Role Politician Name Sandy Collins | Preceded by Terry French Succeeded by District Abolished | |
Political party Progressive Conservative Occupation Teacher, Executive Assistant | ||
Sandy Collins , is a former Canadian politician from Newfoundland and Labrador. He represented the district of Terra Nova in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 2009 until 2015. He also served as the Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services in the provincial cabinet.
Contents
- Early life and education
- Politics
- Tourism Culture and Recreation minister
- Child Youth and Family Services minister
- Workplace Health Safety and Compensation Commission minister
- Defeat and post political career
- References
Collins entered politics when he won a 2009 by-election in the district of Terra Nova for the Progressive Conservative Party. Following his re-election in the 2011 provincial election he was appointed the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Community Services. He lost re-election in the 2015 provincial election.
Early life and education
Upon finishing high school in 1996 Collins attended Memorial University. He graducated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Political Science and History. Collins then accepted a one-year teaching position in South Korea and as a result of that experience he returned to university and received a Bachelor of Education degree in 2003. He returned to South Korea after completing his third degree and in 2004 Collins returned to Newfoundland and Labrador to work as Constituency Assistant to Paul Oram.
Politics
Collins is a member of the Progressive Conservative Party and won his seat in a by-election on November 26, 2009 for the district of Terra Nova. In the 2011 provincial election Collns was easily elected, winning over 63% of the popular vote. Following his re-election Premier Kathy Dunderdale appointed him as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Community Services.
Tourism, Culture and Recreation minister
On May 1, 2014, Collins was appointed Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation by Premier Tom Marshall.
Child, Youth and Family Services minister
In August 2014, media reports confirmed that 26 youth under the age of 18 died while under the care, custody or supposed protection of the PC government since the department of Child, Youth and Family Services was created in 2009. Collins, who was minister of Child, Youth and Family Services at the time, spent several days evading the media and avoiding making comments regarding the deaths of the 26 children.
Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission minister
As minister responsible for Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission, Collins refused to answer questions regarding problems with the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission that created hardship for injured workers.
Defeat and post-political career
Collins ran for re-election in the 2015 election, but lost by 54 votes to Liberal Colin Holloway. Since that time, Collins has been a PC Party Caucus staffer, working as a research policy analyst.