James McGrath (Canadian politician)
James McGrath | |
|---|---|
| 8th Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador | |
| In office September 5, 1986 – November 5, 1991 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governors General | Jeanne Sauvé Ray Hnatyshyn |
| Premier | Brian Peckford Thomas Rideout Clyde Wells |
| Preceded by | Tony Paddon |
| Succeeded by | Frederick Russell |
| Member of the Canadian Parliament for St. John's East | |
| In office June 10, 1957 – April 8, 1963 | |
| Preceded by | Allan Fraser |
| Succeeded by | Joseph O'Keefe |
| In office June 25, 1968 – September 5, 1986 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph O'Keefe |
| Succeeded by | Jack Harris |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Aloysius McGrath January 11, 1932 |
| Died | February 28, 2017 (aged 85) |
| Party | Progressive Conservative |
| Profession | Sales manager |
James Aloysius McGrath, PC (January 11, 1932 – February 28, 2017) was a politician and the eighth lieutenant governor of Newfoundland, Canada.
Early life
As a young man, McGrath was a member of the Responsible Government League which opposed Newfoundland becoming a province of Canada. Nevertheless, upon the Dominion's joining confederation in 1949, McGrath left to enlist with the Royal Canadian Air Force. He returned to Newfoundland in 1953 and became sales manager with radio station CJON. In 1955, he became secretary of the provincial Progressive Conservative Party association. In 1956, he ran unsuccessfully for the party in the provincial election.
Federal politics
In 1957, McGrath entered federal politics and won a seat in the House of Commons of Canada in the that year's federal election under the Progressive Conservative banner in St. John's East. In 1962, McGrath became parliamentary secretary to the minister of mines and technical surveys, and served in that position until he was defeated in the 1963 election.
McGrath regained his seat in the 1968 election, and remained in parliament through five subsequent elections.
When the Progressive Conservatives formed the government following the 1979 election, prime minister Joe Clark named McGrath minister of fisheries and oceans. McGrath returned to the opposition bench when the Clark government was defeated in the 1980 election.
McGrath was not included in the cabinet when the Progressive Conservatives formed government in the 1984 election under Brian Mulroney. Instead, McGrath was appointed chairman of the Special Committee on the Reform of the House of Commons. The report he authored led to a number of procedural changes, including the introduction of election by secret ballot for the position of speaker of the House of Commons. Its recommendations also led to the formation of the Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians, established in 1996.[1] McGrath also served as chairman of the Standing Committee on Human Rights.
Vice-regal career
In August 1986, McGrath left electoral politics to accept an appointment as lieutenant governor of Newfoundland. He retired from the position in 1991.[2]
Personal life and death
McGrath's daughter, Robin McGrath, is a poet and novelist.[3]
McGrath died at home on February 28, 2017.[2]
Arms
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References
- ^ Turner, J. Barry (Autumn 1996). "Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians" (PDF). Canadian Parliamentary Review. 19 (3): 14–16. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 6, 2011. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
- ^ a b McCabe, Meghan (March 2, 2017) [March 1, 2017]. "Longtime politician, former lieutenant governor, James McGrath dies at 85". CBC News. Archived from the original on December 19, 2025. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
- ^ Peach, Aaron (2006). "Robin McGrath (1949-)". Heritage Newfoundland & Labrador. Memorial University of Newfoundland. Archived from the original on December 19, 2025. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
- ^ Canadian Heraldic Authority (Volume II), Ottawa, 1990
External links
- Biography at Government House The Governorship of Newfoundland and Labrador
- James McGrath – Parliament of Canada biography