones was re-elected in the 2019 federal election. On December 12, 2019, Jones was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Northern Affairs.
On April 19, 2021, Nunavut NDP MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq claimed that Jones was "not an Inuk," and southern Labrador is "not an Inuit region". Jones dismissed Qaqqaq's comments as “immature and naïve”. Qaqqaq later issued an email statement apologizing “for how I handled the situation”.[31]
Jones was re-elected in the 2021 federal election.[32]
On June 14, 2023, Jones announced that she had “successfully battled breast cancer for the second time.”[33]
Electoral record
editFederal
edit| 2021 Canadian federal election: Labrador | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Liberal | Yvonne Jones | 4,119 | 42.67 | +0.2 | $69,064.75 | |||
| Conservative | Shane Dumaresque | 2,930 | 30.35 | -0.7 | $9,399.17 | |||
| New Democratic | Amy Norman | 2,297 | 23.80 | -0.7 | $4,902.92 | |||
| People's | Shannon Champion | 307 | 3.18 | – | none listed | |||
| Total valid votes/expense limit | 9,653 | 99.03 | +0.23 | $107,802.67 | ||||
| Total rejected ballots | 94 | 0.96 | -0.24 | |||||
| Turnout | 9,747 | 48.29 | -8.97 | |||||
| Registered voters | 20,182 | |||||||
| Liberal hold | Swing | +0.46 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Canada[34][35] | ||||||||
| 2019 Canadian federal election: Labrador | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Liberal | Yvonne Jones | 4,851 | 42.48 | -29.27 | $82,443.39 | |||
| Conservative | Larry Flemming | 3,548 | 31.07 | +17.20 | $19,580.39 | |||
| New Democratic | Michelene Gray | 2,796 | 24.49 | +10.11 | $2,811.15 | |||
| Green | Tyler Colbourne | 224 | 1.96 | – | $0.00 | |||
| Total valid votes/expense limit | 11,419 | 98.80 | -0.77 | 104,476.76 | ||||
| Total rejected ballots | 139 | 1.20 | -0.78 | |||||
| Turnout | 11,558 | 57.26 | -4.73 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 20,184 | |||||||
| Liberal hold | Swing | -23.24 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Canada[36][37] | ||||||||
| 2015 Canadian federal election: Labrador | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Liberal | Yvonne Jones | 8,878 | 71.75 | +23.76 | – | |||
| New Democratic | Edward Rudkowski | 1,779 | 14.38 | –4.81 | – | |||
| Conservative | Peter Penashue | 1,716 | 13.87 | –18.53 | – | |||
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | 12,373 | 100.0 | $204,293.51 | |||||
| Total rejected ballots | 53 | 0.43 | –0.42 | |||||
| Turnout | 12,426 | 62.39 | +4.40 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 19,917 | |||||||
| Liberal hold | Swing | +14.28 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Canada[38][39] | ||||||||
| Canadian federal by-election, 13 May 2013: Labrador Resignation of Peter Penashue, 14 March 2013 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Liberal | Yvonne Jones | 5,812 | 47.99 | +8.92 | $76,859.63 | |||
| Conservative | Peter Penashue | 3,924 | 32.40 | −7.41 | $70,866.91 | |||
| New Democratic | Harry Borlase | 2,324 | 19.19 | −0.64 | $81,475.53 | |||
| Libertarian | Norman Andrews | 50 | 0.41 | $236.16 | ||||
| Total valid votes/expense limit | 12,110 | 100.0 | – | $ 89,852.84 | ||||
| Total rejected, declined and unmarked ballots | 27 | 0.22 | −0.26 | |||||
| Turnout | 12,137 | 59.93 | +6.49 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 20,251 | |||||||
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +8.17 | ||||||
| Source: "By-election May 13, 2013". Elections Canada. May 13, 2013. Retrieved December 14, 2013. | ||||||||
Provincial
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Yvonne Jones | 1,516 | 71.14 | -1.74 | |
| Progressive Conservative | Glen Acreman | 571 | 26.79 | -0.33 | |
| NDP | Bill Cooper | 44 | 2.06 | ||
| Total valid votes | 2,131 | 100.0 | |||
| Difference | 945 | 44.35 | |||
| Total rejected ballots | 2 | 0.09 | |||
| Turnout | 2,133 | 67.87 | |||
| Liberal hold | Swing | -1.58 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Yvonne Jones | 1,736 | 72.88% | +12.90% | |
| Progressive Conservative | Dennis Normore | 646 | 27.12% | -4.73% | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Yvonne Jones | 1,514 | 59.98% | -25.47% | |
| Progressive Conservative | Dennis Normore | 804 | 31.85% | +17.30% | |
| Labrador Party | Frank Pye | 206 | 8.16% | +8.16% | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Yvonne Jones | 1,832 | 85.45% | +43.37% | |
| Progressive Conservative | Sharon Moores | 312 | 14.55% | +13.12% | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Yvonne Jones | 1,665 | 56.83% | ||
| Liberal | Danny Dumaresque | 1,233 | 42.08% | ||
| Progressive Conservative | Berkley Bursey | 42 | 1.43% | – | |
References
edit- ^ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
- ^ a b "Liberals take Labrador, as Jones wins big over Penashue". CBC News. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ^ "'I know who I am:' Labrador MP defends Inuk identity after Nunavut MP's questions". CBC News.
- ^ "Labrador MP demands apology after Nunavut MP says she is 'not an Inuk'". CBC News.
- ^ "NunatuKavut moves closer to self-governance with new agreement with federal government". CBC News.
- ^ a b "Jones takes on interim Liberal leadership". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 15 November 2007. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
- ^ "Yvonne Jones says goodbye to fellow MHAs". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 28 March 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ^ "Premier Grimes announces new Cabinet". Government of Newfoundland and Labraodr. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
- ^ "Tories sweep to power in Newfoundland and Labrador". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 22 October 2003. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ^ a b c "December 6, 2004 House of Assembly Proceedings Vol. XLV No. 52". Assembly.nl.ca. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
- ^ "N.L. throne speech highlights Lower Churchill project, softens tone with Ottawa". Ipolitics.ca. 21 March 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
- ^ Bartlett, Dave (17 December 2009). "Jones will run". The Telegram. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
- ^ "Jones acclaimed Liberal Leader". The Telegram. 30 July 2010.
- ^ "Jones acclaimed N.L. Liberal leader". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 30 July 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
- ^ "N.L. Liberal Leader Jones has breast cancer". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
- ^ "Jones anxious to get back to work". The Telegram. 12 February 2011.
- ^ "Liberals win provincial byelection in rural N.L". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 27 October 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
- ^ "Support for Conservatives in NL is Unchanged and Remains High". Corporate Research Associates. 2009-06-04. Archived from the original on 2010-12-23. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
- ^ "CRA - May 2010 Poll" (PDF). Cra.ca. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 October 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
- ^ "Provincial Tories Still Have Big Lead: Poll". NTV News. 2011-02-16. Retrieved 2011-02-17.
- ^ "Jones won't become premier: Efford". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 17 February 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
- ^ "Support for the Progressive Conservative Party Remains High" (PDF). Corporate Research Associates. 2011-03-07. Retrieved 2011-03-08.
- ^ "PCs, Dunderdale Still Dominate: Poll". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2011-03-07. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
- ^ "Tories drop, NDP surge in new poll". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
- ^ "N.L. Liberal leader resigns over health". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 8 August 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ^ "Yvonne Jones re-elected in Labrador". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 11 October 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ^ "Jones declared Liberal candidate for Labrador byelection". The Telegram. 27 March 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
- ^ "Liberals name Jones as candidate in Labrador byelection". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 27 March 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ^ Fitz-Morris, James (2015-12-02). "Bill Blair, Adam Vaughan among new parliamentary secretaries". CBC News. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
- ^ "Labrador MP Yvonne Jones has new role in Trudeau government | Saltwire".
- ^ "Qaqqaq apologizes for telling Labrador MP, 'Validate your Inuk-ness'". Nunatsiaq News. 2021-04-22. Retrieved 2021-05-08.
- ^ "Liberals flip St. John's East, trail in Coast of Bays-Central-Notre Dame". CBC News. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
- ^ "Labrador MP Yvonne Jones Returns to House of Commons After Breast Cancer Treatment". VOCM. Jun 14, 2023. Retrieved Jun 14, 2023.
- ^ "Confirmed candidates — Labrador". Elections Canada. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ "Candidate Campaign Returns". Elections Canada. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
- ^ "Official Voting Results". www.elections.ca. Retrieved 2021-08-14.
- ^ Canada, Elections. "Final Election Expenses Limits for Candidates". www.elections.ca. Retrieved 2020-09-23.
- ^ "October 19, 2015 Election Results — Labrador (Validated results)". Elections Canada. 23 October 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
- ^ "Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates". October 19, 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-08-15. Retrieved 2022-01-26.