Jack Harris (Newfoundland and Labrador politician)

Jack Harris
Shadow Minister for National Defence
In office
April 19, 2012 – November 19, 2015
Leader Thomas Mulcair
Preceded by David Christopherson
Succeeded by James Bezan
In office
May 26, 2011 – October 13, 2011
Leader Jack Layton
Nycole Turmel
Preceded by Dominic Leblanc
Succeeded by David Christopherson
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for St. John's East
In office
October 14, 2008 – October 19, 2015
Preceded by Norman Doyle
Succeeded by Nick Whalen
In office
July 20, 1987 – November 21, 1988
Preceded by James McGrath
Succeeded by Ross Reid
Leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party
In office
1992–2006
Preceded by Cle Newhook
Succeeded by Lorraine Michael
Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
for Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi
St. John's East (1990-1996)
In office
December 11, 1990 – September 29, 2006
Preceded by Shannie Duff
Succeeded by Lorraine Michael
Personal details
Born (1948-10-27) October 27, 1948
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Political party New Democratic Party
Spouse(s) Ann Martin
Residence St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Profession Lawyer, Journalist

John James "Jack" Harris (born October 27, 1948) is a Canadian lawyer and politician from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Harris served as the New Democratic Party (NDP) Member of Parliament for St. John's East from 1987 to 1988 and again from 2008 to 2015. He is also a former leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party.

Politics

Harris with Jack Layton

Harris first became a member of the House of Commons of Canada after winning a by-election in the riding of St. John's East on July 20, 1987.[1] Harris was the second NDP candidate ever elected to the House of Commons in Newfoundland and Labrador.[2] He was subsequently defeated in the 1988 federal election.[3]

Harris was elected to the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly in a 1990 by-election[4] and was unopposed when he was elected to succeed Cle Newhook as leader of the provincial New Democrats at a party convention held November 1992.[5] He was re-elected to the Legislature in the 1993, 1996, 1999 and 2003 elections. He retired from provincial politics in 2006 and was succeeded by Lorraine Michael as leader of the party as well as the Member of the House of Assembly for Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi.[6][7][8] At the time of his departure, his former law partner Danny Williams was Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador.

In the 2008 federal election Harris was again elected as the Member of Parliament for the riding of St. John's East.[9] He received 74.1% of the vote, which was the fifth highest winning percentage in the election. Following the election Harris was appointed as the party's Critic for National Defence, and on several occasions has been named one of "The Backbench Top Ten", for his performance in the House of Commons, by Maclean's Magazine. Harris was re-elected in the 2011 federal election.[10] He lost the 2015 election in an upset to Liberal Party candidate Nick Whalen.[11][12]

Electoral history

Canadian federal election, 2015
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalNick Whalen 20,974 46.73 +38.96 –
New DemocraticJack Harris 20,328 45.29 -25.36 –
ConservativeDeanne Stapleton 2,938 6.55 -13.90 –
GreenDavid Anthony Peters 500 1.11 -0.02 –
CommunistSean Burton 140 0.31 – –
Total valid votes/Expense limit 44,880100.0   $198,664.41
Total rejected ballots 1110.25–0.06
Turnout 44,99168.69+10.84
Eligible voters 65,499
Liberal gain from New Democratic Swing +32.16
Source: Elections Canada[13][14]
Canadian federal election, 2011
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
New DemocraticJack Harris 31,388 71.22 -3.33
ConservativeJerry Byrne 9,198 20.87 +11.61
LiberalJohn Allan 3,019 6.85 -5.73
GreenRobert Miller 467 1.06 -0.32
Total valid votes/Expense limit 44,072 100.00–
Total rejected ballots 1360.310.32
Turnout 44,20858.77+0.88–
Eligible voters 75,218 ––
St. John's East - Canadian federal election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes % ±
New DemocraticJack Harris 31,369 74.63%
LiberalWalter Noel 5,273 12.34%
ConservativeCraig Westcott 3,872 9.21%
GreenHoward Story 586 1.39%
Progressive CanadianShannon Tobin 584 1.39%
Newfoundland and Labrador FirstLes Coultas 349 0.83%
Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi, Newfoundland and Labrador general election, 2003
Party Candidate Votes % +/-
     New Democrat Jack Harris 2,456
     Progressive Conservative Karen Carol 2,221
     Liberal Ray O'Neil 391
Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi, Newfoundland and Labrador general election, 1999
Party Candidate Votes % +/-
     New Democrat Jack Harris 2,179
     Liberal Pete Sousey 2,010
     Progressive Conservative Chris O'Brien 793
     Independent Shaun Dunn 53
     Independent Paul David Hillier 116
     Independent John Whelan 48
Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi, Newfoundland and Labrador general election, 1996
Party Candidate Votes % +/-
     New Democrat Jack Harris 2,800
     Liberal Joan Cook 1,661
     Progressive Conservative Cy Mills 902
     Independent Jason Crummey 120
St. John's East, Newfoundland and Labrador general election, 1993
Party Candidate Votes % +/-
     New Democrat Jack Harris 2,336
     Liberal Joan Cook 1,728
     Progressive Conservative Sean Fitzgerald 1,285
St. John's East, Newfoundland and Labrador by-election, December 11, 1990
Party Candidate Votes % +/-
     New Democrat Jack Harris 1,977 49.24
     Liberal Barbara Chalker 1,237 30.81
     Progressive Conservative John Ottenheimer 801 19.95
St. John's East - Canadian federal election, 1988
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Progressive ConservativeRoss Reid 21,503 44.13 +9.16
New DemocraticJack Harris 17,198 35.30 -10.98
LiberalJim Baird 9,285 19.06 +1.84
Christian HeritageRobert Tremblett 739 1.52 Ø
Total valid votes 48,725
Canadian federal by-election, July 20, 1987: St. John's East
Party Candidate Votes
New DemocraticJack Harris 15,842
     Progressive Conservative Tom Hickey 11,971
LiberalSteve Neary 5,894
RhinocerosPeter Francis Quinlan 527

References

  1. ↑ "NDP sweeps three federal by-elections". The Globe and Mail. July 21, 1987.
  2. ↑ "NDP holds Hamilton Mountain, takes St. John's East from Tories". The Globe and Mail. July 21, 1987.
  3. ↑ "Soul-searching next on NDP agenda". The Globe and Mail. November 22, 1988.
  4. ↑ "NDP wins seat in Newfoundland". The Globe and Mail. December 12, 1990.
  5. ↑ "New leader for Newfoundland NDP". The Globe and Mail. November 16, 1992.
  6. ↑ "Harris stepping down as NDP leader". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 28 October 2005. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  7. ↑ "Harris's resignation clears way for Signal Hill byelection". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 29 September 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  8. ↑ "Do honourable thing and quit seat, Tories tell Harris". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 23 August 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  9. ↑ "Former MP Harris sets sights on St. John's East". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 8 September 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  10. ↑ "NDP's Harris landslide in St. John's East". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2 May 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  11. ↑ "Jack Harris 'surprised' after being ousted by Nick Whalen in St. John's East". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 20 October 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  12. ↑ "NDP acknowledges defeat; loses two N.L. seats". The Telegram. St. John's. 20 October 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  13. ↑ "October 19, 2015 Election Results — St. John's East (Validated results)". Elections Canada. 21 October 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  14. ↑ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates
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