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Brian Peckford

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The Honourable
Brian Peckford
PC
3rd Premier of Newfoundland
In office
March 26, 1979 – March 22, 1989
MonarchElizabeth II
Lieutenant GovernorGordon A. Winter
Tony Paddon
James A. McGrath
Preceded byFrank Moores
Succeeded byThomas Rideout
Member of the Newfoundland House of Assembly
for Green Bay
In office
March 24, 1972 – April 20, 1989
Preceded byHarold Starkes
Succeeded byAlvin Hewlett
Newfoundland Minister of Mines and Energy
In office
September 9, 1976 – March 26, 1979
Preceded byJohn Crosbie
Succeeded byWilliam Doody
Newfoundland Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
In office
October 1, 1974 – September 9, 1976
Preceded byH. R. Val Earle
Succeeded byJerome Dinn
Personal details
Born (1942-08-27) August 27, 1942 (age 82)
Whitbourne, Newfoundland
Political partyProgressive Conservative
SpouseCarol Peckford
Residence(s)Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, Canada
OccupationTeacher

Alfred Brian Peckford PC (born August 27, 1942) is a Canadian politician who served as the third premier of Newfoundland from March 26, 1979 to March 22, 1989. A member of the Progressive Conservative (PC) Party, Peckford was first elected as the Member of the House of Assembly (MHA) for Green Bay following the 1972 general election. He served as a cabinet minister in Frank Moores' government before he was elected as PC leader in 1979 following Moores' retirement.

Background

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Alfred Brian Peckford was born in Whitbourne, Newfoundland on August 27, 1942, and was raised in the communities of Whitbourne, Marystown, and Lewisporte. He earned a Bachelor of Education degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland, and has completed postgraduate work in English Literature, Education, Psychology, and French Literature. Prior to entering politics, he was a high school teacher in rural Newfoundland.[1] He was the founding patron of the Wessex Society of Newfoundland and Labrador.[2]

Politics

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Peckford was the Progressive Conservative (PC) candidate in the district of Green Bay in the 1972 provincial election. The PC Party won a majority government in the election and Peckford was narrowly elected in his district over the Liberal candidate.[3] In 1973 he was appointed Parliamentary Assistant to Premier Frank Moores and the following year he was sworn into cabinet as the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.[1][4] In the 1975 general election Peckford won 70 percent of the popular vote in his district, defeating the Liberal and New Democratic Party candidates. The PC Party won its second majority government under the leadership of Moores and Peckford remained the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.[5] The following year Moores shuffled his cabinet and Peckford was appointed Minister of Mines and Energy; and Rural and Northern Development.[6]

Minister of Mines and Energy

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Peckford was appointed Minister of Mines and Energy on September 9, 1976, replacing John Crosbie who was leaving provincial politics to run federally. The offshore oil industry was seen as a bright spot in the economic outlook for the province. As the minister responsible Peckford fought hard for provincial control over the emerging industry. Oil companies suspended offshore drilling in 1977 in protest, but after some compromises were made the oil companies eventually accepted the Newfoundland terms, which aimed to maximize local economic benefits and minimize social and environmental disruption. Oil companies would start drilling once again in 1978 under the province's term. One of the terms arranged was that oil companies would be responsible for paying the cost of training local people to work in the industry. The companies had the choice of spending the money themselves on training and researching or paying it into the provincial treasury. Peckford said he pushed for these terms with oil companies after seeing resource give aways in the mining sector as well as the Upper Churchill Falls hydroelectric deal.[7] While Peckford was able to negotiate an agreement with oil companies over drilling in the continental shelf, the province was engaged in ownership dispute with the federal Liberal government over offshore petroleum resources. This dispute was settled after Peckford became premier.[8]

Premier

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On January 19, 1979, Moores announced he was stepping down as premier of the province and leaving politics.[9] Even before announcing his leadership bid Peckford was mentioned as a likely frontrunner to succeed Moores.[10] Ten people ran for the leadership of the party at its March 17, 1979, convention. Out of those ten, Peckford, Leo Barry, Walter Carter and William Doody were seen as the likelier candidates.[11][12] Peckford was still considered by some media as the frontrunner and had racked up the most cabinet and caucus support.[13] At the convention he led on the first two ballots and was elected leader over Carter and Doody on the third and final ballot.[14]

At 36 years of age Peckford became the youngest first minister in Newfoundland's history and one of the few members of the political elite from a working-class outport background.[15] Liberal leader Bill Rowe challenged Peckford to call an election immediately. He instead waited several months, first bringing down a budget, introducing new legislation and overhauling the rules of legislative procedure.[14] On May 25, 1979, the legislature was dissolved with an election called for June 18. The election was called after Rowe had announced a Liberal leadership convention for July 6–7, due to party dissension over his leadership.[16] While Rowe had planned on contesting the leadership himself he stepped aside and the Liberals installed Liberal MP Don Jamieson as leader two days after the election was called.[17] Prior to Moores' resignation an opinion poll showed the Liberals leading the Progressive Conservatives; no formal polls were conducted during the election campaign.[9][18] On election day Peckford led his party to its third straight majority government, they won 50 percent of the popular vote and 33 of the 52 seats in the House of Assembly. The Liberals won 41 percent of the vote and 19 seats, the NL NDP won 8 percent of the vote but no seats.[19][20]

Resource management dominated Peckford's ten years as Premier of Newfoundland, particularly offshore oil, the fisheries, and hydroelectric developments. In all three areas, Peckford hoped to wrestle control from outside interests to secure greater revenues for the province. He argued this would end Newfoundland's status as the poorest province in the country. His government tried to renegotiate the Upper Churchill contract with Hydro Quebec, which had been signed by Premier Joey Smallwood in 1969. The deal sold cheap power to Hydro Quebec for 65 years with no allowances for inflation or revision. The province launched two legal battles over the deal but the Supreme Court of Canada ruled twice in Quebec's favour, in 1984 and 1988. The Peckford government sought to develop power on the Lower Churchill River, but could not secure a transmission route through Quebec into lucrative American and Canadian markets.[15]

Although the fisheries remained vital to the economy of rural Newfoundland, they fell under federal jurisdiction. Ottawa determined fish quotas, distributed trawler licenses, and set all other aspects of fisheries policy. During the 1980 constitutional negotiations Peckford tried to acquire greater provincial control of the fisheries, but was unable to get enough support from other premiers. Peckford argued the province had a historic and moral right to the fisheries and the government did its best to influence federal fisheries policy. When the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans issued licenses to three factory freezer trawlers in 1985, he declared it "a disaster of monumental proportions". Overfishing continued to be an issue, and decisions made by Peckford's own administration did not help matters. Just three years after he left office cod stocks collapsed and the federal government announced a cod moratorium, which is still in effect in 2012.[15]

After securing deals with oil companies regarding offshore exploration, he battled with Ottawa over ownership of the oil.[21] The Peckford government had tried to negotiate an agreement with Pierre Trudeau's Liberal government over ownership, but were unsuccessful. With the two governments unable to come to an agreement the dispute was sent to the Supreme Court of Canada in 1982. The Peckford and Trudeau governments were that far apart on their views that Peckford hinted that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians might take a more radical stance, similar to the Quebec separatists, if the courts ruled against them.[22][23]

During his heated dispute with the federal government Peckford called an election for April 6, 1982, hoping to regain a mandate to continue his tough stance with Ottawa and renegotiate the Upper Churchill contract with Quebec. The Liberals, led by Len Stirling, disagreed with Peckford's aggressive stances and campaigned on a slogan of "Make Work Not War".[24] On election night Peckford led his party to victory again, winning 61 percent of the vote and 44 of the 52 seats in the House of Assembly. Only eight Liberals were elected and Stirling was defeated in his own riding of Bonavista North.[25][26][27] During his election victory speech Peckford stated that "I am more convinced than I have any time in the past that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians speak [with] one voice when we all say one day the sun will shine and have-not will be no more", words that went on to become a household phrase in the province.[28][29]

In March 1984 the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government owned the right to develop minerals on the continental shelf off Canada's coast.[30] Peckford shifted his efforts to gaining joint management and most of the revenues from offshore oil resources and embarked on a cross-Canada tour to drum up support for the province's position.[31][32] In the September 4, 1984, federal election Brian Mulroney's Progressive Conservative Party won a large majority government. Prior to the election Mulroney had agreed to a fair deal for the province with regards to offshore energy resources.[33] On February 11, 1985, less than six months since Mulroney's election victory, both levels of government signed the Atlantic Accord. The Accord granted Newfoundland significant decision-making powers and financial benefits. It made the federal and provincial governments equal partners in the management of offshore developments through the Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board. The Accord was widely hailed as a success for the Peckford government and a turning point for the provincial economy.[31]

Weeks after signing the Atlantic Accord, Peckford announced that an election would be held on April 2, 1985.[34] He self-proclaimed himself the "Great Negotiator" for the Atlantic Accord but during the election he was hounded by teachers and public service employees who were upset with the two year government-imposed wage freeze.[35] Fraser March, the president of the Newfoundland Public Employees Association, had pledged to campaign against "every Tory in the province".[36] A poll released just days before the vote showed the Progressive Conservatives and Liberals were tied at 41.5 percent outside St. John's, while Peckford's Tories led in the capital city.[37] The Progressive Conservatives won 49 per cent of the popular vote on election night, compared to 37 percent for the Liberals and 14 percent for the NDP.[38][39]

Although resource development dominated Peckford's time as premier his government is responsible for a number of things that have shaped Newfoundland and Labrador. After his party was re-elected in 1979 Peckford appointed Lynn Verge and Hazel Newhook to cabinet, they became the first women to serve as Cabinet ministers in the province. Peckford also brought in the first pay equity policy, established the first Status of Women Council, and in 1983 appointed Margaret Cameron as the province's first woman Supreme Court justice. In 1980 the new provincial flag, his government is responsible for the Department of Environment, they brought in grade 12 to the high school curriculum, and started construction on the Trans-Labrador Highway. In 1987 the Peckford government partnered with Phillip Sprung to construct a hydroponic greenhouse complex on the St. John's-Mount Pearl border. While the greenhouses were supposed to create jobs, tap into a profitable export market, and supply local consumers with fresh and affordable vegetables year-round, they ended up being an economic disaster. The government poured $22 million into the project and it went bankrupt only two years later. The credibility of Peckford and the Progressive Conservatives had been hurt by the project. On January 21, 1989, he announced he was leaving politics, Tom Rideout was chosen as his successor in March, and the PC Party was defeated in the provincial election the following month by the Liberals.[1][15][40]

Post-political life

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Peckford became a business consultant and has sat on numerous boards since leaving politics including the board of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in the 1990s. He relocated to British Columbia in the early 1990s and in 1998 was appointed to lead a one-person inquiry into the state of Fraser River salmon stocks and fishery management.

In 2008, he was appointed chair of a federal government–appointed expert panel to review federal chronic disease policy, especially diabetes, and to present a report to the federal Health minister. He is currently a director of Strongbow Exploration Inc., a public junior mining company. He has also been an advisor to the British Columbia Conservative Party, co-chairing the party's issues management committee.[41]

Peckford endorsed the People's Party led by Maxime Bernier in the 2021 Canadian federal election[citation needed] and Peckford appeared on Jordan Peterson's podcast on January 26, 2022, where he claimed that the Canadian government infringed on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.[42][non-primary source needed]

On January 27, 2022, it was revealed that Peckford is the lead plaintiff for the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms in a federal court case which is challenging the validity of the federal government’s ban on travel for people who are unvaccinated.[43][44][45]

Peckford and his wife currently live in Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island.

Electoral record

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1975 Newfoundland general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Alfred B. Peckford 2,639 70.34 18.99
Liberal H. Corbin Clarke 1028 27.40 -21.24
New Democratic Harold James Card 85 2.26 2.26
Total valid votes/ 3,752 100.00
Total rejected ballots 9 0.24
Turnout 3,761 66.60
1972 Newfoundland general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Progressive Conservative Alfred B. Peckford 2,560 51.35
Liberal Harold E. Starkes 2,425 48.64
Total valid votes/ 4,985 100.00
Total rejected ballots 16 0.31
Turnout 5,001 84.61

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Author - Brian Peckford". Flanker Press. Archived from the original on 17 November 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  2. ^ "Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador, volume 5 [Extract: letter W] :: Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador". collections.mun.ca. Archived from the original on 2014-10-07. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  3. ^ "General Election Returns, March 24, 1972" (PDF). Elections Newfoundland and Labrador. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  4. ^ "New Look in Newfoundland Moores Shuffles his Ministers". Calgary Herald. 2 October 1974. p. 8. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  5. ^ "Joey the Spoiler Tory Moores squeezes through Grit split". Ottawa Citizen. 17 September 1975. p. 1.
  6. ^ "Moores Shuffles Cabinet". The Leader-Post. 10 September 1976. p. 10. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  7. ^ Watkins, Lydon (5 January 1979). "St. John's Winning Oil Gamble". Montreal Gazette. p. S-45. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  8. ^ Higgins, Jenny. "The Moores Government 1972-1979". Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage Website. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  9. ^ a b "Newfoundland Premier Moores leaving office". Montreal Gazette. 19 January 1979. p. 2. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  10. ^ Butters, Brian (19 January 1979). "Premier Moores to quit tonight?". Windsor Star. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  11. ^ "Moores gives final speech before leader chosen". Windsor Star. 17 March 1979. p. 4. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  12. ^ Butters, Brian (20 February 1979). "Newfoundland's New Premier Seven Tories Vying to Replace Moores". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  13. ^ Bauch, Hubert (17 March 1979). "No Ordinary Paddy's Day". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  14. ^ a b "School teach become Nfld. premier". The Phoenix. 19 March 1979. p. 41. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  15. ^ a b c d "The Peckford Government 1979-1989". Heritage Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  16. ^ "Liberals to pick their new leader in Newfoundland". Montreal Gazette. 18 April 1979. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  17. ^ "Jamieson set to lead Grits in Nfld. polls". Windsor Star. 28 May 1979. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  18. ^ "Heavy voting likely in Nfld". The Phoenix. 18 June 1979. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  19. ^ "Newfoundland stays Tory". Windsor Star. 19 June 1979. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  20. ^ "Election Returns 1979" (PDF). Elections Newfoundland and Labrador. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  21. ^ "Oil squabble turns to mud-slinging spree". Windsor Star. 26 January 1983. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  22. ^ "Peckford, Trudeau fail to bridge offshore gap". 8 November 1982. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  23. ^ "Trudeau slams Peckford stand on oil". The Leader Post. 8 November 1982. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  24. ^ "Brian Peckford 'wages war' for his Newfoundland". The Montreal Gazette. 3 April 1982. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  25. ^ "Election Returns 1982" (PDF). Elections Newfoundland and Labrador. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  26. ^ "Nfld. Peckford girds for battle". Windsor Star. 10 April 1982. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  27. ^ "Newfoundland's talking of a new Smallwood era". Calgary Herald. 7 April 1982. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  28. ^ "Have-not is no more: N.L. off equalization". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 3 November 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  29. ^ "Get ready for 'revolution between the ears': Marshall". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 29 April 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  30. ^ "Peckford vows to fight on". The Phoenix. 9 March 1984. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  31. ^ a b Higgins, Jenny. "The 1985 Canada-Newfoundland Atlantic Accord". Heritage Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  32. ^ "Peckford continues fight for offshore rights". The Leader Post. 19 May 1984. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  33. ^ "Fair deal for Nfld. - Mulroney". Edmonton Journal. 15 June 1984. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  34. ^ "Peckford launches election on offshore deal". The Sun. 12 March 1985. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  35. ^ "Peckford leads Newfoundland Tories in watershed election". Ottawa Citizen. 30 March 1985. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  36. ^ "Peckford calls Newfoundland election April 2". The Montreal Gazette. 12 March 1985. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  37. ^ "Poll suggests fight for Peckford". Ottawa Citizen. 1 April 1985. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  38. ^ "Peckford tide dips". Ottawa Citizen. 4 April 1985. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  39. ^ "Election returns 1985" (PDF). Elections Newfoundland and Labrador. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  40. ^ Higgins, Jenny. "The Sprung Greenhouse". Heritage Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  41. ^ Yaffe, Barbara (October 17, 2012). "Barbara Yaffe: Former Newfoundland premier tangled in B.C. politics". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  42. ^ "Canadian Constitutional Crisis Brian Peckford The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast S4: E78". YouTube.
  43. ^ "Canada's new COVID-19 travel rules are very clear: 'You've got to be vaccinated' if you plan on taking a trip, PM Trudeau announces".
  44. ^ "Canada issues Covid-19 vaccine mandate for travelers 12 or older on trains and planes". CNN.
  45. ^ Dawson, Tyler (February 2022). "Former N.L. Premier suing federal government over vaccine mandates for air travel". National Post.
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