Andrew Parsons (Canadian politician)

The Honourable
Andrew Parsons
KC MHA
Parsons speaking to a crowd of supporters in 2014
Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
for Burgeo-La Poile
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 27, 2011
Preceded byKelvin Parsons
Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology
Incumbent
Assumed office
August 19, 2020
Preceded byposition established[1]
Attorney General of Newfoundland and Labrador
In office
December 14, 2015 – April 8, 2021
Preceded byFelix Collins
Succeeded byJohn Hogan[2]
Minister of Justice and Public Safety
In office
December 14, 2015 – August 19, 2020[1]
Preceded byDarin King
Succeeded bySteve Crocker
Personal details
Born (1979-05-30) 30 May 1979 (age 45)
Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Political partyLiberal
OccupationLawyer

Andrew Parsons KC MHA (born May 30, 1979) is a Canadian politician and lawyer, who was elected to the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly in the 2011 provincial election.[3]

A member of the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador, he represents the electoral district of Burgeo-La Poile. He is the Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Born in Channel-Port Aux Basques, Parsons is the son of Kelvin Parsons, his predecessor as the district's MHA.[4]

Background

[edit]

Parsons earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New Brunswick before receiving a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Saskatchewan College of Law. While in University, Parsons was involved in various extracurricular activities and student associations.

After completing his Bachelor of Laws in 2004, Parsons was called to the Newfoundland and Labrador Bar in 2005, after articling with Ches Crosbie Barristers and Marks & Parsons Law Office. Parsons served as an associate solicitor with Marks and Parsons Law Firm, a general practice located in Port aux Basques, NL. Parsons is a member of the Law Society of NL, but took non-practicing status with the Law Society as of December 31, 2011. He is now practicing as the Attorney General of Newfoundland and Labrador.[5]

Parsons was active within his community and surrounding area. He served on the executive of Port aux Basques Minor Hockey Association for 7 years, including 5 as president), ending in June 2011; served as a committee member for Port aux Basques Come Home Year 2005; served as a member of the Southwest Coast Marine and Mountain Zone Committee, and is currently a board member on the Dr. Charles L. Legrow Health Care Foundation. A former President of the Port aux Basques & Area Chamber of Commerce, Parsons was also one of the people instrumental in reviving junior hockey in Port aux Basques, with the return of the Junior Mariners in 2009.

Parsons served as the chairperson of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay Committee.[6] Parsons served as president of the Port aux Basques Minor Hockey Association for three years and also served as second vice-president two years before that. He was also an organizer of Port aux Basques' bid to become Hockeyville in 2008, the community placed third.[7][8] Parsons won the Brian Wakelin Executive of the Year Award from Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador in 2008 and was a winner of the Hockey NL Meritorious Service award for 2010.[9] Parsons was also recognized for his contribution to western Newfoundland when he was named to the Top 10 of the Western Star newspaper's top 40 under 40 list for 2010.[10]

Political career

[edit]

On October 11, 2011, Parsons was elected as the Member of the House of Assembly in the district of Burgeo-La Poile.[11] He was sworn in by Justice Orsborn on October 27, 2011.[12] He served as Official Opposition critic for Advanced Education and Skills; Child, Youth and Family Services; Health and Community Services; and Justice and Attorney General. He also serves as the Deputy Opposition House Leader.[13]

On May 2, 2012, Parsons proposed a private members' resolution for a fixed House of Assembly schedule. The purpose was to establish some stability and semblance of regularity. In Newfoundland and Labrador there is no legislation governing the House of Assembly in terms of when it shall sit.[14]

In the 2015 provincial election, Parsons received nearly 4,000 votes in his district (96.48 per cent of total votes) and no other candidate received more than 100 votes. This is a Canadian record (not including acclamations).[15] He was appointed as Minister of Justice, Attorney General and Government House Leader in Newfoundland and Labrador.[16] Early on in that role, he has worked toward establishing a Drug Treatment Court, expansion of the Family Violence Intervention Court,[17] establishing a Serious Incident Response team as civilian oversight for police,[18][19] and a pilot program for free legal advice for sexual assault complainants.[20]

Parsons was re-elected in the 2019 provincial election. He subsequently returned to cabinet in the same portfolios. He resigned as Government House Leader in the House of Assembly in November 2019. On August 19, 2020, he was appointed Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology, and Attorney General in the Furey government.[21]

He was re-elected in the 2021 provincial election.[22]

Electoral record

[edit]
2021 Newfoundland and Labrador general election: Burgeo-La Poile
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Andrew Parsons 1,992 87.10 +3.64
Progressive Conservative Ethan Maxwell Wheeler-Park 235 10.28 -6.26
New Democratic Judy Vanta 60 2.62
Total valid votes 2,287
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
Eligible voters
Liberal hold Swing +4.95
Source(s)
"Officially Nominated Candidates General Election 2021" (PDF). Elections Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
"NL Election 2021 (Unofficial Results)". Retrieved 27 March 2021.
2019 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Andrew Parsons 2,947 83.5
Progressive Conservative Deborah Ann Turner 584 16.5
Total valid votes
Burgeo-La Poile - 2015 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Andrew Parsons 3998 96.48% +44.36
Progressive Conservative Georgia Darmonkow 93 2.24% –
New Democratic Kelly McKeown 53 1.28% –
Burgeo-La Poile - 2011 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Andrew Parsons 2228 52.12% –
Progressive Conservative Colin Short 1850 43.27% –
New Democratic Matt Fuchs 197 4.16% –

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Lindsay Bird (19 August 2020). "New N.L. premier, new finance minister: Andrew Furey takes office and shuffles cabinet". CBC. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  2. ^ Mike Moore (8 April 2021). "John Abbott, Pam Parsons among Furey's additions to cabinet". CBC. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Plenty of new faces heading to Confederation Building". CBC News, October 12, 2011.
  4. ^ "Andrew Parsons seeks Liberal nomination". The Gulf News, June 20, 2011.
  5. ^ "Andrew Parsons, House of Assembly Newfoundland and Labrador, Member Bio". 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  6. ^ Thomas, Brodie (26 October 2009). "Lighting the way". The Gulf News. Archived from the original on 7 April 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  7. ^ Ryan, Mandy (28 January 2008). "Excitement grows for Kraft Hockeyville bid". The Gulf News. Archived from the original on 7 April 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  8. ^ Ryan, Mandy (14 April 2008). "Port aux Basques settles with third place". The Gulf News. Archived from the original on 7 April 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  9. ^ Musseau, Natalie (16 June 2008). "Parsons wins hockey award". The Gulf News. Archived from the original on 7 April 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  10. ^ "Introducing the Top 40 under 40!". The Western Star. 12 April 2010. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Plenty of new faces heading to Confederation Building". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 12 October 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  12. ^ McLeod, James (28 October 2011). "MHAs sworn in". The Telegram. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  13. ^ "Andrew Parsons, House of Assembly Newfoundland and Labrador, Member Bio". 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  14. ^ Thomas, Brodie (19 May 2012). "Motion to create fixed house of assembly schedule defeated". The Gulf News. Archived from the original on 7 April 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  15. ^ "Knockout wins for Parsons, Crocker, Joyce". CBC News, December 1, 2015.
  16. ^ "Dwight Ball, new Liberal cabinet sworn in at Government House". CBC News. 14 December 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  17. ^ "Expanded definition of family violence will help keep victims safe, says Andrew Parsons". CBC News. March 15, 2018.
  18. ^ "Policing the police: Newfoundland and Labrador moving ahead with civilian-led oversight agency". CBC News. November 16, 2017.
  19. ^ "N.L. to get its own stand-alone team to investigate police". CBC News. January 31, 2019.
  20. ^ "Free legal advice to survivors of sexual assault through N.L. pilot program". CBC News. April 25, 2017.
  21. ^ "Liberals target 'unnecessarily generous' bonuses for Nalcor execs in new bill". CBC News. April 21, 2021.
  22. ^ "Here are all the MHAs elected in the Newfoundland and Labrador election". CBC News. March 27, 2021.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Andrew_Parsons_(Canadian_politician)&oldid=1247811010"