John Efford
Encyclopedia
Ruben John Efford, PC
(born January 6, 1944 in Port de Grave, Newfoundland and Labrador
) is a former Canadian
politician.
. He was Opposition critic for consumer affairs, public works, fisheries, health and social services. He later served as minister of social services, minister of works, services and transportation, and minister of fisheries and aquaculture. He lost the 2001 leadership convention
to become Liberal party leader to Roger Grimes
by 14 votes in a divisive contest. Efford and fellow leadership contestant Paul Dicks
subsequently left provincial politics saying that they could not work with Grimes.
in May 2002 and was re-elected in the 2004 general election
. In 2003, he was named Minister of Natural Resources
. He has served as a member of the standing committees on Canadian Heritage and on Fisheries and Oceans. He has also served on the standing committees on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities and on Aboriginal Affairs, Northern Development and Natural Resources.
or run for the leadership of the Newfoundland Liberal Party
.
In November 2005, it was reported that Efford was retiring from politics due to poor health from diabetes.
After completing a business administration program, Efford established and ran Efford’s Wholesale, Snow's Plumbing Ltd and the Della Lee retail clothing store. Efford and his wife, Madonna, have three children Jacqueline Ann, R. John III, Joseph Lee children and three grandchildren, R. John Efford IV, Jenna Emily Suzanna Efford & Cali Jean Efford Fitzgerald.
In February 2011, Efford criticized the leadership of provincial Liberal Leader, Yvonne Jones
and called for her to consider resigning. Efford stated that her low poll numbers were the main reason for his request. He referenced a Telelink poll released that week by NTV, in which 11 percent of respondents said they would prefer Jones to lead the province. Jones responded by saying Efford was an absolute nuisance to the Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal party, and another poll done in March showed that Jones' popularity was now up to 18% from the 11% that the February poll showed.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
(born January 6, 1944 in Port de Grave, Newfoundland and Labrador
Port de Grave, Newfoundland and Labrador
Port de Grave is a peninsula on Conception Bay in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The Port de Grave peninsula contains the communities of Bareneed, Black Duck Pond, Otterbury, Ship Cove, Blow Me Down, Hibb's Cove, Pick Eyes, and Hussey's Cove with a population of approximately 975 . This...
) is a former Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician.
Provincial politics
From 1985 to 2001, he served as a Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of AssemblyNewfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly is one of two components of the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, the other being the Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Newfoundland and Labrador General Assembly meets in the Confederation Building at St...
. He was Opposition critic for consumer affairs, public works, fisheries, health and social services. He later served as minister of social services, minister of works, services and transportation, and minister of fisheries and aquaculture. He lost the 2001 leadership convention
Leadership convention
In Canadian politics, a leadership convention is held by a political party when the party needs to choose a leader due to a vacancy or a challenge to the incumbent leader.- Overview :...
to become Liberal party leader to Roger Grimes
Roger Grimes
Roger D. Grimes is a Canadian politician from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Grimes was born and raised in the central Newfoundland town of Grand Falls-Windsor....
by 14 votes in a divisive contest. Efford and fellow leadership contestant Paul Dicks
Paul Dicks
Paul D. Dicks is a lawyer and former politician in Newfoundland and Labrador. He represented Humber West in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 1989 to 2001 as a Liberal....
subsequently left provincial politics saying that they could not work with Grimes.
Federal politics
Efford was elected to the House of Commons in a by-electionBy-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
in May 2002 and was re-elected in the 2004 general election
Canadian federal election, 2004
The Canadian federal election, 2004 , was held on June 28, 2004 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 38th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal government of Prime Minister Paul Martin lost its majority, but was able to form a minority government after the elections...
. In 2003, he was named Minister of Natural Resources
Minister of Natural Resources (Canada)
The Minister of Natural Resources is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for Natural Resources Canada. As of January 19, 2010, the Minister of Natural Resources is Joe Oliver.-Ministers:Key:...
. He has served as a member of the standing committees on Canadian Heritage and on Fisheries and Oceans. He has also served on the standing committees on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities and on Aboriginal Affairs, Northern Development and Natural Resources.
Retirement
On September 1, 2005, after considerable speculation that he intended to resign his federal cabinet position due to ill-health, Efford announced, to much surprise, that he had no intention to resign. He later stated on NTV that he would not run again in the 2006 federal electionCanadian federal election, 2006
The 2006 Canadian federal election was held on January 23, 2006, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 39th Parliament of Canada. The Conservative Party of Canada won the greatest number of seats: 40.3% of seats, or 124 out of 308, up from 99 seats in 2004, and 36.3% of votes:...
or run for the leadership of the Newfoundland Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is a political party in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada and the provincial wing of the Liberal Party of Canada. It is the Official Opposition and currently holds six seats in the provincial legislature.-Origins:The party originated in...
.
In November 2005, it was reported that Efford was retiring from politics due to poor health from diabetes.
After completing a business administration program, Efford established and ran Efford’s Wholesale, Snow's Plumbing Ltd and the Della Lee retail clothing store. Efford and his wife, Madonna, have three children Jacqueline Ann, R. John III, Joseph Lee children and three grandchildren, R. John Efford IV, Jenna Emily Suzanna Efford & Cali Jean Efford Fitzgerald.
In February 2011, Efford criticized the leadership of provincial Liberal Leader, Yvonne Jones
Yvonne Jones
Yvonne Jones is a Canadian politician and former leader of the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador. She currently represents the riding of Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, and was one of only three Liberal incumbents re-elected in the province's...
and called for her to consider resigning. Efford stated that her low poll numbers were the main reason for his request. He referenced a Telelink poll released that week by NTV, in which 11 percent of respondents said they would prefer Jones to lead the province. Jones responded by saying Efford was an absolute nuisance to the Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal party, and another poll done in March showed that Jones' popularity was now up to 18% from the 11% that the February poll showed.