Scott Simms

Scott Simms MP (born 1969) is a Canadian politician. He is the Liberal Member of Parliament for the Newfoundland and Labrador riding of Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame.

Scott Simms MP
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor (2004-2015)
Incumbent
Assumed office June 28, 2004
Preceded by	Rex Barnes
Chairman of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage
Incumbent
Assumed office February 19, 2020
Preceded by	Julie Dabrusin
Chairman of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans
In office February 16, 2016 – April 19, 2018
Preceded by	Rodney Weston
Succeeded by	Bernadette Jordan
Personal details
Born	(1969-08-12) August 12, 1969 Bishop's Falls, Newfoundland
Political party	Liberal
Residence	Norris Arm, Newfoundland and Labrador
Profession	Journalist

Early life

Scott Simms was born on August 12, 1969, in Bishop's Falls, Newfoundland.[1]

In 1990, while a student at Mount Allison University, Simms started in politics and campaigning when he acted as the official agent and campaign manager for Brian Gold the Rhinoceros Party candidate in a federal byelection in the Beauséjour riding. Simms graduated from Mount Allison University with a Bachelor in Commerce and Loyalist College in Journalism. Before entering elected politics, Simms worked for The Weather Network, prior to which he had worked as a radio reporter in Gander and Grand Falls-Windsor. He was an active campaigner for the "No" side in the 1995 Quebec referendum.[2]

Politics

He was elected in the 2004 election and defeated four other candidates, including Conservative incumbent Rex Barnes.[3] Simms was re-elected on Jan. 23, 2006, beating Conservative candidate Aaron Hynes by approximately 5,000 votes.[2] On May 2, 2011, Simms was again re-elected, defeating Hynes in a re-match by approximately 9,200 votes, with a total of 17,895 votes in his riding.

He is a member of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage and the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans. Since January 18, 2006, he has been the critic for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. He was the critic for the Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency from February 23, 2006 until January 17, 2007.[1]

Scott Simms is also now known by a number of people who live on the west coast of Ireland following the voyage of one of his election posters across the Atlantic Ocean to Keem Bay in the village of Dooagh on Achill Island, County Mayo. The story was published by a local news paper called The Mayo News after a lifeguard at the beach, Conal Dixon, found the poster washed up on the sand.[4]

In 2012, Simms was the only Liberal to join the Conservatives in voting to repeal Section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act, which dealt with communication of messages "likely to expose a person or persons to hatred or contempt."[5]

In 2013, Simms was courted by the supporters in the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador to run for the provincial leadership in the 2013 leadership election, but ultimately declined to focus on federal politics.[6] Simms was re-elected in the 2015 federal election.[7]

In April 2018, Simms was removed as Chairman of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans as a result of voting in favour of a Conservative party motion opposing changes to the Canada Summer Jobs program.[8]

He was re-elected in the 2019 federal election.

Simms now serves as the Chair of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.

Election results

2019 Canadian federal election: Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Liberal	Scott Simms	16,514	48.3	-26.52
	Conservative	Alex Bracci	12,081	35.3	+17.02
	New Democratic	Noel Joe	4,224	12.4	+6.26
	Green	Byron White	1,363	4.0	+3.24
Total valid votes/Expense limit			34,182	100.0
Total rejected ballots			770
Turnout			34,952	55.6
Eligible voters			62,880
Source: Elections Canada[9][10]

2015 Canadian federal election: Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Liberal	Scott Simms	26,523	74.82	+19.90	–
	Conservative	Kevin George O'Brien	6,479	18.28	–12.03	–
	New Democratic	Claudette Menchenton	2,175	6.14	–7.48	–
	Green	Elizabeth Perry	271	0.76	–0.12	–
Total valid votes/Expense limit			35,448	100.0		$237,840.36
Total rejected ballots			145	0.41	–
Turnout			35,593	55.71	–
Eligible voters			63,891
	Liberal notional hold		Swing		+15.96
Source: Elections Canada[11][12]

2011 Canadian federal election: Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Liberal	Scott Simms	17,977	57.70	-12.57
	Conservative	Aaron Hynes	8,595	27.59	+12.36
	New Democratic	Clyde Bridger	4,306	13.82	+1.31
	Green	Robyn Kenny	279	0.90	-1.08
Total valid votes/Expense limit			31,157	100.00
Total rejected ballots			151	0.48	-0.02
Turnout			31,308	36.24	-4.91
Eligible voters			86,394	–	–

2008 Canadian federal election: Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Liberal	Scott Simms	20,089	70.27	+18.3	$23,605
	Conservative	Andrew House	4,354	15.23	-25.1	$32,723
	New Democratic	Jason Holley	3,577	12.51	+5.5
	Green	Robert O'Connor	568	1.98	+1.3
Total valid votes/Expense limit			28,588	100.00	$92,537
Total rejected ballots			145	0.50	0.00
Turnout			28,733	41.15
	Liberal hold		Swing	+21.7

2006 Canadian federal election: Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Liberal	Scott Simms	19,866	52.0	+3.8	$43,240
	Conservative	Aaron Hynes	15,376	40.3	-1.3	$75,703
	New Democratic	Sandra Cooze	2,668	7.0	-1.1	$10
	Green	Judy Davis	265	0.7	-0.4	$0
Total valid votes/Expense limit			38,175	100.0	$86,380
Total rejected ballots			190	0.50	-0.03
Turnout			38,365	–

2004 Canadian federal election: Bonavista—Exploits
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Liberal	Scott Simms	15,970	48.20	-7.12	$45,455.39
	Conservative	Rex Barnes	13,786	41.61	+7.11	$78,934.75
	New Democratic	Samuel Robert McLean	2,667	8.05	-2.14	$1,870.00
	Green	Ed Sailor White	367	1.11	–	$275.00
	Independent	John Lannon	344	1.04	–	none listed
Total valid votes/Expense limit			33,134	100.0	–	$84,760
Total rejected, declined and unmarked ballots			178	0.53
Turnout			33,312	46.30	-6.67
Eligible voters			71,944
	Liberal notional hold		Swing		-7.12
Changes from 2000 are based on redistributed results. Change for the Conservatives is based on the combined totals from the Progressive Conservatives and the Canadian Alliance.

References

1. "SIMMS, Scott, B.Comm". Library of Parliament. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
2. "CBC — Canada Votes 2006 - Candidates and Ridings". Archived from the original on August 8, 2007. Retrieved September 16, 2007.
3. "CBC — Canada Votes 2004". Archived from the original on July 12, 2004. Retrieved July 12, 2004.
4. Canadian poster in Achill! The Mayo News, October 2, 2007
5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-01-05. Retrieved 2013-12-19.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
6. Higgins, Kevin (8 February 2013). "The Telegram>News>Local Simms says he will not be seeking the leadership of the province's Liberal Party". The St. John's Telegram. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
7. "Scott Simms victorious in new riding". The Norwester. 22 October 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
8. "N.L. MP Scott Simms removed as fisheries chair after breaking with Liberal party line". CBC News. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
9. "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
10. "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
11. "October 19, 2015 Election Results — Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame (Validated results)". Elections Canada. 23 October 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
12. Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates

External links

• Official website
• Scott Simms – Parliament of Canada biography