Scott Simms

Scott Simms (born August 12, 1969) is a Canadian politician. He was the Liberal Member of Parliament for the Newfoundland and Labrador riding of Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame from 2004 until 2021.

Scott Simms
Member of Parliament
for Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame
Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor
(2004-2015)
In office
June 28, 2004 – September 20, 2021
Preceded byRex Barnes
Succeeded byClifford Small[1]
Chairman of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage
In office
February 19, 2020 – September 20, 2021
Preceded byJulie Dabrusin
Succeeded byHedy Fry
Chairman of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans
In office
February 16, 2016 – April 19, 2018
Preceded byRodney Weston
Succeeded byBernadette Jordan
Personal details
Born (1969-08-12) August 12, 1969
Bishop's Falls, Newfoundland
Political partyLiberal
ResidenceNorris Arm, Newfoundland and Labrador
ProfessionJournalist

Early life

Scott Simms was born on August 12, 1969, in Bishop's Falls, Newfoundland.[2]

In 1990, while a student at Mount Allison University, Simms started in politics and campaigning when he acted as the official agent and campaign manager for Brian Gold the Rhinoceros Party candidate in a federal byelection in the Beauséjour riding. Simms graduated from Mount Allison University with a Bachelor in Commerce and Loyalist College in Journalism. Before entering elected politics, Simms worked for The Weather Network, prior to which he had worked as a radio reporter in Gander and Grand Falls-Windsor. He was an active campaigner for the "No" side in the 1995 Quebec referendum.[3]

Politics

Simms was elected in the 2004 election and defeated four other candidates, including Conservative incumbent Rex Barnes.[4] Simms was re-elected on Jan. 23, 2006, beating Conservative candidate Aaron Hynes by approximately 5,000 votes.[3] Simms was re-elected in the 2008 federal election.

He was a member of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage and the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans. Since January 18, 2006, he has been the critic for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. He was the critic for the Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency from February 23, 2006 until January 17, 2007.[2]

Simms is also now known by a number of people who live on the west coast of Ireland following the voyage of one of his election posters across the Atlantic Ocean to Keem Bay in the village of Dooagh on Achill Island, County Mayo. The story was published by a local news paper called The Mayo News after a lifeguard at the beach, Conal Dixon, found the poster washed up on the sand.[5]

On May 2, 2011, Simms was again re-elected, defeating Hynes in a re-match by approximately 9,200 votes, with a total of 17,895 votes in his riding.[6]

In 2012, Simms was the only Liberal to join the Conservatives in voting to repeal Section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act, which dealt with communication of messages "likely to expose a person or persons to hatred or contempt."[7]

In 2013, Simms was courted by the supporters in the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador to run for the provincial leadership in the 2013 leadership election, but ultimately declined to focus on federal politics.[8] Simms was re-elected in the 2015 federal election.[9][10][11]

In April 2018, Simms was removed as Chairman of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans as a result of voting in favour of a Conservative party motion opposing changes to the Canada Summer Jobs program.[12]

Simms was re-elected in the 2019 federal election. Simms served as the Chair of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.

Simms was defeated in the 2021 federal election losing to conservative candidate Clifford Small.[13][14]

Electoral Record
2021 Canadian federal election: Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeClifford Small14,92746.89+11.55$59,241.94
LiberalScott Simms14,64646.00-2.31$41,577.53
New DemocraticJamie Ruby2,2617.10-5.26$0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 31,83497.86+0.06$124,135.56
Total rejected ballots 6952.14-0.06
Turnout 32,52951.46-4.13
Registered voters 63,217
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +6.93
Source: Elections Canada[15][16][17]
2019 Canadian federal election: Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalScott Simms16,51448.31-26.52$48,943.91
ConservativeAlex Bracci12,08135.34+17.02none listed
New DemocraticNoel Joe4,22412.36+6.26$6,009.07
GreenByron White1,3633.99+3.24$5,899.33
Total valid votes/expense limit 34,18297.80-1.79120,385.86
Total rejected ballots 7702.20+1.79
Turnout 34,95255.59-0.12
Eligible voters 62,880
Liberal hold Swing -26.51
Source: Elections Canada[18][19]
2015 Canadian federal election: Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalScott Simms26,52374.82+19.90$53,460.35
ConservativeKevin O'Brien6,47918.28–12.04$151,187.70
New DemocraticClaudette Menchenton2,1756.14–7.49$3,416.01
GreenElizabeth Perry2710.76–0.12–
Total valid votes/expense limit 35,44899.59 $238,355.39
Total rejected ballots 1450.41–
Turnout 35,59355.71–
Eligible voters 63,891
Liberal notional hold Swing +15.97
Source: Elections Canada[20][21]
2011 Canadian federal election: Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalScott Simms17,97757.70-12.57
ConservativeAaron Hynes8,59527.59+12.36
New DemocraticClyde Bridger4,30613.82+1.31
GreenRobyn Kenny2790.90-1.08
Total valid votes/Expense limit 31,157100.00
Total rejected ballots 151 0.48-0.02
Turnout 31,308 36.24-4.91
Eligible voters 86,394 ––
2008 Canadian federal election: Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalScott Simms20,08970.27+18.3$23,605
ConservativeAndrew House4,35415.23-25.1$32,723
New DemocraticJason Holley3,57712.51+5.5
GreenRobert O'Connor5681.98+1.3
Total valid votes/Expense limit 28,588100.00 $92,537
Total rejected ballots 1450.500.00
Turnout 28,733 41.15
  Liberal hold Swing +21.7
2006 Canadian federal election: Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalScott Simms19,86652.0+3.8$43,240
ConservativeAaron Hynes15,37640.3-1.3$75,703
New DemocraticSandra Cooze2,6687.0-1.1$10
GreenJudy Davis2650.7-0.4$0
Total valid votes/Expense limit 38,175 100.0$86,380
Total rejected ballots 1900.50 -0.03
Turnout 38,365–
2004 Canadian federal election: Bonavista—Exploits
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalScott Simms15,97048.20-7.12$45,455.39
ConservativeRex Barnes13,78641.61+7.11$78,934.75
New DemocraticSamuel Robert McLean2,6678.05-2.14$1,870.00
GreenEd Sailor White3671.11–$275.00
IndependentJohn Lannon3441.04–none listed
Total valid votes/Expense limit 33,134100.0 – $84,760
Total rejected, declined and unmarked ballots 1780.53
Turnout 33,31246.30-6.67
Eligible voters 71,944
Liberal notional hold Swing -7.12
Changes from 2000 are based on redistributed results. Change for the Conservatives is based on the combined totals from the Progressive Conservatives and the Canadian Alliance.

References
  1. Roberts, Darrell (Sep 24, 2021). "Conservative Clifford Small wins Coast of Bays-Central-Notre Dame". CBC. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  2. "SIMMS, Scott, B.Comm". Library of Parliament. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  3. "CBC — Canada Votes 2006 - Candidates and Ridings". Archived from the original on August 8, 2007. Retrieved September 16, 2007.
  4. "CBC — Canada Votes 2004". Archived from the original on July 12, 2004. Retrieved July 12, 2004.
  5. Canadian poster in Achill! The Mayo News, October 2, 2007
  6. "Innu leader delivers Conservatives from N.L. shutout". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2011-05-02. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  7. "Jonathan Kay: Good riddance to Section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act | Full Comment | National Post". Archived from the original on 2013-01-05. Retrieved 2013-12-19.
  8. Higgins, Kevin (8 February 2013). "The Telegram>News>Local Simms says he will not be seeking the leadership of the province's Liberal Party". The St. John's Telegram. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  9. "Scott Simms victorious in new riding". The Norwester. 22 October 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  10. "Scott Simms keeps seat in Coast of Bays-Central-Notre Dame". CBC News. October 20, 2015. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  11. "No more politicking for Kevin O'Brien". The Telegram. St. John's. October 19, 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  12. "N.L. MP Scott Simms removed as fisheries chair after breaking with Liberal party line". CBC News. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  13. Darrell Roberts, "Conservative Clifford Small wins Coast of Bays-Central-Notre Dame". CBC News Newfoundland and Labrador, September 25, 2021.
  14. "Liberals flip St. John's East, trail in Coast of Bays-Central-Notre Dame". CBC News. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  15. "Confirmed candidates — Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame". Elections Canada. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  16. "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  17. "Candidate Campaign Returns". Elections Canada. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  18. "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  19. "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  20. "October 19, 2015 Election Results — Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame (Validated results)". Elections Canada. 23 October 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  21. Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates Archived August 15, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
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