John Efford

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The Honourable
John Efford
PC
Member of Parliament
for Avalon
Bonavista—Trinity—Conception (2002-2004)
In office
January 25, 2002 – January 23, 2006
Preceded byBrian Tobin
Succeeded byFabian Manning
Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
for Port de Grave
In office
April 2, 1985 – March 28, 2001
Preceded byRandy W. Collins
Succeeded byRoland Butler
Personal details
Born (1944-01-06) January 6, 1944 (age 77)
Port de Grave, Newfoundland
Political partyLiberal
OccupationBusinessman

Ruben John Efford, PC (born January 6, 1944) is a Canadian former politician.[1]

Early and private life[]

The son of Reuben John and Diana Efford,[2] he completed a business administration program and became the owner and operator of Efford’s Wholesale, Snow's Plumbing Ltd and the Della Lee retail clothing store. Efford and his wife, Madonna, have three children: Jacqueline Ann, John III and Joseph Lee and three grandchildren: John Efford IV, Jenna Emily Suzanna Efford[3] and Cali Jean Efford Fitzgerald. In 2019, Efford revealed that he has been battling Alzheimer's disease for two years.[4]

Provincial politics[]

From 1985 to 2001, he served as a Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly. 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.[1] He lost the 2001 leadership convention to become Liberal party leader to Roger Grimes by 14 votes in a divisive contest.[5] Efford and fellow leadership contestant Paul Dicks subsequently left provincial politics saying that they could not work with Grimes.[6]

Federal politics[]

Efford was elected to the House of Commons in a by-election in May 2002[7] 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.[1]

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 election 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.[8][9]

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.[10][11]

Electoral history[]

  • v
  • t
2004 Canadian federal election: Avalon
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal R. John Efford 18,335 58.34 +12.41 $47,245
Conservative Rick Dalton 9,211 29.31 -10.37 $50,104
New Democratic Michael Kehoe 3,450 10.98 -3.24 $2,472
Green Don C. Ferguson 430 1.37 – $746
Total valid votes/expense limit 31,246 100.0   – $74,947
Total rejected, declined and unmarked ballots 336 1.06
Turnout 31,762 49.83
Eligible voters 63,745
Liberal notional hold Swing +11.39
Changes from 2000 are based on redistributed results. Change for the Conservatives is from the combined totals of the Progressive Conservatives and the Canadian Alliance.
1999 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Efford 4488
Progressive Conservative Paul Cooper 1026 – –
  NDP Steve Quigley 185

References[]

  1. ^ a b c John Efford – Parliament of Canada biography
  2. ^ O'Handley, Kathryn (1997). Canadian Parliamentary Guide. ISBN 1-896413-43-9.
  3. ^ "John Efford". Liberal Party of Canada.
  4. ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/john-efford-alziemers-diagnosis-1.5351584[bare URL]
  5. ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/efford-keeping-keen-eye-on-liberal-leadership-1.636418[bare URL]
  6. ^ "The Grimes Government, 2001-2003". Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage. Memorial University.
  7. ^ Canadian byelections 2002
  8. ^ "Efford won't run in next election". CBC News, November 18, 2005.
  9. ^ https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ailing-efford-calls-it-quits/article990348/[bare URL]
  10. ^ "Efford an 'absolute nuisance': Jones". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 18 February 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-02-20.
  11. ^ "Jones won't become premier: Efford". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 17 February 2011.

External links[]

Parliament of Canada
Preceded by Member of Parliament from Bonavista—Trinity—Conception
2002-2004 		Succeeded by
district abolished
Preceded by
district created
 Member of Parliament from Avalon
2004-2006 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from ""