Sandy Collins (politician)

{{Infobox officeholder

| image =

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Sandy Collins

| honorific-suffix = B.A. B.Ed.

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|10|6}}

| birth_place = Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

| residence = Glovertown

| office1 = Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation of
Newfoundland and Labrador

| term_start1 = May 1, 2014

| term_end1 = December 14, 2015

| predecessor1 = Terry French

| successor1 = Christopher Mitchelmore

|assembly = Newfoundland and Labrador House of

|constituency_AM = Terra Nova

| term_start = October 7, 2009

| term_end = November 30, 2015

| predecessor= Paul Oram

| successor = District Abolished

| party = Progressive Conservative

| religion =

| occupation = Teacher, Executive Assistant

| website =

}}

Sandy Collins {{post-nominals|country=CAN|MHA}} is a former Canadian politician from Newfoundland and Labrador. He represented the district of Terra Nova in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 2009 until 2015. He also served in the provincial cabinet.

Collins entered politics when he won a 2009 by-election in the district of Terra Nova for the Progressive Conservative Party. Following his re-election in the 2011 provincial election he was appointed the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Community Services. He lost re-election in the 2015 provincial election.

Early life and education

Upon finishing high school in 1996, Collins attended Memorial University. He graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Political Science and History. Collins then accepted a one-year teaching position in South Korea and as a result of that experience he returned to university and received a Bachelor of Education degree in 2003. He returned to South Korea after completing his third degree and in 2004 Collins returned to Newfoundland and Labrador to work as Constituency Assistant to Paul Oram.

Politics

Collins is a member of the Progressive Conservative Party and won his seat in a by-election on November 26, 2009 for the district of Terra Nova.[http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/conservatives-win-terra-nova-byelection-1.857242 "Conservatives win Terra Nova byelection"]. CBC News, November 26, 2009. In the 2011 provincial election, Collins was easily re-elected, winning over 63% of the popular vote. Following his re-election, Premier Kathy Dunderdale appointed him as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Community Services.{{cite news|title=Premier Dunderdale Appoints New Cabinet, Announces Departmental Restructuring|url=http://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2011/exec/1028n01.htm|accessdate=24 November 2011|newspaper=Government of Newfoundland and Labrador|date=28 October 2011}}

On May 1, 2014, Collins was appointed Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation by Premier Tom Marshall.{{cite news|title=Collins in cabinet|url=http://www.ganderbeacon.ca/News/Local/2014-05-01/article-3708561/Collins-in-cabinet/1|accessdate=1 May 2014|newspaper=The Beacon|date=1 May 2014}}

He lost re-election in the 2015 provincial election.[http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/provincial-election-candidates-1.3343999 "Full list of winners in Newfoundland and Labrador election"]. CBC News, November 30, 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/cabinet-ministers-defeated-1.3344727|title=4 Tory cabinet ministers fall to defeat in Liberal rout|publisher=CBC News|date=December 1, 2015|accessdate=3 April 2016}}