Scott Simms

Scott Simms
MP
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame
Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor
(2004-2015)
Assumed office
June 28, 2004
Preceded by Rex Barnes
Chairman of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans
Assumed office
February 16, 2016
Preceded by Rodney Weston
Personal details
Born (1969-08-12) August 12, 1969
Bishop's Falls, Newfoundland
Political party Liberal
Residence Norris Arm, Newfoundland and Labrador
Profession Journalist

Scott Simms, MP, (born August 12, 1969 in Bishop's Falls, N.L.[1]) is a Canadian politician. He is the Liberal Member of Parliament for the Newfoundland and Labrador riding of Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame.

Early life

Scott Simms was born August 12, 1969 in Bishop's Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador.[1]

In 1990, while a student at Mount Allison University, Simms got his first taste of 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.[2]

Politics

He was elected in the 2004 election and beat out four other candidates, including Conservative incumbent Rex Barnes.[3] Simms was re-elected on Jan. 23, 2006, beating Conservative candidate Aaron Hynes by approximately 5,000 votes.[2] 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.

He is 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.[1]

Scott Simms is also now known by a number of people who live on the west coast of Ireland following the epic 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.[4]

In 2012, Simms was the only Liberal to join the Conservatives in voting to repeal controversial section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act, which allows the Canadian Human Rights Commission to punish people who communicate by phone or Internet any material "that is likely to expose a person or persons to hatred or contempt."[5]

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.[6]

Election results

Canadian federal election, 2015: Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalScott Simms 26,523 74.82 +19.90 –
ConservativeKevin George O'Brien 6,479 18.28 –12.03 –
New DemocraticClaudette Menchenton 2,175 6.14 –7.48 –
GreenElizabeth Perry 271 0.76 –0.12 –
Total valid votes/Expense limit 35,448100.0   $237,840.36
Total rejected ballots 1450.41–
Turnout 35,59355.71–
Eligible voters 63,891
Liberal notional hold Swing +15.96
Source: Elections Canada[7][8]
Canadian federal election, 2011: Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalScott Simms 17,977 57.70 -12.57
ConservativeAaron Hynes 8,595 27.59 +12.36
New DemocraticClyde Bridger 4,306 13.82 +1.31
GreenRobyn Kenny 279 0.90 -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 ––
Canadian federal election, 2008: Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalScott Simms 20,089 70.27 +18.3 $23,605
ConservativeAndrew House 4,354 15.23 -25.1 $32,723
New DemocraticJason Holley 3,577 12.51 +5.5
GreenRobert O'Connor 568 1.98 +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
Canadian federal election, 2006: Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalScott Simms 19,866 52.0 +3.8 $43,240
ConservativeAaron Hynes 15,376 40.3 -1.3 $75,703
New DemocraticSandra Cooze 2,668 7.0 -1.1 $10
GreenJudy Davis 265 0.7 -0.4 $0
Total valid votes/Expense limit 38,175 100.0$86,380
Total rejected ballots 1900.50 -0.03
Turnout 38,365–
Canadian federal election, 2004: Bonavista—Exploits
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalScott Simms 15,970 48.20 -7.12 $45,455.39
ConservativeRex Barnes 13,786 41.61 +7.11 $78,934.75
New DemocraticSamuel Robert McLean 2,667 8.05 -2.14 $1,870.00
GreenEd Sailor White 367 1.11 – $275.00
IndependentJohn Lannon 344 1.04 – 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. 1 2 3 "SIMMS, Scott, B.Comm.". Library of Parliament. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  2. 1 2 "CBC — Canada Votes 2006 - Candidates and Ridings". Archived from the original on August 8, 2007. Retrieved September 16, 2007.
  3. ↑ "CBC — Canada Votes 2004". Archived from the original on July 12, 2004. Retrieved July 12, 2004.
  4. ↑ Canadian poster in Achill! The Mayo News, October 2, 2007
  5. ↑ http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/06/07/jonathan-kay-good-riddance-to-section-13-of-the-canadian-human-rights-act/
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ "October 19, 2015 Election Results — Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame (Validated results)". Elections Canada. 23 October 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  8. ↑ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates
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