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

Stirling is from Corner Brook and has worked as an insurance executive in private life.[1] He served as deputy mayor of St. John's before entering provincial politics.[2]

Party president and assembly member

Stirling was president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal Party in the late 1970s and played a pivotal role in persuading Donald Jamieson to lead the party in the 1979 provincial election. The party's sitting leader, Bill Rowe, had been criticized by a majority of caucus members, and the party had scheduled a leadership review before the election was called.[3] Rowe voluntarily stepped aside after Jamieson agreed to lead the party. The Liberals lost the election to Brian Peckford's Progressive Conservative Party, although Stirling was personally elected in the Bonavista North division.[4]

Jamieson resigned as Liberal Party leader after the election, and Stirling won a landslide victory over Leslie Thoms to become his successor in late 1980.[5]

Party leader

Stirling was leader of the provincial Liberal Party at a time when Canadian prime minister Pierre Trudeau and Newfoundland premier Brian Peckford were engaged in a jurisdictional dispute over Newfoundland's offshore mineral resources. Stirling agreed with Peckford that the province should own the resources, although he criticized Peckford's approach in battling the federal government.[6]

In July 1981, Stirling criticized Peckford for using an order-in-council to increase the salary of cabinet members.[7]

Peckford called a snap election for April 1982, making mineral resources the primary election issue.[8] The Liberal campaign focused on employment issues and argued that Peckford's aggressive stance on resources was undermining Newfoundland's negotiating position.[9] Stirling said that he could negotiate a better resource deal with the federal government via a more conciliatory tone and proposed a federal-provincial fund that would allow Newfoundland to purchase failing fishery plants.[10]

Peckford's Progressive Conservatives were re-elected with a landslide majority government in the 1982 election, and Stirling was personally defeated in Bonavista North.[11] He resigned as leader in October 1982.[12]

An essay on the Newfoundland Liberal Party published in 1992 described Stirling as having a "pleasant, conciliatory personality," but lacking in profile and without "zeal for political power."[13]

After politics

Stirling continued his career as an insurance executive. By the 1990s, he was first vice president and Atlantic regional manager of Johnson's Insurance. He was named to the board of governors of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro in 1999.[14]

Electoral record
Leadership contests
Candidate Votes %
Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador leadership convention
1980
First Ballot
Len Stirling 666 82.53
Les Thoms 140 17.35
Edward Noseworthy 1 0.12
Total valid votes 807 100.00

Source: John Laschinger and Geoffrey Stevens, Leaders & Lesser Mortals: Backroom Politics in Canada, Toronto: Key Porter Books Limited, 1992, p. 258.

References
  1. Barbara Yaffe, "Stirling to lead Newfoundland Liberals," Globe and Mail, 3 November 1980, p. 9; Barbara Yaffe, "Leadership candidates help finance delegates," Globe and Mail, 1 November 1980, p. 11.
  2. "Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro Board of Directors appointed" [press release], Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, 13 January 1999.
  3. R.K. Carty and Peter James, "Changing the Rules of the Game: Do Conventions and Caucuses Choose Different Leaders", in R. Kenneth Carty, Lynda Erickson, and Donald E. Blake, ed., Leaders and Parties in Canadian Politics: Experiences of the Provinces, (Toronto: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Canada Inc.), 1992, p. 39.
  4. "Jamieson's future is questioned after loss in Newfoundland vote," Globe and Mail, 20 June 1979, p. 8.
  5. Barbara Yaffe, "Stirling to lead Newfoundland Liberals," Globe and Mail, 3 November 1980, p. 9; John Laschinger and Geoffrey Stevens, Leaders & Lesser Mortals: Backroom Politics in Canada, Toronto: Key Porter Books Limited, 1992, p. 258.
  6. "Peckford resource policy is un-Canadian, PM says," Globe and Mail, 6 May 1981, p. 8.
  7. Michael Harris, "Cabinet's own pay rise tops island guideline," Globe and Mail, 31 July 1981, p. 9.
  8. Michael Harris, "Peckford begins defence of his election call for April," Globe and Mail, 17 March 1982, p. 10.
  9. Nora McCabe, "PM may pose puzzle for Peckford," Globe and Mail, 19 March 1982, p. 5; Nora McCabe, "Peckford hunts for mainland funds," Globe and Mail, 26 March 1982, p. 5; Michael Harris, "Peckford gets strong hand from voters," Globe and Mail, 7 April 1982, p. 1.
  10. Michael Harris, "Emphasis shifts from chosen issue: oil Fishery issue thrust upon Peckford's PCs," Globe and Mail, 3 April 1982, p. 11; George Bain, [column], Globe and Mail, 24 May 1982, p. 6.
  11. Michael Harris, "Peckford gets strong hand from voters," Globe and Mail, 7 April 1982, p. 1.
  12. "Sterling determined to resign leadership," Globe and Mail, 13 October 1982, N5; "Provincial party sets convention," Globe and Mail, 3 October 1983, p. 9.
  13. R.K. Carty and Peter James, "Changing the Rules of the Game: Do Conventions and Caucuses Choose Different Leaders", in R. Kenneth Carty, Lynda Erickson, and Donald E. Blake, ed., Leaders and Parties in Canadian Politics: Experiences of the Provinces, (Toronto: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Canada Inc.), 1992, p. 39.
  14. "Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro Board of Directors appointed" [press release], Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, 13 January 1999.
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