Ed Finn

Edward (Ed) Finn Jr. (June 4, 1926 – December 27, 2020) was a Canadian trade unionist and journalist, editor, author and former Newfoundland politician. He was the leader of the Newfoundland Democratic Party and the first leader of the Newfoundland New Democratic Party.

Early years Finn was born in Spaniard's Bay, Newfoundland and raised in Corner Brook. His father worked at the Bowater's paper mill during the Great Depression. In 1942, Finn joined his father at the paper mill at the age of 16 and worked there for four years. He went into journalism working for Corner Brook's local newspaper, The Western Star from 1946 to 1953, when he went to work for the Montreal Gazette for two years before returning to the Western Star in 1955 as editor.

Newfoundland Premier Joey Smallwood responded to the labour dispute by introducing legislation to decertify the International Woodworkers of America.

Finn, as editor of the Western Star, war ordered by the newspaper's publishers to report only the company's and government's side of the dispute. As a result, Finn and three other journalists quit the newspaper.

He died of pneumonia at age 94 on December 27, 2020.