Jack Harris
In office April 19, 2012 – 19 November 2015Leader Thomas Mulcair Preceded by David Christopherson Succeeded by James Bezan In office May 26, 2011 – October 13, 2011Leader Jack Layton Nycole Turmel Preceded by Dominic Leblanc Succeeded by David Christopherson In office 1992–2006Preceded by Cle Newhook Succeeded by Lorraine Michael In office October 21, 2019 – September 20, 2021 Preceded by Nick Whalen 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 In office December 11, 1990 – September 29, 2006 Preceded by Shannie Duff Succeeded by Lorraine Michael
Born (1948-10-27 ) October 27, 1948 (age 72) St. John's , Newfoundland Political party New Democratic Party Spouse(s) Ann Martin Residence St. John's , Newfoundland and Labrador Profession Lawyer , Journalist
John James "Jack " Harris QC (born October 27, 1948) is a Canadian lawyer and politician from Newfoundland and Labrador . Harris is the New Democratic Party (NDP) Member of Parliament for St. John's East . He represented the riding from 1987 to 1988 and again from 2008 to 2015 , when he was defeated, before winning the seat again in the 2019 Canadian federal election . He is currently the only NDP member of the House of Commons from Atlantic Canada . Harris is also the former leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party (1992-2006).
Politics [ edit ]
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]
NL NDP Leader [ edit ]
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 . In 1997, Harris ran for Mayor of St. John's losing narrowly to Andy Wells. He was supported by Danny Williams in this election who had a public dispute with Wells regarding a strike in 1994.[6] 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 .[7] [8] [9] At the time of his departure, his former law partner Danny Williams was Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Federal politics [ edit ]
In the 2008 federal election Harris was again elected as the Member of Parliament for the riding of St. John's East.[10] 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 .[11] He lost the 2015 election in an upset to Liberal Party candidate Nick Whalen .[12] [13] In May 2019, Harris successfully[14] sought the NDP nomination for St. John's East for the 2019 federal election.[15] Harris defeated Whalen in the 2019 election to regain his old seat.[16] [17] However he plans on retiring from politics and won't contest his seat in the 2021 federal election.
Electoral history [ edit ]
2011 Canadian federal election : St. John's East
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Expenditures
New Democratic
Jack Harris
31,388
71.22
-3.33
$68,045.84
Conservative
Jerry Byrne
9,198
20.87
+11.61
$85,207.91
Liberal
John Allan
3,019
6.85
-5.73
$53,539.40
Green
Robert Miller
467
1.06
-0.32
$335.14
Total valid votes/Expense limit
44,072
100.0
–
$85,537.94
Total rejected, declined and unmarked ballots
136
0.31
+0.32
Turnout
44,208
57.85
+0.96
Eligible voters
76,424
New Democratic hold
Swing
-7.47
Sources:[21] [22]
References [ edit ]
^ "NDP sweeps three federal by-elections". The Globe and Mail . July 21, 1987.
^ "NDP holds Hamilton Mountain, takes St. John's East from Tories". The Globe and Mail . July 21, 1987.
^ "Soul-searching next on NDP agenda". The Globe and Mail . November 22, 1988.
^ "NDP wins seat in Newfoundland". The Globe and Mail . December 12, 1990.
^ "New leader for Newfoundland NDP". The Globe and Mail . November 16, 1992.
^ [1]
^ "Harris stepping down as NDP leader" . Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . 28 October 2005. Retrieved 2 February 2013 .
^ "Harris's resignation clears way for Signal Hill byelection" . Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . 29 September 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2013 .
^ "Do honourable thing and quit seat, Tories tell Harris" . Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . 23 August 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2013 .
^ "Former MP Harris sets sights on St. John's East" . Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . 8 September 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2013 .
^ "NDP's Harris landslide in St. John's East" . Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . 2 May 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2013 .
^ "Jack Harris 'surprised' after being ousted by Nick Whalen in St. John's East" . Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . 20 October 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2015 .
^ "NDP acknowledges defeat; loses two N.L. seats" . The Telegram . St. John's. 20 October 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2015 .
^ https://jackharris.ndp.ca/
^ [2]
^ [3]
^ [4]
^ "Official Voting Results" . Elections Canada . Retrieved 9 August 2021 .
^ "Official Voting Results" . Elections Canada . 29 February 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2021 .
^ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates Archived 2015-08-15 at the Wayback Machine
^ Elections Canada – Official voting results, Forty-first general election, 2011
^ Elections Canada – Candidate's electoral campaign return, 41st general election
External links [ edit ]
General National libraries