Roger Grimes
Encyclopedia
Roger D. Grimes is a Canadian politician
from Newfoundland and Labrador
, Canada
. Grimes was born and raised in the central Newfoundland town of Grand Falls-Windsor.
Grimes is a former leader of the province's Liberal Party
and was its eighth Premier
from February 2001 until November 2003.
A teacher by profession, Grimes was elected president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association in 1985, a position he held for two years.
representing Exploits district
.
Grimes entered the cabinet of Premier Clyde Wells
in 1991 as Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, followed by service as Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. Under Premier Brian Tobin
, Grimes was by now a senior Minister and served in the portfolios of Education, Mines and Energy, and Health and Community Servies.
Leadership to become Party Leader, defeating John Efford
by 14 votes in a fierce and divisive contest in Mount Pearl
. Efford and fellow leadership contestant Paul Dicks
subsequently left provincial politics saying they could not work under the leadership of Grimes.
.
In 2002, Grimes called for a review of the Act of Union by which the province had become a part of Canada and on July 2, 2003, the findings of the Royal Commission on Renewing and Strengthening Our Place in Canada
were released. It noted the following stressors in the relationship between the province and Canada:
The report called for:
Also in 2003, the federal government declared a moratorium on the last remaining cod fishery in Atlantic Canada in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Newfoundland and Labrador was again the most directly affected province. As Grimes was dealing with this issue, and others facing the province, time was soon running out on his tenure.
Despite his attempts to strike an image as a fresh government, Grimes and his Liberals were defeated in the October 2003 provincial election by the Progressive Conservatives
under Danny Williams
, bringing an end to 14 years of Liberal rule in Newfoundland and Labrador.
. He is quoted as saying that the time was right for him to retire from provincial politics. Gerry Reid
became interim leader after Grimes announced his retirement.
In March 2011, the provincial Liberals held their first fundraiser of the year. The event was a roast of Grimes, called “Grimes and Punishment” and was held in St. John’s.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Grimes was born and raised in the central Newfoundland town of Grand Falls-Windsor.
Grimes is a former leader of the province's Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is a political party in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada and the provincial wing of the Liberal Party of Canada. It is the Official Opposition and currently holds six seats in the provincial legislature.-Origins:The party originated in...
and was its eighth Premier
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador is the first minister, head of government and de facto chief executive for the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Before 1964, the position's official title was Premier of Newfoundland...
from February 2001 until November 2003.
A teacher by profession, Grimes was elected president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association in 1985, a position he held for two years.
Politics
In 1989, Grimes was elected to the House of AssemblyHouse of Assembly
House of Assembly is a name given to the legislature or lower house of a bicameral parliament. In some countries this may be at a subnational level....
representing Exploits district
Exploits (electoral district)
Exploits is a provincial electoral district for the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.In central Newfoundland on Bay of Exploits, it lies between the Trans-Canada Highway in the south and Notre Dame Bay in the north...
.
Grimes entered the cabinet of Premier Clyde Wells
Clyde Wells
Clyde Kirby Wells, QC was the fifth Premier of Newfoundland and was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador from 1999 to March 2009...
in 1991 as Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, followed by service as Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. Under Premier Brian Tobin
Brian Tobin
Brian Vincent Tobin, PC is a Canadian businessman and former politician. Tobin served as the sixth Premier of Newfoundland from 1996 to 2000. Tobin was also a prominent Member of Parliament and served as a Cabinet Minister in Jean Chrétien's Liberal government.- Early life, education, and family...
, Grimes was by now a senior Minister and served in the portfolios of Education, Mines and Energy, and Health and Community Servies.
2001 NL Liberal Leadership Convention
Grimes won the 2001 Liberal Party of Newfoundland and LabradorLiberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is a political party in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada and the provincial wing of the Liberal Party of Canada. It is the Official Opposition and currently holds six seats in the provincial legislature.-Origins:The party originated in...
Leadership to become Party Leader, defeating John Efford
John Efford
Ruben John Efford, PC is a former Canadian politician.-Provincial politics:...
by 14 votes in a fierce and divisive contest in Mount Pearl
Mount Pearl
Mount Pearl is the second largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The city is located southwest of St. John's, on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. Mount Pearl is part of the St...
. Efford and fellow leadership contestant Paul Dicks
Paul Dicks
Paul D. Dicks is a lawyer and former politician in Newfoundland and Labrador. He represented Humber West in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 1989 to 2001 as a Liberal....
subsequently left provincial politics saying they could not work under the leadership of Grimes.
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
Grimes was sworn in as Premier on February 13, 2001. The same year he became Premier, the name of the province was officially changed to Newfoundland and LabradorNewfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
.
In 2002, Grimes called for a review of the Act of Union by which the province had become a part of Canada and on July 2, 2003, the findings of the Royal Commission on Renewing and Strengthening Our Place in Canada
Royal Commission on Renewing and Strengthening Our Place in Canada
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador announced the Royal Commission on Renewing and Strengthening Our Place in Canada on 19 March 2002, in the Speech from the Throne. On 19 April 2002, the appointment of Commissioners Vic Young, , Sister Elizabeth Davis and Judge James Igloliorte, were...
were released. It noted the following stressors in the relationship between the province and Canada:
- The huge impact on the province by the destruction of the cod stocks.
- HydroelectricityHydroelectricityHydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
resources in Labrador have primarily benefited QuebecQuebecQuebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. - Chronically high unemployment; the highest in Canada.
- Lowest per-capita income in Canada.
- The highest tax rates in the country.
- The most out-migration of any province in Canada.
The report called for:
- more collaborative federalismFederalismFederalism is a political concept in which a group of members are bound together by covenant with a governing representative head. The term "federalism" is also used to describe a system of the government in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between a central governing authority and...
; - an action team to deal with the fishery in waters surrounding Newfoundland;
- collaboration between Canada, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador on the development of the Gull Island hydro site on the lower part of the Churchill River;
- revision of the Atlantic Accord, negotiated by the provincial and federal governments in the 1980s, to ensure that that offshore oil and gas royalties primarily benefit the province (this recommendation was one of the earliest priorities of Grimes' successor, Danny WilliamsDanny Williams-Music:*Danny Williams , South African-born popular musician*Danny Williams , Australian singer, member of CDB-Sports:...
); - immediate and realistic negotiations on joint management of the fishery.
Also in 2003, the federal government declared a moratorium on the last remaining cod fishery in Atlantic Canada in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Newfoundland and Labrador was again the most directly affected province. As Grimes was dealing with this issue, and others facing the province, time was soon running out on his tenure.
Despite his attempts to strike an image as a fresh government, Grimes and his Liberals were defeated in the October 2003 provincial election by the Progressive Conservatives
Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
For pre-1949 Conservative parties see Conservative parties in Newfoundland The Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is a centre-right provincial political party in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Originally founded in 1949 the party has formed the Government of...
under Danny Williams
Danny Williams (politician)
Daniel E. "Danny" Williams, QC, MHA is a Canadian politician, businessman and lawyer who served as the ninth Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador between November 6, 2003, and December 3, 2010. Williams was born and raised in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador...
, bringing an end to 14 years of Liberal rule in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Retirement
On May 30, 2005, Grimes resigned the seat he had held in the legislature for 16 years and stepped down as the leader of the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and LabradorLiberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is a political party in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada and the provincial wing of the Liberal Party of Canada. It is the Official Opposition and currently holds six seats in the provincial legislature.-Origins:The party originated in...
. He is quoted as saying that the time was right for him to retire from provincial politics. Gerry Reid
Gerry Reid
Gerry Reid was the Leader of the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador. He initially served as interim leader from 2005 to 2006, until Jim Bennett replaced him in February 2006...
became interim leader after Grimes announced his retirement.
In March 2011, the provincial Liberals held their first fundraiser of the year. The event was a roast of Grimes, called “Grimes and Punishment” and was held in St. John’s.