Gerry Byrne (politician)

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = The Honourable

| name = Gerry Byrne

| honorific-suffix = BSc PC MHA

| image = Gerry Byrne June 2018 cropped.jpg

| caption = Gerry Byrne in 2018

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|09|27}}

| birth_place = Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador

| death_date =

| death_place =

| office1 = Minister of Fisheries, Forestry, and Agriculture
Minister Responsible for the Public Procurement Agency

| premier1 = Andrew Furey

| term_start1 = July 19, 2024

| predecessor1 =Elvis Loveless

| successor1 =

| office2= Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills

| premier2 = Andrew Furey

| term_start2 = August 19, 2020

| term_end2 = July 19, 2024

| predecessor2= position established{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/andrew-furey-premier-1.5691667|title=New N.L. premier, new finance minister: Andrew Furey takes office and shuffles cabinet|publisher=CBC News|date=Aug 19, 2020 |first=Lindsay|last=Bird|access-date=Mar 7, 2021}}

| successor2 = Sarah Stoodley

| office3= Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources

| premier3 = Dwight Ball

| term_start3 = July 31, 2017

| term_end3 = August 19, 2020

| predecessor3= Steve Crocker

| successor3 = Elvis Loveless

| office4= Minister of Advanced Education and Skills

| premier4 = Dwight Ball

| term_start4 = December 14, 2015

| term_end4 = July 31, 2017

| predecessor4= Clyde Jackman

| successor4 = Steve Crocker

| constituency_AM5 = Corner Brook

| assembly5 = Newfoundland and Labrador House of

| term_start5 = November 30, 2015

| term_end5 =

| predecessor5 = Riding Established

| successor5 =

| parliament6=Canadian

| riding6=Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte

| term_start6=January 25, 1996

| term_end6=August 4, 2015

| predecessor6=Brian Tobin

| successor6=Gudie Hutchings
(Long Range Mountains)

| office7= Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

| primeminister7= Jean Chrétien

| term_start7= January 15, 2002

| term_end7= December 11, 2003

| predecessor7= Robert Thibault

| successor7= Joe McGuire

| party= Liberal Party of Canada

| alma_mater = Dalhousie University

| residence=Corner Brook, Newfoundland & Labrador

| spouse= Denise Gibbons

| children= 1 (Gerry Jr.)

| profession= Political assistant

}}

Gerry Byrne, {{post-nominals|country=CAN|sep=,|2=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 Chrétien. Since the 2015 provincial election, he has served as MHA for Corner Brook. Byrne served in provincial cabinet during the Ball government and is currently Minister of Fisheries, Forestry, and Agriculture in the Furey government.

Education

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

Federal 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.thewesternstar.com/News/Local/2011-05-03/article-2472352/Byrne-baby-Byrne%3B-Liberal-incumbent-Gerry-Byrne-glides-to-seventh-straight-election-victory/1 |title=Byrne baby Byrne; Liberal incumbent Gerry Byrne glides to seventh straight election victory |work=The Western Star |date=May 3, 2011 |accessdate=October 31, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504232055/http://www.thewesternstar.com/News/Local/2011-05-03/article-2472352/Byrne-baby-Byrne%3B-Liberal-incumbent-Gerry-Byrne-glides-to-seventh-straight-election-victory/1 |archive-date=4 May 2011 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/innu-leader-delivers-conservatives-from-n-l-shutout-1.976524|title=Innu leader delivers Conservatives from N.L. shutout|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=2011-05-02|access-date=2018-05-25}} 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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/gerry-byrne-in-no-hurry-to-resign-as-federal-mp-1.2777424|title=Gerry Byrne in no hurry to resign as federal MP|publisher=CBC News|date=25 September 2014|access-date=11 February 2022}}

In 2005, Byrne voted against Bill C-38 allowing same-sex marriage.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/michael-normore-progressive-conservative-candidate-1.5130014|title=Crosbie boots candidate with anti-abortion, anti-gay views 24 hours after backing him|website=CBC News|access-date=11 February 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/byrne-pride-week-corner-brook-1.4865261|title=MHA's attendance at Corner Brook Pride Week draws backlash|website=CBC News|access-date=11 February 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/3-liberals-vote-against-same-sex-bill-1.529801|title=3 Liberals vote against same-sex bill|website=CBC News|date=Apr 13, 2005|access-date=11 February 2022}}

In the Liberal Party's 2006 leadership election, he started out supporting Maurizio Bevilacqua, after Bevilacqua drop out he supported Michael Ignatieff.{{Cite web |url=http://www.vigile.net/Even-Ignatieff-supporters-have |title=Even Ignatieff supporters have mixed views over his Quebec 'nation' idea |access-date=2011-03-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629072303/http://www.vigile.net/Even-Ignatieff-supporters-have |archive-date=2011-06-29 |url-status=dead }} 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.{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/550753 |title=46 MPs back Ignatieff |work=thestar.com |date=2010-04-24 |access-date=2010-04-28 |location=Toronto |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212053649/http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/550753 |archive-date=2008-12-12 }}

In the Liberal Party's 2013 leadership election, Byrne supported Montreal MP Justin Trudeau.{{cite web|last=MacKinnon|first=Leslie|title=Half of Liberal MPs support Trudeau for leader|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/most-liberal-mps-support-trudeau-for-leader-1.1341076|publisher=CBC News|date=February 8, 2013|access-date=February 8, 2013}}

=Cabinet minister=

He was Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency from 2002 to 2003. 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/is-a-pie-in-the-face-a-terrorist-act/article1444392/|title=Pie in the Face|work=The Globe and Mail|date=January 26, 2010|access-date=May 24, 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128050625/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/is-a-pie-in-the-face-a-terrorist-act/article1444392/|archivedate=January 28, 2010}}

In response to the pieing of the Fisheries Minister, Byrne denounced the attack on the minister as an act of terrorism."A tofu cream pie in the face is an act of terrorism, Liberal MP tells radio station". National Post, January 27, 2010. 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."{{Cite web|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/grit-mp-believes-pie-attack-may-be-a-terrorist-act-1.478130|title=Grit MP believes pie attack may be a terrorist act|date=27 January 2010|website=Ctvnews.ca|access-date=11 February 2022}} 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."{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2010/01/26/pie_tossing_is_terrorism_mp_says.html|title=Pie tossing is terrorism, MP says|date=26 January 2010|access-date=11 February 2022|newspaper=Toronto Star}} In response to his interpretation of Canadian law, PETA president Ingrid Newkirk said Byrne's reaction was "a silly, chest-beating exercise."

Provincial politics

In the provincial Liberal Party's 2013 leadership race, Byrne supported Humber Valley MHA Dwight Ball.{{cite news|title=Ball wants healthy competition for Liberal leadership|url= http://www.thewesternstar.com/News/Local/2013-07-06/article-3302997/Ball-wants-healthy-competition-for-Liberal-leadership/1|access-date=24 May 2024|newspaper=The Western Star|date=6 July 2013|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002316/http://www.thewesternstar.com/News/Local/2013-07-06/article-3302997/Ball-wants-healthy-competition-for-Liberal-leadership/1|archivedate=4 March 2016}} Byrne retired from federal politics at the 2015 election in order to run successfully provincially later that year becoming MHA for Corner Brook. Following the Ball Liberals forming government in the 2015 election, he was appointed Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/cabinet-swearing-in-live-stream-1.3363654|title=Dwight Ball, new Liberal cabinet sworn in at Government House|publisher=CBC News|date=14 December 2015|access-date=9 June 2017}} He subsequently served as Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources following a 2017 cabinet shuffle.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/line-up-to-fish-salmon-anglers-wait-in-long-line-to-purchase-licence-1.4690626|title=After delay, Corner Brook salmon anglers line up early to purchase licences|publisher=CBC News|date=June 4, 2018|access-date=June 10, 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/2018-nl-salmon-fishing-season-delayed-1.4678167|title=DFO gets blame for printing error of salmon licences|publisher=CBC News|date=May 25, 2018|access-date=June 10, 2018}}

Byrne was re-elected in the 2019 provincial election.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/poll-liberals-1.5140175|title=Robocalls, 'push polling' need to be addressed, say Liberals|publisher=CBC News|date=May 20, 2019 |access-date=Mar 7, 2021 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.saltwire.com/news/local/nl-votes-byrne-says-corner-brooks-voters-heard-and-supported-liberal-message-312749/?location=newfoundland-labrador/|title=NL VOTES: Byrne says Corner Brook's voters heard and supported Liberal message|publisher=Saltwire News|date=May 16, 2019|access-date=Mar 7, 2021 }}

On August 19, 2020, he was appointed Minister of Immigration, Skills and Labour in the Furey government.{{cite web|url=https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-and-labradors-new-premier-doesnt-clear-the-deck-but-he-certainly-shuffled-it-486989/|title=Newfoundland and Labrador's new premier doesn't clear the deck, but he certainly shuffled it|publisher=The Chronicle Herald|date=Aug 19, 2020 |access-date=Mar 7, 2021 }}{{cite news |title=Andrew Furey takes office as 14th premier of N.L., names cabinet |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/andrew-furey-premier-1.5691667 |access-date=19 August 2020 |publisher=CBC News |date=19 August 2020}}

Byrne was re-elected in the 2021 provincial election.{{cite news |title=Here are all the MHAs elected in the Newfoundland and Labrador election |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/nl-election-list-of-winners-1.5965873 |publisher=CBC News |date=March 27, 2021}} On July 19, 2024, he was appointed as Minister of Fisheries, Forestry, and Agriculture and Minister Responsible for the Public Procurement Agency.[https://vocm.com/2024/07/19/key-portfolios-shift-hands-in-newfoundland-cabinet-shake-up/ Key Portfolios Shift Hands in Newfoundland Cabinet Shake-Up]. VOCM News, July 19, 2024.

Electoral record

=Provincial=

{{Canadian election result/top|NL|2015|Corner Brook (electoral district)|Corner Brook|percent=yes}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|4,681|100.0|}}

=Federal=

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2011|Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes/expense limit|30,014|100.00|–|}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|97|0.32|−0.25|}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Eligible voters| 59,149 |–|–| }}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2008|Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}

{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Lorne Robinson| 2,806| 10.62|−20.54|$11,451}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes/expense limit|26,419|100.00| $90,812}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|150 | 0.57| −0.01| }}

{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout| 26,472 |44.27 | −10.3| }}

{{Canadian election result/total|Eligible voters| 59,797 |–|–| }}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2006|Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}

{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Cyril Pelley, Jr.|10,137|31.16|+8.21|$41,467 }}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes/expense limit|32,531|100.00| $84,468}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|191|0.58|+0.13}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2004|Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}

{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Wynanne Downer|6,538|22.95|−2.41| $49,410 }}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes/expense limit|28,485|100.00| $82,511}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|128|0.45| }}

{{CANelec/note|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 election result/top|CA|2000|Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|117|0.37}}

{{CANelec/note|Canadian Alliance changes from 1997 are based on the results of its predecessor, the Reform Party.}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|1997|Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|129|0.42}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|March 25, 1996|by=yes|Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte|by-link=By-elections_to_the_35th_Canadian_Parliament|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{CANelec/note|By-election due to the resignation of Brian Tobin, January 25, 1996}}