John Ottenheimer Explained

John Ottenheimer
Birth Date:1953
Birth Place:St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
Assembly:Newfoundland and Labrador House of
Constituency Am:St. John's East
Term Start:1996
Term End:2007
Predecessor:Hubert Kitchen
Successor:Ed Buckingham
Office2:Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs of
Newfoundland and Labrador
Term Start2:March 14, 2006
Term End2:2007
Predecessor2:Tom Marshall
Successor2:Tom Hedderson
Office3:Minister of Health and Community Services of
Newfoundland and Labrador
Term Start3:October 1, 2004
Term End3:March 14, 2006
Predecessor3:Elizabeth Marshall
Successor3:Tom Osborne
Office4:Minister of Education of
Newfoundland and Labrador
Term Start4:November 6, 2003
Term End4:October 1, 2004
Predecessor4:Gerry Reid
Successor4:Tom Hedderson
Occupation:Educator and Lawyer

John Ottenheimer (born 1953) is a Canadian lawyer and politician in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Ottenheimer is a former Cabinet minister in the government of Danny Williams and represented the district of St. John's East for the Progressive Conservative Party from 1996 to 2007. He unsuccessfully ran for the leadership of the Progressive Conservatives in 2014 losing to Paul Davis.

Between 2003 and 2007, Ottenheimer served as the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, the Minister of Health and Community Services, and as the Minister of Education. He also briefly served as acting Minister of Municipal Affairs and acting Minister of Natural Resources. He left provincial politics in 2007 and was later appointed chairman of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro.[1]

Background

Ottenheimer was born in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1953. He is the younger half-brother of former Progressive Conservative leader and Canadian Senator Gerry Ottenheimer.[1] In 1974, he graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Education Degree. He would later receive a graduate diploma and his Masters of Education. After working as a high school teacher in St. John's and as a principal throughout the province, he decided to go back to school and become a lawyer. in 1982, Ottenheimer received his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Windsor. Ottenheimer practised law in St. John's; he was also a lecturer in property law at Cabot College and a lecturer in Law and Education at the Faculty of Education of Memorial University.[2] [3] His wife Helen Conway-Ottenheimer was elected in the 2019 provincial election in the district of Harbour Main.[4] [5]

Provincial politics

Opposition MHA

In the 1996 provincial election, Ottenheimer defeated Liberal incumbent Hubert Kitchen in the district of St. John's East, winning the seat for the Progressive Conservatives.[6] His win came despite the Liberals winning an overwhelming majority government and the PC Party losing seven seats from the previous election.[7] Ottenheimer was easily re-elected in the district in the 1999 general election.[8] From 1996 to 2003, Ottenheimer served in opposition and was a critic for a number of ministries. Ottenheimer had considered running for the party's leadership following the 1996 and 1999 general elections, but did not enter either race.[9] [10]

Minister of Education

Ottenheimer was re-elected in the 2003 provincial election and the Progressive Conservatives won a majority government under Danny Williams. Weeks after the election Williams appointed Ottenheimer as the province's Minister of Education.[11] In February 2004, Ottenheimer confirmed that the provincial government would maintain the post-secondary education tuition freeze. The PC Party had committed to maintaining the freeze in their 2003 election platform but following a review of the province's finances the new government began to make sweeping budgetary cuts.[12] [13]

Minister of Health and Community Services

On October 1, 2004, Ottenheimer was named minister of Health and Community Services, succeeding Elizabeth Marshall who quit the post after a public dispute with Williams over his management style.[14] [15]

In October 2005, it was reported that Eastern Health, the province's largest health authority, was reviewing breast cancer tests dating back to 1997. The health authority later announced that between 1997 and 2005 over 400 women received inaccurate test results. The incident led the provincial government to call a judicial commission of inquiry into the conduct of Eastern Health. The Cameron Inquiry began in May 2007 and finished hearing testimony in October 2008. Ottenheimer was questioned at the inquiry in March 2008, about his role in the matter. Prior to Ottenheimer's testimony, it was reported that he had found out about the error in the testings on July 19, 2005, several months before it was reported in the media.[16] Ottenheimer stated that he had wanted to go public with the information when he found out but was advised by officials at Eastern Health not to.[17]

In March 2005, Ottenheimer blacked out on an airplane en route to Gander and had a pacemaker installed later in the day. The incident led to Ottenheimer taking a two-month leave of absence from cabinet.[18] [19]

Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs

On March 16, 2006, Ottenheimer was appointed Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. The move to the less demanding portfolio was a result of the health issues he faced the previous year. Ottenheimer said he needed a lifestyle change and had spoken to Williams the week prior to the shuffle about his health.[19]

On June 15, 2007, Ottenheimer announced he would not be seeking re-election in that year's provincial election.[20]

Federal politics

On March 30, 2011, Ottenheimer announced that he would be the Conservative Party of Canada candidate in the district of Random—Burin—St. George's in the 2011 federal election.[21] He was defeated by Liberal incumbent Judy Foote, receiving 8,322 votes.[22]

Leadership bid

Ottenheimer unsuccessfully ran for the leadership of the provincial Progressive Conservatives in 2014, losing to Paul Davis.[23] He subsequently decided against running for the federal Conservative nomination in Avalon for the 2015 election.[24] Davis subsequently appointed Ottenheimer to head the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. He was termination without cause from the NL Housing Corp. in 2016 following the Liberals forming government.[25] In 2018, he returned to law joining the Morrow, Morrow & Crosbie firm in Bay Roberts.[26]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ottenheimer tapped for Hydro chair. 8 October 2014. 18 December 2007. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
  2. Web site: Exemplifying Service to the Community. University of Windsor. 1 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20120416105024/http://www1.uwindsor.ca/alumni/john-ottenheimer-llb-82. 16 April 2012.
  3. Web site: Premier Williams announces new Cabinet appointments. Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. 17 June 2014. 1 October 2004.
  4. Web site: Crocker, Parsons hold Liberal seats in Conception Bay North; PCs take Harbour Main district. The Northern Pen. 16 May 2019. 15 March 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20190517055641/https://www.northernpen.ca/news/regional/nl-votes-crocker-parsons-hold-liberal-seats-in-conception-bay-north-pcs-take-harbour-main-district-312738/. 17 May 2019.
  5. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/defeated-incumbents-1.5139759 "Cabinet ministers Letto and Hawkins among 9 defeated Liberals"
  6. Web site: St. John's East District Profile. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 18 June 2014.
  7. News: Mcilroy. Anne. Tobin triumphs in Nfld. Conservative leader Verge loses in her riding. The Gazette. 23 February 1996. A10.
  8. Web site: Report of the Chief Electoral Officer on the General Election for the Forty-Fourth General Assembly February 9, 1999. Elections Newfoundland and Labrador. 18 June 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140413142704/http://www.elections.gov.nl.ca/elections/ElectionReports/PDF/General.Elections/GEreport1999.pdf. 13 April 2014. dead.
  9. News: Wickens. Barbara. Few want to fight Tobin. MacLeans. 22 December 1997. 10.
  10. News: Barron. Tracey. Tories consider reach for the top. The Telegram. 27 June 2000.
  11. Web site: Premier and Cabinet sworn in to form new government in Newfoundland and Labrador. Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. 18 June 2014. 6 November 2003.
  12. News: Nfld. budget cuts projects, 4,000 jobs. 20 July 2014. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 30 March 2004.
  13. News: Tuition freeze to be maintained for next year. The Telegram. 12 February 2004. A4.
  14. Web site: Premier Williams announces new Cabinet appointments. Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. 21 July 2014. 1 October 2004.
  15. News: Marshall resigns over Williams' management. 21 July 2014. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 27 September 2004.
  16. News: Chronology of events in flawed breast cancer tests in N.L.. 28 July 2014. The Toronto Star. 3 March 2009.
  17. News: Update: Ottenheimer said he was advised by experts not to go public in July 2005 about botched hormone receptor tests. 15 March 2024. The Telegram. 31 March 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20140809210512/http://www.thetelegram.com/Living/2008-03-31/article-1453754/Update-Ottenheimer-said-he-was-advised-by-experts-not-to-go-public-in-July-2005-about-botched-hormone-receptor-tests/1. 9 August 2014.
  18. News: Newfoundland health minister recovering. 21 July 2014. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 30 March 2005.
  19. News: Osborne replaces Ottenheimer in health portfolio. 21 July 2014. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 14 March 2006.
  20. News: Time to step down, Ottenheimer says. 21 July 2014. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 15 June 2007.
  21. News: Voters warming to Harper: Ottenheimer. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 30 March 2011. 25 May 2018.
  22. News: Innu leader delivers Conservatives from N.L. shutout. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 3 May 2011. 8 October 2014.
  23. News: Paul Davis wins PC leadership, becomes premier-designate. 17 January 2015. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 13 September 2014.
  24. Web site: John Ottenheimer out, Ches Crosbie uncontested so far for Avalon. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 15 January 2015. 17 January 2015.
  25. Web site: $45K severance as John Ottenheimer fired as head of N.L. Housing CBC News.
  26. Web site: John Ottenheimer returning to law with Conception Bay North firm SaltWire.