Tom Osborne

Thomas Osborne Jr. (born September 20, 1964) is a politician in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. He represented the district of Waterford Valley in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 1996 to 2024. He was a member of the Liberal Party, a former member of the Progressive Conservative Party, and a former Minister in Danny Williams' first cabinet. He served as Minister of Health and Community Services, and Minister of Education in the Furey government. He was Speaker of the House of Assembly from 2015 to 2017. In 2025 he won the federal seat of Cape Spear and became an MP.

At the time of his retirement from provincial politics, Osborne was the province's longest consecutively-serving MHA having been in the House of Assembly from 1996 to 2024.

Politics Prior to entering politics Osborne worked for Statistics Canada, Small Business Enterprise, and with the Penney Group of Companies. Born in St. John's on September 20, 1964, he is the son Tom and former Newfoundland MHA Sheila Osborne.

Opposition Osborne was first elected to the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly in the 1996 provincial election in the district of St. John's South. The election resulted in a landslide victory for Brian Tobin's Liberals and Osborne was one of only nine Progressive Conservatives elected. Osborne was re-elected in the 1999 election and though the PC's had gained 5 seats the Liberals still won a large majority government.

In government With the victory of the Progressive Conservatives in the 2003 election Premier Danny Williams appointed Osborne to Cabinet as the Minister responsible for Environment and Labour. On February 20, 2004 Government announced a restructuring of departments, which saw the creation of the new Department of Environment and Conservation, which Osborne remained minister of.

On March 14, 2006, Osborne became Minister of Health and Community Services succeeding John Ottenheimer. During his time as Minister of Health more information on errors in hormone receptor breast cancer testing were coming to light. The errors eventually led to the Commission of Inquiry on Hormone Receptor Testing.

In January 2007, with the announcement that several cabinet Ministers would not be seeking re-election in that October's general election Williams shuffled his Cabinet. Osborne was assigned the Justice portfolio taking over for Paul Shelley who was retiring from politics in October.

With the re-election of the Progressive Conservatives in 2007, Osborne was replaced as Justice Minister by Jerome Kennedy. Williams announced he would be nominating Osborne to serve as Deputy Chair of Committees in the House of Assembly and on November 1, 2007, he was confirmed to serve as Deputy Chair of Committees in the House of Assembly.

In 2008, Osborne testified at the Commission of Inquiry on Hormone Receptor Testing and was asked about his time as Minister of Health.

He was re-elected in the 2011 general election.

Opposition In September 2012, Osborne resigned from the Progressive Conservative party citing the leadership of Premier Kathy Dunderdale and began sitting as an Independent. On August 29, 2013, Osborne joined the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Ball and Furey governments (2015-2024) In the 2015 election the Liberal Party won control of the House of Assembly and Osborne was chosen as Speaker. Following the resignation of Cathy Bennett, Osborne was appointed Minister of Finance in the Ball government on July 31, 2017. He was re-elected in the 2019 provincial election. On August 19, 2020, he was appointed Minister of Education in the Furey government.

He was re-elected in the 2021 provincial election. On July 6, 2022, he was appointed Minister of Health and Community Services. On May 24, 2024, Osborne announced his retirement effective in July 2024. On July 5, 2024, Osborne resigned. The Waterford Valley provincial by-election was scheduled for August 22, 2024. On August 22, 2024, Liberal Jamie Korab won the provincial by-election.

Federal politics In March 2025, Osborne announced that he is seeking the federal Liberal nomination in Cape Spear. He won the nomination on March 21, defeating two other candidates. He was elected by a wide margin. On June 5, 2025, Osborne was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board.

Electoral record NDP Matthew Cooper

NDP Alison Coffin

NDP Keith Dunne

NDP Clyde Bridger

NDP Tom McGinnis

Dennis O'Keefe who ran as the Liberal candidate is not the same Dennis O'Keefe that was Mayor of St. John's; or the same Dennis O'Keeffe who was a professor of social science. NDP Judy Vanata

Independent Jason Crummey

NDP Sue Skipton

Independent Bill Maddigan