Yvonne Jones facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yvonne Jones
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| Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Northern Affairs | |
| Assumed office December 2, 2015 |
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| Minister | Carolyn Bennett |
| Preceded by | Mark Strahl |
| Member of Parliament for Labrador |
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| Assumed office May 13, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Peter Penashue |
| Leader of the Opposition in Newfoundland and Labrador | |
| In office November 13, 2007 – January 3, 2012 |
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| Preceded by | Gerry Reid |
| Succeeded by | Dwight Ball |
| Leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal Party | |
| In office Interim: November 13, 2007 – May 28, 2011 May 28, 2011 – August 14, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Gerry Reid |
| Succeeded by | Kevin Aylward |
| Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly for Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair |
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| In office February 22, 1996 – April 8, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Riding Established |
| Succeeded by | Lisa Dempster |
| Mayor of Mary's Harbour | |
| In office 1991–1996 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | March 15, 1968 Mary's Harbour, Newfoundland, Canada |
| Political party | Liberal Party of Canada (2013-present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador (1999-2013) Independent (1996-1999) |
| Residence | Mary's Harbour |
| Alma mater | West Viking College |
| Occupation | Journalist, Researcher, Politician |
| Cabinet | Minister Responsible for the Status of Women (2003) Minister of Fisheries & Aquaculture (2003) |
| Website | Official website: http://yvonnejones.liberal.ca/ |
Yvonne Jean Jones (born March 15, 1968) is a Canadian politician. She was elected to the House of Commons of Canada in 2013. She represents the area of Labrador. Yvonne Jones is a member of the Liberal Party.
Since December 2, 2015, she has been a Parliamentary Secretary. This means she helps a government minister with their duties. She works with the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs. Jones is also a member of the NunatuKavummiut, a group of Indigenous people.
Before joining federal politics, Jones worked in provincial politics. From 1996 to 2013, she represented the area of Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly. She served as a minister and later led the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador. She was also the Leader of the Official Opposition.
Yvonne Jones's Early Career
Yvonne Jones studied journalism. She worked for many local newspapers in her province. She also helped people find jobs as an employment counselor. She worked for the Battle Harbour Development Association.
Becoming a Mayor
From 1991 to 1996, Jones was the mayor of Mary's Harbour, a town in Labrador. This was her first big step into politics.
Working in Provincial Politics
In 1996, Yvonne Jones decided to run for a seat in the provincial government. She wanted to represent the area of Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair. She first ran as an independent candidate, meaning she was not part of a specific political party. She won the election and became a member of the House of Assembly.
Joining the Liberal Party
After her first election, Jones joined the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador. She was re-elected in 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011. This shows she was a popular representative for her area.
Serving as a Minister
In February 2003, Yvonne Jones was appointed to the government's cabinet. She became the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. She also became the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women. She held these important jobs until the Liberal government lost the election later that year.
Speaking Out for Indigenous Rights
In 2004, Jones was the only member of the House of Assembly to vote against a new law. This law was about land claims for the Labrador Inuit. Jones explained that she is a Metis person. She felt the law did not properly include the Metis people of Labrador. She said, "I am a Metis and I am very proud of who I am. I am descendant from the bloodline of Inuit and the English." She wanted to make sure all Indigenous groups were treated fairly.
Jones also spoke out against the Muskrat Falls hydro power project.
Leading the Liberal Party
In 2007, only three Liberal members were re-elected to the House of Assembly. Yvonne Jones was one of them. On November 15, 2007, she was chosen as the temporary leader of the Liberal Party. This also made her the Official Opposition Leader. She was the first woman to lead the Liberal Party in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Becoming Permanent Leader
Jones served as interim leader for a few years. In 2009, she announced she wanted to be the permanent leader. In 2010, she officially became the Liberal leader. This happened because she was the only person who applied for the job.
Facing Health Challenges
In August 2010, Jones announced she would take time off. She needed treatment for breast cancer. She returned to work in early 2011. She was then officially sworn in as the Liberal leader.
On August 9, 2011, Jones decided to step down as leader. She was still recovering from her cancer treatment. However, she ran for re-election in her district in the 2011 provincial election. She won with a large number of votes.
Moving to Federal Politics
In April 2013, Yvonne Jones left her seat in the provincial government. She decided to run for a seat in the federal government. She ran as the Liberal candidate for the area of Labrador. She won the election on May 13, 2013. She was sworn in on June 4, 2013.
New Roles in Ottawa
After being elected, Jones took on several important roles. She became the Liberal critic for Northern Development and the Arctic Council. She also became the Vice-Chair of the Public Accounts committee in 2014.
On December 2, 2015, Jones was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs. This means she helps the minister with their work. In 2018, she became Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Intergovernmental and Northern Affairs and Internal Trade.
Jones was re-elected in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. On December 12, 2019, she was again appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Northern Affairs.
Facing Challenges and Staying Strong
On April 19, 2021, another Member of Parliament, Mumilaaq Qaqqaq, made comments about Jones's Indigenous identity. Jones said these comments were "immature and naïve." Qaqqaq later apologized for her words.
On June 14, 2023, Jones shared good news. She announced that she had successfully battled breast cancer for a second time.
