Steve Neary
Encyclopedia
Stephen Aloysius Neary is a former politician and cabinet minister in Newfoundland and Labrador
.
Neary worked at the Argentia Naval Base until 1945 before moving to a job at the Dominion Steel Company on Bell Island. He helped unionize the office employees at the company and then served on the municipal council.
He was active with the Newfoundland Federation of Labour serving as its secretary-treasurer and ran for office as a candidate for the Newfoundland Democratic Party in the 1959 provincial election
In 1962, he was elected to the Newfoundland House of Assembly as a Liberal
and, as a backbench MHA, took on the legal industry for charging excessive fees and sparked a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the matter. In 1968 he was appointed to cabinet and was Minister of Public Services from 1969 to 1972 when the government was defeated. After losing the Liberal nomination for his riding in 1975 he ran, and was elected as an Independent Liberal. Rejoining the party, he ran unsuccessfully for leader in 1977. He was appointed Leader of the Opposition
on May 3, 1982 after party leader Len Stirling
failed to win a seat in the 1982 provincial election
and also served as interim party leader from 1983 to 1984. He retired from provincial politics in 1985. He attempted to win a seat in the Canadian House of Commons
in a St. John's East
federal by-election in 1987 but was defeated.
After his retirement he wrote a book about the German U-boat
attack on Bell Island
in the second World War, called Enemy on our Doorstep. He also devoted s great deal of time to Bell Island and was instrumental in raising monuments, and to creating a museum.
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...
.
Neary worked at the Argentia Naval Base until 1945 before moving to a job at the Dominion Steel Company on Bell Island. He helped unionize the office employees at the company and then served on the municipal council.
He was active with the Newfoundland Federation of Labour serving as its secretary-treasurer and ran for office as a candidate for the Newfoundland Democratic Party in the 1959 provincial election
Newfoundland general election, 1959
The 33rd Newfoundland general election was held on 20 August 1959 to elect members of the 32nd General Assembly of Newfoundland, the fourth general election for the province of Newfoundland, Canada...
In 1962, he was elected to the Newfoundland House of Assembly as a Liberal
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, as a backbench MHA, took on the legal industry for charging excessive fees and sparked a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the matter. In 1968 he was appointed to cabinet and was Minister of Public Services from 1969 to 1972 when the government was defeated. After losing the Liberal nomination for his riding in 1975 he ran, and was elected as an Independent Liberal. Rejoining the party, he ran unsuccessfully for leader in 1977. He was appointed Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition (Newfoundland and Labrador)
The Leader of the Opposition in Newfoundland and Labrador is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest party not in government in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly.This list is incomplete...
on May 3, 1982 after party leader Len Stirling
Len Stirling
Len Stirling is a former politician in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. He was a member of the Newfoundland House of Assembly from 1979 to 1982 and was leader of the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador from 1980 to 1982.-Private life:...
failed to win a seat in the 1982 provincial election
Newfoundland general election, 1982
The 40th Newfoundland general election was held on 6 April 1982 to elect members of the 39th General Assembly of Newfoundland, the 11th general election for the province of Newfoundland, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative party.-Results:...
and also served as interim party leader from 1983 to 1984. He retired from provincial politics in 1985. He attempted to win a seat in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
in a St. John's East
St. John's East
St. John's East is a federal electoral district in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1949....
federal by-election in 1987 but was defeated.
After his retirement he wrote a book about the German U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
attack on Bell Island
Bell Island
Bell Island is a Canadian island located off Newfoundland's Avalon Peninsula in Conception Bay.Measuring 9 km in length and 3 km in width, Bell Island has an area of 34 km²...
in the second World War, called Enemy on our Doorstep. He also devoted s great deal of time to Bell Island and was instrumental in raising monuments, and to creating a museum.