Gerry Byrne (politician)

The Honourable
Gerry Byrne
BSc PC MHA

2010
Minister of Advanced Education and Skills
Assumed office
2015
Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
for Corner Brook
Assumed office
November 30, 2015
Preceded by Riding Established
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte
In office
January 25, 1996 – October 19, 2015
Preceded by Brian Tobin
Succeeded by Gudie Hutchings
(Long Range Mountains)
Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
In office
January 15, 2002 – December 11, 2003
Serving with Allan Rock
Preceded by Robert Thibault
Succeeded by Joe McGuire
Personal details
Born (1966-09-27) September 27, 1966
Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador
Political party Liberal Party of Canada
Spouse(s) Denise Gibbons
Children Gerry Jr.
Residence Corner Brook, Newfoundland & Labrador
Alma mater Dalhousie University
Profession Political Assistant
Cabinet Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (2002–2003)
Religion Roman Catholicism

Gerry Byrne, PC 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 Chretien. He is currently the MHA for Corner Brook.

Education

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

Politics

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. 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.

Cabinet Minister

He was Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency from 2002 to 2003. During his Cabinet post he served a long side fellow Liberal MP, Allan Rock. 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

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.[1]

In response to the pieing of the Fisheries Minister, Byrne denounced the attack on the minister as an act of terrorism.[2] 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.” 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.” In response to his interpretation of Canadian law, PETA president Ingrid Newkirk said Byrne's reaction was "a silly, chest-beating exercise."

Liberal leadership elections

In the Liberal Party's 2006 leadership election, Byrne started out supporting Maurizio Bevilacqua, after Bevilacque drop out he supported Michael Ignatieff.[3] 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.[4]

In the Liberal Party's 2013 leadership election, Byrne supported Montreal MP Justin Trudeau.[5]

In the provincial Liberal Party's 2013 leadership race, Byrne supported Humber Valley MHA Dwight Ball.[6]

Electoral record

Provincial

Newfoundland and Labrador general election, 2015: Corner Brook
Party Candidate Votes%
LiberalGerry Byrne 3,121 66.67
New DemocraticHolly Pike 781 16.68
Progressive ConservativeNeville Wheaton 779 16.65
Total valid votes 4,681100.0
Turnout 45.03
Eligible voters 10,397

Federal

Canadian federal election, 2011: Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalGerry Byrne 17,119 57.04 -10.88
ConservativeTrevor Taylor 7,559 25.18 +14.56
New DemocraticShelley Senior 4,751 15.83 -1.97
IndependentWayne Ronald Bennett 332 1.11 -2.55
GreenRobin Gosse 253 0.84 –
Total valid votes/Expense limit 30,014100.00–
Total rejected ballots 970.32-0.25
Turnout 30,11150.91 +6.64
Eligible voters 59,149 ––
Liberal hold Swing -12.72
Canadian federal election, 2008: Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalGerry Byrne 17,943 67.92 +15.02 $36,525
New DemocraticMark Kennedy 4,703 17.80 +2.90 $2,495
ConservativeLorne Robinson 2,806 10.62 -20.54 $11,451
Newfoundland and Labrador FirstWayne Ronald Bennett 967 3.66 – $3,719
Total valid votes/Expense limit 26,419100.00 $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
Canadian federal election, 2006: Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalGerry Byrne 17,208 52.90 -9.66 $52,162
ConservativeCyril Pelley, Jr. 10,137 31.16 +8.21 $41,467
New DemocraticHolly Pike 4,847 14.90 +1.76 $5,133
GreenMartin Hanzalek 339 1.04 -0.31
Total valid votes/Expense limit 32,531100.00 $84,468
Total rejected ballots 1910.58+0.13
Turnout 32,72254.6+6.8
Liberal hold Swing -8.94
Canadian federal election, 2004: Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalGerry Byrne 17,820 62.56 +13.77 $61,737
ConservativeWynanne Downer 6,538 22.95 -2.41 $49,410
New DemocraticHolly Pike 3,743 13.14 -12.68 $5,878
GreenSteve Durant 384 1.35 – $178
Total valid votes/Expense limit 28,485100.00 $82,511
Total rejected ballots 1280.45
Turnout 28,61347.77
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.
Canadian federal election, 2000: Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
LiberalGerry Byrne 15,446 48.79 +8.95
New DemocraticTrevor Taylor 8,173 25.82 +11.22
Progressive ConservativePeter McBreairty 6,340 20.03 -19.03
AllianceMurdock Cole 1,698 5.33 -1.17
Total votes 31,657100.00
Total rejected ballots 1170.37
Turnout 31,77457.99
Liberal hold Swing +7.00
Canadian Alliance changes from 1997 are based on the results of its predecessor, the Reform Party.
Canadian federal election, 1997: Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
LiberalGerry Byrne 12,057 39.84 -15.85
Progressive ConservativeArt Bull 11,825 39.06 +15.56
New DemocraticJoan Scott 4,421 14.60 +12.13
ReformRandy Wells 1,969 6.50 -11.84
Total votes 30,272100.00
Total rejected ballots 1290.42
Turnout 30,40154.93
Liberal hold Swing -15.71
Canadian federal by-election, March 25, 1996: Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
LiberalGerry Byrne 12,453 55.69 -26.49
Progressive ConservativeDanny Kane 5,253 23.50 +8.12
ReformDeon Hancock 4,099 18.34 –
New DemocraticColeen Dingwell-Corbin 554 2.47 +0.03
Total votes 22,359100.00
Liberal hold Swing -17.31
By-election due to the resignation of Brian Tobin, January 25, 1996

References

  1. ↑ "Pie in the Face" Globe and Mail, January 26, 2010. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
  2. ↑ "A tofu cream pie in the face is an act of terrorism, Liberal MP tells radio station". National Post, January 27, 2010.
  3. ↑ Even Ignatieff supporters have mixed views over his Quebec ’nation’ idea
  4. ↑ "46 MPs back Ignatieff". Toronto: thestar.com. 2010-04-24. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
  5. ↑ MacKinnon, Leslie (February 8, 2013). "Half of Liberal MPs support Trudeau for leader". CBC News. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Ball wants healthy competition for Liberal leadership". The Western Star. 6 July 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
Provincial Government of Dwight Ball
Cabinet Post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Clyde Jackman Minister of Advanced Education & Skills
December 14, 2015–present		 Incumbent
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