John Abbott (Newfoundland And Labrador Politician)
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John Abbott is a
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politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...
who was elected to the
Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly () is the Unicameralism, unicameral deliberative assembly of the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It meets in the Confederation Bu ...
in the 2021 provincial election. He defeated the leader of the provincial
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(NDP), Alison Coffin, to represent the electoral district of St. John's East-Quidi Vidi as a member of the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador.


Background

Prior to being elected, Abbott served as the executive director of the Newfoundland and Labrador chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association. Abbott was also Deputy Minister of Health in the Williams and
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administrations. Between 1989 and 1999, Abbott held a number of other senior positions: Assistant Secretary to the Treasury Board, Associate Deputy Minister of Health and Community Services, chairman and CEO of the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, Deputy Minister of Works, Services and Transportation and Deputy Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs.


Politics

In
2020 The year 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of even ...
, Abbott ran for the leadership of the provincial Liberal party following the pending resignation of Dwight Ball. He lost the two-way race to frontrunner Andrew Furey. Abbott subsequently ran in the 2021 provincial election as the Liberal candidate in St. John's East-Quidi Vidi and narrowly defeated incumbent MHA and provincial NDP leader Alison Coffin. Coffin filed for a recount, but it was rejected by Supreme Court Justice Donald Burrage, who argued that the evidence was not sufficient to justify the process. Abbott was subsequently sworn in as MHA on May 18, 2021. Prior to his swearing-in, Abbott was appointed Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development on April 8, 2021. He later became the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure on June 14, 2023. On July 19, 2024, he was appointed as Minister of Housing and Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. When Premier Furey announced his pending resignation in 2025, Abbott resigned his cabinet positions and ran for the Liberal leadership in the ensuing election. On June 11, 2025, Abbott resigned his seat in the
House 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. Historically, in British Crown colonies as the colony gained more internal responsible g ...
. He did this to avoid a legal battle stemming from the disputed results in the St. John's East-Quidi Vidi riding.


Election results


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abbott, John Living people Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador MHAs Members of the Executive Council of Newfoundland and Labrador 20th-century births 21st-century members of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly