It should hardly be news to anyone reading this blog, but south-coast Labrador MHA Yvonne Jones is back in full swing now. Yvonne's recent participation in the campaign leading up to today's bielection marked her return to full form... and then some.
Yvonne has always been a determined individual and one not to be messed with. Her list of political and personal triumphs are perhaps best summed up in this: She's a cancer survivor and the last one standing from the Liberal wars of the past decade.
Yvonne is no shrinking violet and I am certain will show all in our House of Assembly and those who are watching who the strongest woman or man in NL politics is...
Some recent words of praise:
From Peter Whittle at Polemic & Paradox
Yvonne Jones is returning to politics with a zeal, and purpose, that I do not think she possessed before, or at least has not shown in sometime. She thrives as the underdog. Ask Danny Dumeresque who underestimated her and found himself defeated in one of the safest liberal seats in the House of Assembly by an independent as the Tobin tidal wave rolled over the province. She transformed her Independent win into a seat at the cabinet table and circumstances have placed her at the head of the Liberal Party.
My recent comment on Peter's post...
I have long admired and respected Yvonne Jones and wish we had more like her (of either gender).
Yvonne is in her position because of her character and persistence, not because of her gender. I only mention this because I hear a lot of sheepishly laughed comments from members of the old boys' club talking about how it's now high time we had more women in politics because they're women.
That's the same as holding them down because they're women. When will society shed such patronizing attitudes and just measure individuals on the content of their character?
I'm not holding my breath.
From VOCM news...
Yvonne Jones says she will be back in the House of Assembly when it opens for the spring sitting. The Liberal leader missed the fall sitting, as she was undergoing cancer treatment.
Jones was in the district of Humber West this weekend in advance of Tuesday's by-election. She says it is great to be back to work and says she is feeling good after a six-month long break. She says she has been wanting to return to work for some time.
And from
The TelegramIn an exclusive interview with The Telegram, Jones said it’s been tough sitting on the sidelines through the Muskrat Falls announcement, the resignation of former premier Danny Williams and the fall sitting of the House of Assembly. She’s not prepared to sit on the sidelines any longer.
“This is the biggest year of my political career,” Jones said.
Two weeks after her last chemotherapy treatment, Jones is back in the Opposition office for meetings and this weekend she’ll be in Corner Brook to campaign for Mark Watton in the Humber West byelection.
I like this next bit... What she likes best is serving other people. Those words would rign hollow from someone else, but from Yvonne? As sincere as can be.
When she makes it back into the House of Assembly it won’t just be health care that Jones wants to push.
“We’ve had the highest revenues in our history, and now we’re still forecasting deficits in the years to come,” she said. “We have people all over the province who feel that they have never gotten an adequate share of that wealth.
“In my opinion, there’s some accountability that this government needs to own up to, and my job is going to be to insure that they do that.”
This is expected to be a pivotal year for the Liberal Party, and for politics in the province.
She said with so much going on, there were days when she wished things could have been different; that the cancer hadn’t gotten in her way.
“But at the same time, you know, everybody is dealt a certain part in life and given challenges,” she said.
“Did I ever consider leaving politics? Never.
“Serving people is what I enjoy doing most.”