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Gerry Byrne (politician)

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The Honourable
Gerry Byrne
BSc PC MHA
Gerry Byrne in 2018
Minister of Fisheries, Forestry, and Agriculture
Minister Responsible for the Public Procurement Agency
Incumbent
Assumed office
July 19, 2024
PremierAndrew Furey
Preceded byElvis Loveless
Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills
In office
August 19, 2020 – July 19, 2024
PremierAndrew Furey
Preceded byposition established[1]
Succeeded bySarah Stoodley
Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources
In office
July 31, 2017 – August 19, 2020
PremierDwight Ball
Preceded bySteve Crocker
Succeeded byElvis Loveless[1]
Minister of Advanced Education and Skills
In office
December 14, 2015 – July 31, 2017
PremierDwight Ball
Preceded byClyde Jackman
Succeeded bySteve Crocker
Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
for Corner Brook
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 30, 2015
Preceded byRiding Established
Member of Parliament
for Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte
In office
January 25, 1996 – August 4, 2015
Preceded byBrian Tobin
Succeeded byGudie Hutchings
(Long Range Mountains)
Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
In office
January 15, 2002 – December 11, 2003
Prime MinisterJean Chrétien
Preceded byRobert Thibault
Succeeded byJoe McGuire
Personal details
Born (1966-09-27) September 27, 1966 (age 58)
Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador
Political partyLiberal Party of Canada
SpouseDenise Gibbons
Children1 (Gerry Jr.)
ResidenceCorner Brook, Newfoundland & Labrador
Alma materDalhousie University
ProfessionPolitical assistant

Gerry Byrne, MHA (born September 27, 1966) is a Canadian politician who was a Liberal Member of Parliament from 1996 to 2015 representing Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, Newfoundland and Labrador, and a cabinet minister in the government of Jean Chrétien. Since the 2015 provincial election, he has served as MHA for Corner Brook. Byrne served in provincial cabinet during the Ball government and is currently Minister of Fisheries, Forestry, and Agriculture in the Furey government.

Education

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Byrne received a Bachelor of Science in environmental science from Dalhousie University.

Federal politics

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Byrne has been a Member of Parliament since 1996 when he won a by-election in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador to succeed Brian Tobin. Tobin resigned to run in the 1996 Newfoundland provincial election for Premier. He was re-elected in the 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2011 elections.[2][3] In the 2006 election he had one of the highest margins of victory in Atlantic Canada. Byrne did not stand in the 2015 election and retired from parliament.[4]

In 2005, Byrne voted against Bill C-38 allowing same-sex marriage.[5][6][7]

In the Liberal Party's 2006 leadership election, he started out supporting Maurizio Bevilacqua, after Bevilacqua drop out he supported Michael Ignatieff.[8] Ignatieff placed second in the race to winner Stéphane Dion. Ignatieff became Leader of the Liberal Party two years later, and was again supported by Byrne.[9]

In the Liberal Party's 2013 leadership election, Byrne supported Montreal MP Justin Trudeau.[10]

Cabinet minister

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He was Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency from 2002 to 2003. When Paul Martin became Prime Minister in 2003, Byrne was not assigned back to his former Cabinet post and was succeeded by Joe McGuire.

Comments on PETA pie incident

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On January 25, 2010, Fisheries Minister, Gail Shea was pied while giving a speech at the Canada Centre for Inland Waters. An American PETA activist, Emily McCoy, was later arrested in Burlington, charged with assault in connection with the incident. PETA has taken public responsibility for the incident, saying that it was part of a broader campaign against the Canadian Government's support of the seal hunt.[11]

In response to the pieing of the Fisheries Minister, Byrne denounced the attack on the minister as an act of terrorism.[12] He commented on the 26th, "When someone actually coaches or conducts criminal behaviour to impose a political agenda on each and every other citizen of Canada, that does seem to me to meet the test of a terrorist organization."[13] Byrne continued to say, "I am calling on the Government of Canada to actually investigate whether or not this organization, PETA, is acting as a terrorist organization under the test that exists under Canadian law."[14] In response to his interpretation of Canadian law, PETA president Ingrid Newkirk said Byrne's reaction was "a silly, chest-beating exercise."

Provincial politics

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In the provincial Liberal Party's 2013 leadership race, Byrne supported Humber Valley MHA Dwight Ball.[15] Byrne retired from federal politics at the 2015 election in order to run successfully provincially later that year becoming MHA for Corner Brook. Following the Ball Liberals forming government in the 2015 election, he was appointed Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour.[16] He subsequently served as Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources following a 2017 cabinet shuffle.[17][18] Byrne was re-elected in the 2019 provincial election.[19][20]

On August 19, 2020, he was appointed Minister of Immigration, Skills and Labour in the Furey government.[21][22]

Byrne was re-elected in the 2021 provincial election.[23] On July 19, 2024, he was appointed as Minister of Fisheries, Forestry, and Agriculture and Minister Responsible for the Public Procurement Agency.[24]

Electoral record

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Provincial

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2021 Newfoundland and Labrador general election: Corner Brook
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Gerry Byrne 2,593 66.54 +17.69
Progressive Conservative Tom Stewart 1,304 33.46 -0.27
Total valid votes 3,897
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
Eligible voters
Liberal hold Swing +8.98
Source(s)
"Officially Nominated Candidates General Election 2021" (PDF). Elections Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
"NL Election 2021 (Unofficial Results)". Retrieved 27 March 2021.
2019 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Gerry Byrne 2,436 48.8
Progressive Conservative Tom Stewart 1,682 33.7
New Democratic Mary B. Feltham 733 14.7
Independent Wayne Bennett 136 2.7
Total valid votes
2015 Newfoundland and Labrador general election: Corner Brook
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal Gerry Byrne 3,121 66.67
New Democratic Holly Pike 781 16.68
Progressive Conservative Neville Wheaton 779 16.65
Total valid votes 4,681 100.0
Turnout 45.03
Eligible voters 10,397

Federal

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2011 Canadian federal election: Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Gerry Byrne 17,119 57.04 −10.88
Conservative Trevor Taylor 7,559 25.18 +14.56
New Democratic Shelley Senior 4,751 15.83 −1.97
Independent Wayne Ronald Bennett 332 1.11 −2.55
Green Robin Gosse 253 0.84 –
Total valid votes/expense limit 30,014 100.00 –
Total rejected ballots 97 0.32 −0.25
Turnout 30,111 50.91 +6.64
Eligible voters 59,149 – –
Liberal hold Swing -12.72
2008 Canadian federal election: Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Gerry Byrne 17,943 67.92 +15.02 $36,525
New Democratic Mark Kennedy 4,703 17.80 +2.90 $2,495
Conservative Lorne Robinson 2,806 10.62 −20.54 $11,451
Newfoundland and Labrador First Wayne Ronald Bennett 967 3.66 – $3,719
Total valid votes/expense limit 26,419 100.00 $90,812
Total rejected ballots 150 0.57 −0.01
Turnout 26,472 44.27 −10.3
Eligible voters 59,797 – –
Liberal hold Swing +17.78
2006 Canadian federal election: Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Gerry Byrne 17,208 52.90 -9.66 $52,162
Conservative Cyril Pelley, Jr. 10,137 31.16 +8.21 $41,467
New Democratic Holly Pike 4,847 14.90 +1.76 $5,133
Green Martin Hanzalek 339 1.04 −0.31
Total valid votes/expense limit 32,531 100.00 $84,468
Total rejected ballots 191 0.58 +0.13
Turnout 32,722 54.6 +6.8
Liberal hold Swing −8.94
2004 Canadian federal election: Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Gerry Byrne 17,820 62.56 +13.77 $61,737
Conservative Wynanne Downer 6,538 22.95 −2.41 $49,410
New Democratic Holly Pike 3,743 13.14 −12.68 $5,878
Green Steve Durant 384 1.35 – $178
Total valid votes/expense limit 28,485 100.00 $82,511
Total rejected ballots 128 0.45
Turnout 28,613 47.77
Liberal hold Swing +8.09
Change from 2000 is based on redistributed results. Conservative Party change is based on the combination of Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative Party totals.
2000 Canadian federal election: Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Gerry Byrne 15,446 48.79 +8.95
New Democratic Trevor Taylor 8,173 25.82 +11.22
Progressive Conservative Peter McBreairty 6,340 20.03 −19.03
Alliance Murdock Cole 1,698 5.33 −1.17
Total votes 31,657 100.00
Total rejected ballots 117 0.37
Turnout 31,774 57.99
Liberal hold Swing +7.00
Canadian Alliance changes from 1997 are based on the results of its predecessor, the Reform Party.
1997 Canadian federal election: Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Gerry Byrne 12,057 39.84 −15.85
Progressive Conservative Art Bull 11,825 39.06 +15.56
New Democratic Joan Scott 4,421 14.60 +12.13
Reform Randy Wells 1,969 6.50 −11.84
Total votes 30,272 100.00
Total rejected ballots 129 0.42
Turnout 30,401 54.93
Liberal hold Swing −15.71
Canadian federal by-election, March 25, 1996: Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Gerry Byrne 12,453 55.69 −26.49
Progressive Conservative Danny Kane 5,253 23.50 +8.12
Reform Deon Hancock 4,099 18.34 –
New Democratic Coleen Dingwell-Corbin 554 2.47 +0.03
Total votes 22,359 100.00
Liberal hold Swing −17.31
By-election due to the resignation of Brian Tobin, January 25, 1996

References

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  1. ^ a b Bird, Lindsay (Aug 19, 2020). "New N.L. premier, new finance minister: Andrew Furey takes office and shuffles cabinet". CBC News. Retrieved Mar 7, 2021.
  2. ^ "Byrne baby Byrne; Liberal incumbent Gerry Byrne glides to seventh straight election victory". The Western Star. May 3, 2011. Archived from the original on 4 May 2011. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  3. ^ "Innu leader delivers Conservatives from N.L. shutout". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2011-05-02. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  4. ^ "Gerry Byrne in no hurry to resign as federal MP". CBC News. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  5. ^ "Crosbie boots candidate with anti-abortion, anti-gay views 24 hours after backing him". CBC News. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  6. ^ "MHA's attendance at Corner Brook Pride Week draws backlash". CBC News. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  7. ^ "3 Liberals vote against same-sex bill". CBC News. Apr 13, 2005. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  8. ^ "Even Ignatieff supporters have mixed views over his Quebec 'nation' idea". Archived from the original on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2011-03-15.
  9. ^ "46 MPs back Ignatieff". thestar.com. Toronto. 2010-04-24. Archived from the original on 2008-12-12. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
  10. ^ MacKinnon, Leslie (February 8, 2013). "Half of Liberal MPs support Trudeau for leader". CBC News. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
  11. ^ "Pie in the Face". The Globe and Mail. January 26, 2010. Archived from the original on January 28, 2010. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  12. ^ "A tofu cream pie in the face is an act of terrorism, Liberal MP tells radio station". National Post, January 27, 2010.
  13. ^ "Grit MP believes pie attack may be a terrorist act". Ctvnews.ca. 27 January 2010. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  14. ^ "Pie tossing is terrorism, MP says". Toronto Star. 26 January 2010. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  15. ^ "Ball wants healthy competition for Liberal leadership". The Western Star. 6 July 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  16. ^ "Dwight Ball, new Liberal cabinet sworn in at Government House". CBC News. 14 December 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  17. ^ "After delay, Corner Brook salmon anglers line up early to purchase licences". CBC News. June 4, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  18. ^ "DFO gets blame for printing error of salmon licences". CBC News. May 25, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  19. ^ "Robocalls, 'push polling' need to be addressed, say Liberals". CBC News. May 20, 2019. Retrieved Mar 7, 2021.
  20. ^ "NL VOTES: Byrne says Corner Brook's voters heard and supported Liberal message". Saltwire News. May 16, 2019. Retrieved Mar 7, 2021.
  21. ^ "Newfoundland and Labrador's new premier doesn't clear the deck, but he certainly shuffled it". The Chronicle Herald. Aug 19, 2020. Retrieved Mar 7, 2021.
  22. ^ "Andrew Furey takes office as 14th premier of N.L., names cabinet". CBC News. 19 August 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  23. ^ "Here are all the MHAs elected in the Newfoundland and Labrador election". CBC News. March 27, 2021.
  24. ^ Key Portfolios Shift Hands in Newfoundland Cabinet Shake-Up. VOCM News, July 19, 2024.
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Newfoundland and Labrador provincial government of Dwight Ball
Cabinet post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Clyde Jackman Minister of Advanced Education & Skills
December 14, 2015 – July 31, 2017 		Al Hawkins
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