Jim Dinn
Canadian politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James Gerard Dinn[2] (born c. 1960) is a Canadian politician who was elected to the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly in the 2019 provincial election.[3] He represents the electoral district of St. John's Centre as a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party. He was re-elected in the 2021 and 2025 provincial elections.[4]
.jpg)
Jim Dinn | |
|---|---|
| |
| Leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party | |
| Assumed office March 28, 2023 Interim: October 19, 2021 – March 28, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Alison Coffin |
| House Leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party | |
| In office April 2021 – October 19, 2021 | |
| Succeeded by | Jordan Brown |
| Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly for St. John's Centre | |
| Assumed office May 16, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Gerry Rogers |
| President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association | |
| In office 2013–2017 | |
| Preceded by | Lily B. Cole |
| Succeeded by | Dean Ingram |
| President of the Salmonid Association of Eastern Newfoundland | |
| In office 2008–2018 | |
| Succeeded by | Jim McCarthy |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1960 (age 65–66)[1] |
| Party | New Democratic Party |
| Spouse | Michelle |
| Relations | Paul Dinn (brother) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Memorial University of Newfoundland (BA, B.Ed), Mount Saint Vincent University (M.Ed) |
| Occupation | Teacher |
Dinn also served as president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association (2013-2017)[5][6][7] and had also served on the executive board of the Canadian Teachers' Federation. He also served as president of the Salmonid Association of Eastern Newfoundland.[8] Dinn did his teaching internship at Netteswell Comprehensive School in England and later taught at Holy Heart of Mary Regional High School.[2]
Political career
Dinn won the NDP nomination in St. John's Centre ahead of the 2019 election after incumbent MHA Gerry Rogers opted not to seek re-elected. He defeated his nearest opponent, PC candidate and former city councilor Jonathan Galgay, by more than 900 votes. Dinn earned the highest vote share of any NDP candidate.[9][10]
In November 2019, Jim Dinn and his brother, fellow MHA Paul Dinn, both endorsed a Liberal proposal to use highway cameras to reduce speeding. Paul Dinn spoke about their brother Mike who was killed in 2009 while cycling.[11]
Leader of the NDP (2021–present)
Interim leader (2021–2023)
On October 19, 2021, he was named interim leader of the New Democratic Party, following the resignation of Alison Coffin.[12] In 2022, the NDP caucus grew after former PC MHA Lela Evans joined the party.[13][14]
Dinn and his party were the only political party in Newfoundland and Labrador that opposed the Bay du Nord offshore oil project and instead called for the province to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. Following the announcement that the project had been approved by the federal government in April 2022, Dinn called it "bittersweet".[15] He praised the project for the benefits that it would provide for many workers and their families while also claiming that the provincial and federal governments were ignoring the impacts of climate change.
In March 2022, Dinn praised the confidence and supply agreement between the federal NDP and the Liberal Party of Canada.[16]
Permanent leader (2023–present)
Dinn initially rejected the possibility of running for the role of NDP leader, instead preferring to only serve in an interim capacity. However, Dinn expressed interest in running for permanent leadership in early 2023.[17]
On February 16, 2023, Dinn announced that he would run for the role of permanent leader.[18]
On March 28, 2023, Dinn was acclaimed as permanent leader after the nomination deadline passed with no other candidates.[19]
Dinn was re-elected in the 2025 Newfoundland and Labrador general election.[20]
Electoral results
| 2025 Newfoundland and Labrador general election: St. John's Centre | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| New Democratic | Jim Dinn | 2,398 | 62.16 | +9.78 | ||||
| Liberal | Gemma Hickey | 1,003 | 26.00 | -7.60 | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Ben Duggan | 457 | 11.85 | -2.18 | ||||
| Total valid votes | 3,858 | |||||||
| Total rejected ballots | ||||||||
| Turnout | ||||||||
| Eligible voters | ||||||||
| New Democratic hold | Swing | +8.69 | ||||||
| [21] | ||||||||
| 2021 Newfoundland and Labrador general election: St. John's Centre | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| New Democratic | Jim Dinn | 1,991 | 52.38 | +5.45 | ||||
| Liberal | Gemma Hickey | 1,277 | 33.60 | +8.06 | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Robyn LeGrow | 533 | 14.02 | -13.51 | ||||
| Total valid votes | 3,801 | 99.01 | ||||||
| Total rejected ballots | 38 | 0.99 | ||||||
| Turnout | 3,839 | 38.92 | ||||||
| Eligible voters | 9,864 | |||||||
| New Democratic hold | Swing | -1.30 | ||||||
Source(s)
"Officially Nominated Candidates General Election 2021" (PDF). Elections Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved 3 March 2021. "NL Election 2021 (Unofficial Results)". Retrieved 27 March 2021. | ||||||||