Kevin Aylward | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader of theLiberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador | |
| In office August 14, 2011 – January 3, 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Yvonne Jones |
| Succeeded by | Dwight Ball |
| Member of theNewfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly forSt. George's-Stephenville East | |
| In office 1985–2003 | |
| Preceded by | Fred Stagg |
| Succeeded by | Joan Burke |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1960-08-24)August 24, 1960 (age 64) Stephenville Crossing, Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Cabinet | Minister of Environment (1994-1996) (2002-2003) Minister of Environment and Labour (1996-1997) |
Kevin Aylward (born August 24, 1960) is aCanadian businessman and former politician inNewfoundland and Labrador, Canada. He was the leader of theLiberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador from August 14, 2011, until January 3, 2012.[1] Aylward was first elected to theNewfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly in the1985 election and served as acabinet minister in the governments ofClyde Wells,Brian Tobin,Beaton Tulk andRoger Grimes. Aylward did not seek re-election in the2003 election.
Upon the resignation of Liberal leaderYvonne Jones on August 9, 2011, 62 days before theprovincial election, Aylward ran in theleadership race to succeed her.[2][3] Five days after Jones' resignation Aylward was chosen as party leader in a field of seven candidates.[1] On October 26, 2011, he resigned as leader after failing to win the district ofSt. George's-Stephenville East in the 2011 provincial election.
Aylward is a member of theQalipu Mi'kmaq First Nation Band.[4]
Born in 1960 in Stephenville Crossing, Newfoundland and Labrador, Aylward was 24 years old when first elected as aMember of the House of Assembly (MHA) in the1985 provincial election.[5] He held several cabinet portfolios in the 1990s and early 2000s, including Environment and Labour, Forest Resources and Agrifoods, Tourism, Culture and Recreation, and Environment.[6]
Aylward did not seek re-election in the 2003 provincial election.
Aylward held the Environment portfolio and four other portfolios . He was sworn into cabinet in 1994 as Minister of the Environment in the Clyde Wells government, and in 1996 Premier Brian Tobin appointed him the Minister of Environment and Labour. After holding several other portfolios between 1997 and 2002, he was once again sworn in as Environment Minister under Premier Roger Grimes.[6]
On August 12, 2011, Aylward announced his bid for the leadership of Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador.[3] On August 14, the executives of the party chose Aylward as leader of the party, over six other candidates, citing his experience as a former MHA and cabinet minister as a key reason for selecting him.[7]
In theOctober election the Progressive Conservatives won their third straight majority. While the Liberals managed to remain the Official Opposition, they placed third in the popular vote winning only 19.1 per cent.[8] On October 26, 2011, Aylward announced his resignation as leader after failing to win the district ofSt. George's-Stephenville East.[9]
In 2021, Aylward unsuccessfully ran inStephenville-Port au Port as the Liberal candidate for the2021 provincial election.[10][11]