Yvonne Jones
MP
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Northern Affairs
Assumed office
December 2, 2015
MinisterCarolyn Bennett
Preceded byMark Strahl
Member of Parliament
for Labrador
Assumed office
May 13, 2013
Preceded byPeter Penashue
Leader of the Opposition in Newfoundland and Labrador
In office
November 13, 2007 – January 3, 2012
Preceded byGerry Reid
Succeeded byDwight 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 byGerry Reid
Succeeded byKevin 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 byRiding Established
Succeeded byLisa Dempster
Mayor of Mary's Harbour
In office
1991–1996
Personal details
Born (1968-03-15) March 15, 1968
Mary's Harbour, Newfoundland, Canada
Political partyLiberal Party of Canada (2013-present)
Other political
affiliations		Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador (1999-2013)
Independent (1996-1999)
ResidenceMary's Harbour[1]
Alma materWest Viking College
OccupationJournalist, Researcher, Politician
CabinetMinister Responsible for the Status of Women (2003) Minister of Fisheries & Aquaculture (2003)
WebsiteOfficial website

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]

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

Jones 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

Jones 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

On 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

Under 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

On 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

In 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

Federal

2021 Canadian federal election: Labrador
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalYvonne Jones4,11942.67+0.2$69,064.75
ConservativeShane Dumaresque2,93030.35-0.7$9,399.17
New DemocraticAmy Norman2,29723.80-0.7$4,902.92
People'sShannon Champion3073.18–none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 9,65399.03+0.23$107,802.67
Total rejected ballots 940.96-0.24
Turnout 9,74748.29-8.97
Registered voters 20,182
Liberal hold Swing +0.46
Source: Elections Canada[34][35]
2019 Canadian federal election: Labrador
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalYvonne Jones4,85142.48-29.27$82,443.39
ConservativeLarry Flemming3,54831.07+17.20$19,580.39
New DemocraticMichelene Gray2,79624.49+10.11$2,811.15
GreenTyler Colbourne2241.96–$0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 11,41998.80-0.77104,476.76
Total rejected ballots 1391.20-0.78
Turnout 11,55857.26-4.73
Eligible voters 20,184
Liberal hold Swing -23.24
Source: Elections Canada[36][37]
2015 Canadian federal election: Labrador
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalYvonne Jones8,87871.75+23.76–
New DemocraticEdward Rudkowski1,77914.38–4.81–
ConservativePeter Penashue1,71613.87–18.53–
Total valid votes/Expense limit 12,373100.0   $204,293.51
Total rejected ballots 530.43–0.42
Turnout 12,42662.39+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
LiberalYvonne Jones5,81247.99+8.92$76,859.63
ConservativePeter Penashue3,92432.40−7.41$70,866.91
New DemocraticHarry Borlase2,32419.19−0.64$81,475.53
LibertarianNorman Andrews500.41 $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

2011 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
LiberalYvonne Jones1,51671.14-1.74
Progressive ConservativeGlen Acreman57126.79-0.33
  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
2007 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
LiberalYvonne Jones1,73672.88%+12.90%
Progressive ConservativeDennis Normore64627.12%-4.73%
2003 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
LiberalYvonne Jones1,51459.98%-25.47%
Progressive ConservativeDennis Normore80431.85%+17.30%
Labrador PartyFrank Pye2068.16%+8.16%
1999 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
LiberalYvonne Jones1,83285.45%+43.37%
Progressive ConservativeSharon Moores31214.55%+13.12%
1996 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
  Independent Yvonne Jones 1,665 56.83%
LiberalDanny Dumaresque1,23342.08%
Progressive ConservativeBerkley Bursey421.43%–

References

  1. ↑ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Liberals take Labrador, as Jones wins big over Penashue". CBC News. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  3. ↑ "'I know who I am:' Labrador MP defends Inuk identity after Nunavut MP's questions". CBC News.
  4. ↑ "Labrador MP demands apology after Nunavut MP says she is 'not an Inuk'". CBC News.
  5. ↑ "NunatuKavut moves closer to self-governance with new agreement with federal government". CBC News.
  6. 1 2 "Jones takes on interim Liberal leadership". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 15 November 2007. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  7. ↑ "Yvonne Jones says goodbye to fellow MHAs". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 28 March 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  8. ↑ "Premier Grimes announces new Cabinet". Government of Newfoundland and Labraodr. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  9. ↑ "Tories sweep to power in Newfoundland and Labrador". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 22 October 2003. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  10. 1 2 3 "December 6, 2004 House of Assembly Proceedings Vol. XLV No. 52". Assembly.nl.ca. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  11. ↑ "N.L. throne speech highlights Lower Churchill project, softens tone with Ottawa". Ipolitics.ca. 21 March 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  12. ↑ Bartlett, Dave (17 December 2009). "Jones will run". The Telegram. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  13. ↑ "Jones acclaimed Liberal Leader". The Telegram. 30 July 2010.
  14. ↑ "Jones acclaimed N.L. Liberal leader". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 30 July 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  15. ↑ "N.L. Liberal Leader Jones has breast cancer". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  16. ↑ "Jones anxious to get back to work". The Telegram. 12 February 2011.
  17. ↑ "Liberals win provincial byelection in rural N.L". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 27 October 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  18. ↑ "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.
  19. ↑ "CRA - May 2010 Poll" (PDF). Cra.ca. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 October 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  20. ↑ "Provincial Tories Still Have Big Lead: Poll". NTV News. 2011-02-16. Retrieved 2011-02-17.
  21. ↑ "Jones won't become premier: Efford". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 17 February 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  22. ↑ "Support for the Progressive Conservative Party Remains High" (PDF). Corporate Research Associates. 2011-03-07. Retrieved 2011-03-08.
  23. ↑ "PCs, Dunderdale Still Dominate: Poll". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2011-03-07. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  24. ↑ "Tories drop, NDP surge in new poll". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  25. ↑ "N.L. Liberal leader resigns over health". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 8 August 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  26. ↑ "Yvonne Jones re-elected in Labrador". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 11 October 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  27. ↑ "Jones declared Liberal candidate for Labrador byelection". The Telegram. 27 March 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  28. ↑ "Liberals name Jones as candidate in Labrador byelection". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 27 March 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  29. ↑ Fitz-Morris, James (2015-12-02). "Bill Blair, Adam Vaughan among new parliamentary secretaries". CBC News. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
  30. ↑ "Labrador MP Yvonne Jones has new role in Trudeau government | Saltwire".
  31. ↑ "Qaqqaq apologizes for telling Labrador MP, 'Validate your Inuk-ness'". Nunatsiaq News. 2021-04-22. Retrieved 2021-05-08.
  32. ↑ "Liberals flip St. John's East, trail in Coast of Bays-Central-Notre Dame". CBC News. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  33. ↑ "Labrador MP Yvonne Jones Returns to House of Commons After Breast Cancer Treatment". VOCM. Jun 14, 2023. Retrieved Jun 14, 2023.
  34. ↑ "Confirmed candidates — Labrador". Elections Canada. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  35. ↑ "Candidate Campaign Returns". Elections Canada. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  36. ↑ "Official Voting Results". www.elections.ca. Retrieved 2021-08-14.
  37. ↑ Canada, Elections. "Final Election Expenses Limits for Candidates". www.elections.ca. Retrieved 2020-09-23.
  38. ↑ "October 19, 2015 Election Results — Labrador (Validated results)". Elections Canada. 23 October 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  39. ↑ "Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates". October 19, 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-08-15. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
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