Loyola Hearn
Encyclopedia
Loyola Hearn, PC
(born March 25, 1943 in Renews, Newfoundland) is the Canadian
Ambassador to Ireland
. He served as a Member of the Canadian House of Commons
from 2000 to 2008, and as Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
from February 6, 2006 to October 30, 2008.
and the University of New Brunswick
.
from 1982 to 1993, and served as Minister of Education from 1985 to 1989. Hearn was a candidate in the 1989 Progressive Conservative Leadership Convention to replace outgoing Premier Brian Peckford
, the eventual winner was Tom Rideout.
Hearn went on to enter federal politics and was a member of the Conservative Party of Canada
in the Canadian House of Commons
, representing the riding of St. John's West
from 2000 to 2003 and St. John's South—Mount Pearl
from 2003 to 2008. He was a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
from 2000 to 2004, and was active in representing the party during its merger discussions with the Canadian Alliance
. Those discussions culminated in the merger of the two parties in December 2003, to the Conservative Party of Canada
. Hearn served as the first House Leader of the newly-created party until it had its first leadership convention.
He has served (either before or after the merger) as the Progressive Conservative Party House Leader, Conservative Party House Leader, Opposition House Leader, Canadian Heritage Critic, Public Works and Government Services Critic, and Critic of the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.
Following his victory in the 2006 federal election
he was named Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
on February 6, 2006. As Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Hearn has been active in defending the controversial east coast seal hunt. In this role, he claimed that several observers from the Humane Society of the United States
had been arrested for illegal activity during their campaign against the seal hunt, but was later forced to apologize under threat of a libel suit as no arrests had in fact taken place.
Hearn has also had to deal with the crises in several rural Newfoundland communities involving the sale of fish plants by Fishery Products International to Ocean Choice, often being in conflict with the provincial government, business and unions.
A few days prior to the dissolution of Parliament in September 2008, Hearn announced that he would not stand for re-election in the 2008 election
.
, Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced the appointment of Hearn as Canada's Ambassador to Ireland, succeeding Patrick Binns.
! align="right" colspan="3" | Turnout
! align="right" | 37,371
! align="right" | 58.3%
! align="right" | +5.7%
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 March 25, 1943 in Renews, Newfoundland) is the 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...
Ambassador to Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. He served as a Member of the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
from 2000 to 2008, and as Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans (Canada)
The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for supervising the fishing industry and administrating all navigable waterways in the country...
from February 6, 2006 to October 30, 2008.
Early life
Hearn was born in the fishing village of Renews, Newfoundland where he received his early education. After graduating from high school, he began his studies at Memorial University of NewfoundlandMemorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland, is a comprehensive university located primarily in St...
and the University of New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
.
Career
After graduating from the university, he started a teaching career in Renews. Hearn then served in 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...
from 1982 to 1993, and served as Minister of Education from 1985 to 1989. Hearn was a candidate in the 1989 Progressive Conservative Leadership Convention to replace outgoing Premier Brian Peckford
Brian Peckford
Alfred Brian Peckford, PC served as the 3rd Premier of Newfoundland. He served as leader of the Progressive Conservatives from 1979 until his retirement in 1989....
, the eventual winner was Tom Rideout.
Hearn went on to enter federal politics and was a member of the Conservative Party of Canada
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
, representing the riding of St. John's West
St. John's West
St. John's West was a federal electoral district in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1949 to 2003.This riding was created in 1949 when Newfoundland joined the Canadian Confederation....
from 2000 to 2003 and St. John's South—Mount Pearl
St. John's South—Mount Pearl
St. John's South redirects here. For the provincial electoral district please see St. John's South St. John's South—Mount Pearl is a federal electoral district in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004.-Demographics:Ethnic groups:...
from 2003 to 2008. He was a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
from 2000 to 2004, and was active in representing the party during its merger discussions with the Canadian Alliance
Canadian Alliance
The Canadian Alliance , formally the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance , was a Canadian conservative political party that existed from 2000 to 2003. The party was the successor to the Reform Party of Canada and inherited its position as the Official Opposition in the House of Commons and held...
. Those discussions culminated in the merger of the two parties in December 2003, to the Conservative Party of Canada
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
. Hearn served as the first House Leader of the newly-created party until it had its first leadership convention.
He has served (either before or after the merger) as the Progressive Conservative Party House Leader, Conservative Party House Leader, Opposition House Leader, Canadian Heritage Critic, Public Works and Government Services Critic, and Critic of the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.
Following his victory in the 2006 federal election
Canadian 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:...
he was named Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans (Canada)
The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for supervising the fishing industry and administrating all navigable waterways in the country...
on February 6, 2006. As Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Hearn has been active in defending the controversial east coast seal hunt. In this role, he claimed that several observers from the Humane Society of the United States
Humane Society of the United States
The Humane Society of the United States , based in Washington, D.C., is the largest animal advocacy organization in the world. In 2009, HSUS reported assets of over US$160 million....
had been arrested for illegal activity during their campaign against the seal hunt, but was later forced to apologize under threat of a libel suit as no arrests had in fact taken place.
Hearn has also had to deal with the crises in several rural Newfoundland communities involving the sale of fish plants by Fishery Products International to Ocean Choice, often being in conflict with the provincial government, business and unions.
A few days prior to the dissolution of Parliament in September 2008, Hearn announced that he would not stand for re-election in the 2008 election
Canadian federal election, 2008
The 2008 Canadian federal election was held on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 40th Canadian Parliament after the previous parliament had been dissolved by the Governor General on September 7, 2008...
.
Ambassador to Ireland
On November 19, 2010, the Honourable Lawrence CannonLawrence Cannon
Lawrence Cannon, PC is a Canadian politician from Quebec and Prime Minister Stephen Harper's former Quebec lieutenant. On October 30, 2008 he was sworn in as Minister of Foreign Affairs...
, Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced the appointment of Hearn as Canada's Ambassador to Ireland, succeeding Patrick Binns.
Personal life
Hearn has a son, David (January 1979), and a daughter, Laurita (February 1976), with his wife, Maureen Hearn.Electoral record
|- bgcolor="white"! align="right" colspan="3" | Turnout
! align="right" | 37,371
! align="right" | 58.3%
! align="right" | +5.7%