Tom Osborne (born 1964) is a former politician in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. He represented the district of Waterford Valley in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 1996 to 2024. He was a member of the Liberal Party, a former member of the Progressive Conservative Party, and a former Minister in Danny Williams' first cabinet.[3] He served as Minister of Health and Community Services, and Minister of Education in the Furey government. He was Speaker of the House of Assembly from 2015 to 2017.
At the time of his retirement, Osborne was the province's longest consecutively-serving MHA having been in the House of Assembly from 1996 to 2024.[4][5]
Prior to entering politics Osborne worked for Statistics Canada, Small Business Enterprise, and with the Penney Group of Companies.[6] He is the son of former MHA Sheila Osborne.[7]
Osborne was first elected to the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly in the 1996 provincial election in the district of St. John's South. The election resulted in a landslide victory for Brian Tobin's Liberals and Osborne was one of only nine Progressive Conservatives elected. Osborne was re-elected in the 1999 election and though the PC's had gained 5 seats the Liberals still won a large majority government.
With the victory of the Progressive Conservatives in the 2003 election[8] Premier Danny Williams appointed Osborne to Cabinet as the Minister responsible for Environment and Labour. On February 20, 2004 Government announced a restructuring of departments, which saw the creation of the new Department of Environment and Conservation, which Osborne remained minister of.
On March 14, 2006, Osborne became Minister of Health and Community Services succeeding John Ottenheimer. During his time as Minister of Health more information on errors in hormone receptor breast cancer testing were coming to light. The errors eventually led to the Commission of Inquiry on Hormone Receptor Testing.[9]
In January 2007, with the announcement that several cabinet Ministers would not be seeking re-election in that October's general election Williams shuffled his Cabinet. Osborne was assigned the Justice portfolio taking over for Paul Shelley who was retiring from politics in October.[10]
With the re-election of the Progressive Conservatives in 2007, Osborne was replaced as Justice Minister by Jerome Kennedy. Williams announced he would be nominating Osborne to serve as Deputy Chair of Committees in the House of Assembly and on November 1, 2007, he was confirmed to serve as Deputy Chair of Committees in the House of Assembly.[11]
In 2008, Osborne testified at the Commission of Inquiry on Hormone Receptor Testing and was asked about his time as Minister of Health.[12]
He was re-elected in the 2011 general election.
In September 2012, Osborne resigned from the Progressive Conservative party citing the leadership of Premier Kathy Dunderdale and began sitting as an Independent.[13] On August 29, 2013, Osborne joined the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador.[14]
In the 2015 election the Liberal Party won control of the House of Assembly and Osborne was chosen as Speaker. Following the resignation of Cathy Bennett, Osborne was appointed Minister of Finance in the Ball government on July 31, 2017.[15][16] He was re-elected in the 2019 provincial election. On August 19, 2020, he was appointed Minister of Education in the Furey government.[17][18]
He was re-elected in the 2021 provincial election.[19] On July 6, 2022, he was appointed Minister of Health and Community Services.[20] On May 24, 2024, Osborne announced his retirement effective in July 2024.[21] On July 5, 2024, Osborne resigned.[22] The by-election to replace him is scheduled for August 22, 2024.[23]
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