https://wiki.sarg.dev/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=John_EffordJohn Efford - Revision history2026-06-06T05:26:31ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.44.2https://wiki.sarg.dev/index.php?title=John_Efford&diff=333604&oldid=previmported>MediaKyle: add author-link2025-06-13T15:32:10Z<p>add author-link</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Canadian politician (1944–2022)}}<br />
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}<br />
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}<br />
{{Infobox officeholder<br />
| honorific-prefix = [[The Honourable]]<br />
| name = John Efford<br />
|honorific-suffix = [[Queen's Privy Council for Canada|PC]]<br />
|image =<br />
|imagesize = 150px<br />
| caption =<br />
| birth_name = Ruben John Efford<br />
| birth_date = {{birth date|1944|1|6}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Port de Grave, Newfoundland and Labrador|Port de Grave]], [[Dominion of Newfoundland]]<br />
| death_date = {{death date and age|2022|1|2|1944|1|6}}<br />
| death_place = [[Carbonear]], [[Newfoundland and Labrador]], Canada<br />
| residence =<br />
| parliament = Canadian<br />
| riding= [[Avalon (electoral district)|Avalon]]<br /><small>[[Bonavista—Trinity—Conception]] (2002-2004)</small><br />
| term_start = May 13, 2002<br />
| term_end = January 23, 2006<br />
| predecessor = [[Brian Tobin]]<br />
| successor = [[Fabian Manning]]<br />
| constituency_AM1 = [[Port de Grave (electoral district)|Port de Grave]]<br />
| assembly1 = Newfoundland and Labrador House of<br />
| term_start1 = April 2, 1985<br />
| term_end1 = March 28, 2001<br />
| predecessor1 = [[Randy W. Collins]]<br />
| successor1 = [[Roland Butler]]<br />
| office2 = <br />
| term_start2 = <br />
| term_end2 = <br />
| predecessor2 = <br />
| successor2 = <br />
| office3 = <br />
| term_start3 = <br />
| term_end3 = <br />
| predecessor3 = <br />
| successor3 =<br />
| party = [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]]<br />
| portfolio = <br />
| religion = <br />
| spouse= <br />
| occupation = Businessman<br />
}}<br />
'''Ruben John Efford''' {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|PC}} (January 6, 1944 – January 2, 2022) was a Canadian politician. He first served as a member of the [[Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly]] (MHA) from 1985 to 2001, representing [[Port de Grave (electoral district)|Port de Grave electoral district]] and also serving as [[cabinet minister]] of various portfolios. After losing the [[Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador leadership elections#2001 leadership convention|2001 leadership convention]] of the [[Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador]], he went into federal politics and served as a [[Member of Parliament (Canada)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) from 2002 until 2006 for the [[Liberal Party of Canada]]. He initially represented [[Bonavista—Trinity—Conception]], before switching to [[Avalon (electoral district)|Avalon]] after [[Redistribution (election)|electoral redistribution]] prior to the [[2004 Canadian federal election|2004 federal election]].<br />
<br />
==Early life==<br />
Ruben John Efford was born on January 6, 1944, in Port de Grave, Newfoundland and Labrador,<ref name="LoP bio">{{cite web|title=The Hon. Ruben John Efford, P.C., M.P.|url=https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/People/Profile?personId=16952|accessdate=January 6, 2022|publisher=Library of Parliament|location=Ottawa, Canada}}</ref> the son of Reuben John and Diana Efford.<ref name=parlgd>{{cite book |title=Canadian Parliamentary Guide |year=1997 |last=O'Handley |first=Kathryn |isbn=1-896413-43-9}}</ref> He completed high school in his hometown,<ref name="NL gov bio">{{cite web|title=New Cabinet Sworn In|url=https://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/1996/exec/0314n02.htm|date=March 14, 1996|accessdate=January 7, 2022|publisher=Government of Newfoundland and Labrador}}</ref> before doing a business administration program. He went on to become the owner and operator of Efford’s Wholesale, Snow's Plumbing Ltd and the Della Lee retail clothing store.<ref name="LPC bio">{{cite web|title=John Efford|url=https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/eppp-archive/100/205/300/liberal-ef/05-05-18/https@liberal.ca/bio_e.aspx@&id=10001|accessdate=January 6, 2022|publisher=Liberal Party of Canada|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107051017/https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/eppp-archive/100/205/300/liberal-ef/05-05-18/https@liberal.ca/bio_e.aspx@&id=10001|archivedate=January 7, 2022}}</ref> He joined and actively participated in the [[Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador]] during the early 1960s. He was elected to the District Liberal Association in 1969 and eventually became its vice-president.<ref name="NL gov bio"/><br />
<br />
==Provincial politics==<br />
Efford entered provincial politics in 1985, running in the [[1985 Newfoundland general election|election that year]] for the provincial Liberals.<ref name="LPC bio"/> He was elected to the [[Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly|House of Assembly]], representing the [[Electoral district (Canada)|riding]] of [[Port de Grave (electoral district)|Port de Grave]].<ref name="LoP bio"/> He was initially Opposition critic for consumer affairs, public works, fisheries, health and social services.<ref name="LPC bio"/> He later served as minister of social services, minister of works, services and transportation, and minister of fisheries and aquaculture after the Liberals won the [[1989 Newfoundland general election|1989 provincial election]].<ref name="LoP bio"/><br />
<br />
A founding member and chairperson of the United Fisherpersons of Newfoundland and Labrador, Efford opposed the federal [[cod moratorium]] that impacted the province's economy.<ref name="NL gov bio"/><ref name=Smellie>{{cite news|title='A force': Politicians remember former N.L. and federal cabinet minister John Efford|url=https://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/atlantic/article_9d5e46cb-6ec6-5b41-92b1-3673188b5618.html|first=Sarah|last=Smellie|date=January 2, 2022|access-date=January 7, 2022|newspaper=The Daily Courier|location=Kelowna|agency=The Canadian Press}}</ref> He accompanied Newfoundlander fish harvesters to [[Nathan Phillips Square]] in [[Toronto]] to protest the measure and argued for their rights to fish.<ref name=Smellie/> In his capacity as fisheries minister from 1996 to 2000,<ref name="LoP bio"/> Efford was a strong proponent of [[Seal hunting#Canada|seal hunting]], which was given conditional support from the federal government's fishery advisory committee – consisting of representatives from the industry and academia – as well as the House of Commons' fisheries committee.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sealing the Seal's Fate|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1999/09/19/sealing-the-seals-fate/a3ecff31-b7d0-41d6-8423-82718a887fde/|first=Steven|last=Pearlstein|date=September 19, 1999|access-date=January 7, 2022|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> He was perturbed by some students and scientists at [[Memorial University of Newfoundland]] who wrote to the federal fisheries minister requesting that the latter delay increasing the seal quota until a complete scientific review was conducted. Efford was of the opinion that they were undermining his efforts.<ref>{{cite news|title=Students reject Efford's attack|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/students-reject-efford-s-attack-1.177850|date=April 14, 1999|access-date=January 7, 2022|publisher=CBC News}}</ref><br />
<br />
Efford ultimately served as a MHA from 1985 to 2001.<ref name="LoP bio"/> He lost the 2001 [[leadership convention]] to become Liberal party leader to [[Roger Grimes]] by 14 votes in a divisive contest.<ref name="CBC obit">{{cite news|title=Former cabinet minister John Efford dies at 77|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/john-efford-obit-1.6302140|date=January 2, 2022|access-date=January 6, 2022|publisher=CBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Efford keeping keen eye on Liberal leadership|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/efford-keeping-keen-eye-on-liberal-leadership-1.636418|date=October 10, 2007|access-date=January 7, 2022|publisher=CBC News}}</ref> Despite Grimes offering him a senior cabinet position,<ref>{{cite magazine|last=DeMont|first=John|author-link=John DeMont|date=February 19, 2001|title=Newfoundland's new premier likes tackling the tough jobs|url=https://archive.macleans.ca/article/2001/2/19/hard-man-on-the-rock|magazine=Maclean's|location=Toronto|access-date=January 7, 2022|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107091913/https://archive.macleans.ca/article/2001/2/19/hard-man-on-the-rock|archivedate=January 7, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> both Efford and fellow leadership contestant [[Paul Dicks]] subsequently left provincial politics, maintaining that they could not work with Grimes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/politics/grimes-government.php |title=The Grimes Government, 2001-2003 |work=Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage |publisher=Memorial University}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Federal politics==<br />
Efford was elected to the House of Commons in a [[by-election]] in May 2002<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.politicswatch.com/byelections.htm |title=Canadian byelections 2002 |website=www.politicswatch.com |access-date=January 7, 2022 |date=May 14, 2002}}</ref> and was re-elected in the [[2004 Canadian federal election|2004 general election]]. He was appointed [[Minister of Natural Resources (Canada)|Minister of Natural Resources]] in December 2003 and served in that role until February 2006.<ref name="HoC bio">{{cite web|title=Roles – Hon. Ruben John Efford|url=https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/ruben-john-efford(4443)/roles|accessdate=January 7, 2022|publisher=House of Commons of Canada}}</ref> During his tenure, the federal government came to a new agreement on the [[Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord|Atlantic Accord]] with the provincial government of Newfoundland and Labrador.<ref name="CBC obit"/> He also served as a member of the standing committees on Canadian Heritage, Fisheries and Oceans, on the standing committees of Human Resources Development, Status of Persons with Disabilities, Aboriginal Affairs, and Northern Development and Natural Resources.<ref name="LoP bio"/><ref name="HoC bio"/><br />
<br />
==Retirement==<br />
After considerable speculation that he intended to resign his [[Canadian Cabinet|federal cabinet]] position due to ill-health, Efford announced on September 1, 2005, to much surprise, that he had no intention to resign. He later stated on NTV that he would not run again in the [[2006 Canadian federal election|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.<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/efford-won-t-run-in-next-election-1.525187 "Efford won't run in next election"]. [[CBC News]], November 18, 2005.</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ailing-efford-calls-it-quits/article990348/|title = Ailing Efford calls it quits|newspaper = The Globe and Mail|date = November 23, 2005|last1 = Armstrong|first1 = Jane}}</ref><br />
<br />
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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Efford an 'absolute nuisance': Jones|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2011/02/18/efford-jones-reaction-218.html|publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]|date=February 18, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220054026/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2011/02/18/efford-jones-reaction-218.html|archive-date=February 20, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Jones won't become premier: Efford|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/jones-won-t-become-premier-efford-1.992711|publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]|date=February 17, 2011}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Personal life==<br />
Efford was married to Madonna until his death.<ref name="LPC bio"/><ref name=Connors>{{cite news|title=Former cabinet minister John Efford dies at age 77|url=http://ntv.ca/former-cabinet-minister-john-efford-dies-at-age-77/|first=Michael|last=Connors|date=January 2, 2022|access-date=January 6, 2022|publisher=CJON-DT|location=St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada|archive-date=January 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103161358/http://ntv.ca/former-cabinet-minister-john-efford-dies-at-age-77/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Together, they had three children: Jacqueline Ann, John III and Joseph Lee.<ref name="LPC bio"/><br />
<br />
Efford revealed in 2019 that he had been battling Alzheimer's disease for two years.<ref>{{cite news|title=John Efford goes public with Alzheimer's diagnosis: 'I'm dealing with it in a positive way'|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/john-efford-alziemers-diagnosis-1.5351584|first=Lindsay|last=Bird|date=November 7, 2019|access-date=January 7, 2022|publisher=CBC News}}</ref> He died on January 2, 2022, at a hospital in [[Carbonear]], four days shy of his 78th birthday.<ref name=Connors/><ref name="CBC obit"/><br />
<br />
== Electoral history ==<br />
{{2004 Canadian federal election/Avalon}}<br />
<small>Source:<ref>{{cite web|title=Past results – Avalon (Newfoundland and Labrador)|url=https://www.elections.ca/Scripts/VIS/HistoricalResults/10001_e.html|accessdate=January 6, 2022|publisher=Elections Canada|location=Gatineau}}</ref></small><br />
<br />
{{CanElec1-by|May 13, 2002<ref>{{cite news|title=The results|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/the-results/article4135068/|date=May 14, 2002|access-date=January 6, 2022|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|location=Toronto|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106101444/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/the-results/article4135068/|archive-date=January 6, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Canadian Politics, Riding by Riding: An In-depth Analysis of Canada's 301 Federal Electoral Districts|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=opvmE2AExc8C&pg=PA14|publisher=Prospect Park Press|year=2002|last=Hill|first=Tony L.|page=14|isbn=9780972343602}}</ref><br />
|On Brian Tobin's resignation, January 25, 2002}}<br />
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|John Efford|18,665}}<br />
{{CANelec|CA|PC|Michelle Brazil|5,281}}<br />
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Jim Gill|588}}<br />
{{CANelec|CA|Canadian Alliance|David Tulett|166}}<br />
{{CANelec|CA|Green|Christopher John Bradshaw|139}}<br />
{{CANelec|XX|Independent|Brent Rockwood|106}}<br />
{{end}}<br />
<br />
{{Election box begin | title=[[1999 Newfoundland and Labrador general election]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Complete Newfoundland election results|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/medicine-hat-news-feb-10-1999-p-6/|page=6|date=February 10, 1999|access-date=January 6, 2022|newspaper=Medicine Hat News|agency=The Canadian Press|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106190153/https://newspaperarchive.com/medicine-hat-news-feb-10-1999-p-6/|archive-date=January 6, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>}}<br />
|-<br />
{{CANelec|NL|Liberal|John Efford|4488||}}<br />
|-<br />
{{CANelec |NL |PC |Paul Cooper |1026 |– |–}}<br />
|-<br />
{{Canadian party colour|NL|NDP|row}}<br />
|[[Newfoundland NDP|NDP]]<br />
|Steve Quigley<br />
|align="right"|185<br />
|align="right"|<br />
|align="right"|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
*{{Canadian Parliament links|ID=16952 |nolist=yes}}<br />
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060215194835/http://www.howdtheyvote.ca/member.php?id=97 How'd They Vote?: John Efford's voting history and quotes]<br />
<br />
{{S-start}}<br />
{{s-par|ca}}<br />
{{Succession box|title=[[Member of Parliament (Canada)|Member of Parliament]] from [[Bonavista—Trinity—Conception]]<br />
|before=[[Brian Tobin]], [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]]<br />
|after=district abolished<br />
|years=2002–2004}}<br />
{{Succession box|title=[[Member of Parliament (Canada)|Member of Parliament]] from [[Avalon (electoral district)|Avalon]]<br />
|before=district created<br />
|after=[[Fabian Manning]], [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]]<br />
|years=2004–2006}}<br />
{{S-end}}<br />
<br />
{{CA-Ministers of Natural Resources}}<br />
{{Martin Ministry}}<br />
{{Authority control}}<br />
<br />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Efford, John}}<br />
[[Category:1944 births]]<br />
[[Category:2022 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century members of the House of Commons of Canada]]<br />
[[Category:Liberal Party of Canada MPs]]<br />
[[Category:Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador MHAs]]<br />
[[Category:Members of the Executive Council of Newfoundland and Labrador]]<br />
[[Category:Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Newfoundland and Labrador]]<br />
[[Category:Members of the King's Privy Council for Canada]]<br />
[[Category:Ministers of mining of Canada]]<br />
[[Category:Members of the 27th Canadian Ministry]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century members of the House of Commons of Canada]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century members of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly]]</div>imported>MediaKyle