{{Short description|Canadian politician}} {{Use Canadian English|date=September 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | image = <!-- only free-content images are allowed for depicting living people - see WP:NONFREE --> | honorific_prefix = The Honourable | name = Darin King | caption = | honorific_suffix = Ph.D., MHA | birth_date = | birth_place = Grand Bank, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada | office = Minister of Justice, Minister Responsible for the Research and Development Corporation, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture, And Rural Development, And Government House Leader of <br />Newfoundland and Labrador | term_start = 19 October 2012 | term_end = 14 December 2015 | predecessor = Felix Collins | successor = Andrew Parsons | office1 = Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture of <br />Newfoundland and Labrador | term_start1 = 28 October 2011 | term_end1 = 19 October 2012 | predecessor1 = Clyde Jackman | successor1 = Derrick Dalley | assembly2 = Newfoundland and Labrador House of | constituency_AM2 = Grand Bank | term_start2 = 1 November 2007 | term_end2 = 27 November 2015 | predecessor2 = Judy Foote | successor2 = ''District Abolished'' | office4 = Minister of Education of Newfoundland and Labrador | term_start4 = 2009 | term_end4 = 2011 | predecessor4 = Joan Burke | successor4 = Joan Burke | office3 = Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, Minister Responsible for the NL Housing Corporation, Minister Responsible for the status of persons with Disabilities, Minister Responsible for youth Engagement, And Deputy Government House leader <br />Newfoundland and Labrador | term_start3 = January 2011 | term_end3 = 28 October 2011 | predecessor3 = Joan Burke (acting) | successor3 = ''Department eliminated'' | party = Progressive Conservative | spouse = Colleen King | occupation = School Administrator | website = }}
'''Darin King''' {{post-nominals|country=CAN|MHA}} (born 17 August 1966) is a former Canadian politician in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. He served as the Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development as well as the Minister of Justice and Public Safety in the provincial cabinet, and was the Member of the House of Assembly (MHA) for the district of Grand Bank.
King was elected to the House of Assembly in the 2007 provincial election and was re-elected in 2011. He previously held the posts of Minister of Education, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture and Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment. Prior to entering politics, King was director of education for the Eastern School District of Newfoundland and Labrador, the province's largest school district.<ref>{{cite news|title=Incoming MHA stepping down as Eastern School District boss|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/incoming-mha-stepping-down-as-eastern-school-district-boss-1.682780|accessdate=26 May 2018|newspaper=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=17 October 2007}}</ref>
==Background==
===Early life and education=== King was born in Grand Bank, Newfoundland and Labrador and raised in the community of Fortune on Newfoundland's Burin Peninsula.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.darinking.ca/about.php |title=About Darin - darinking.ca |access-date=2010-12-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130830201121/http://darinking.ca/about.php |archive-date=2013-08-30 |url-status=dead |df= }}</ref> He attended Memorial University of Newfoundland where he was awarded a Bachelor of Education degree and a diploma in School Resources Services. He went on to study at Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia where he earned a Master of Education degree. King also has a Business Ph.D, in human resource, from Northcentral University in Arizona.<ref>{{cite web|title=House of Assembly - Darin King|url=http://www.assembly.nl.ca/members/cms/memberdetail.asp?MemberID=56|publisher=Government of Newfoundland and Labrador|accessdate=29 October 2011}}</ref>
King has lived most of his life in Grand Bank but he now resides in Conception Bay South with his wife Colleen and their two teenage children, Mitchell and Kate.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/News/Canada/NL/Web_Exclusive/1303113032/ID=1706681741|title= King Out |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=22 December 2010|accessdate=20 August 2011}}</ref>
===Professional life=== King taught at all levels in the K-12 school system and went on to work for five years as a school administrator. After this he worked with the Burin Peninsula School Board where he spent four years as the assistant director of education (programs) and another two years as the associate assistant director (human resources). King joined the newly created Eastern School District in 2004 as the assistant director of education (programs) and he eventually became the CEO/Director of Education with the school board.<ref name="about">{{cite web|title=About Darin King|url=http://www.darinking.ca/about.php|publisher=Darin King's Official Website|accessdate=29 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130830201121/http://darinking.ca/about.php|archive-date=2013-08-30|url-status=dead|df=}}</ref>
In addition to his professional experience, King is active in numerous sports and community organizations. He is a past chair of the Grand Bank Recreation Commission, a former board member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Parks and Recreation Association, and a past chair of the Grand Bank Development Corporation.<ref name="about"/>
==Politics== In May 2003, King defeated Gordon Dunphy to win the Progressive Conservative Party (PC) nomination in the district of Grand Bank for that year's provincial election. The Progressive Conservatives won the October 2003, election but King was narrowly defeated by the Liberal Party incumbent, Judy Foote, by a margin of 43 votes.<ref>{{cite web|title=District Profile - Grand Bank 2003|url=http://www.cbc.ca/nlvotes2003/riding/017/|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=29 October 2011}}</ref> In 2007, King was acclaimed as the PC candidate in Grand Bank and was granted special leave by the Eastern School District until that October's election.<ref>{{cite news|title=School board boss re-enters political ring|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/school-board-boss-re-enters-political-ring-1.687340|accessdate=26 May 2018|newspaper=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=27 July 2007}}</ref> Foote did not seek re-election in 2007, and King won 80 per cent of the vote in the provincial election.<ref>{{cite news|last=Herridge|first=Paul|title=King crowned MHA in Grand Bank|url=http://www.southerngazette.ca/News/2007-10-16/article-1519955/King-crowned-MHA-in-Grand-Bank/1|accessdate=21 April 2013|newspaper=The Southern Gazette|date=16 October 2007}}</ref> Following the election King became the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Education.<ref>{{cite news|title=Premier Announces the Appointment of New Cabinet|url=http://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2007/exec/1030n02.htm|accessdate=29 October 2011|newspaper=Government of Newfoundland and Labrador|date=30 October 2007}}</ref> He also served on the House of Assembly Social Services and Public Accounts Committees.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Darin|url=http://www.darinking.ca/about.php|publisher=DarinKing.ca|accessdate=21 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130830201121/http://darinking.ca/about.php|archive-date=2013-08-30|url-status=dead|df=}}</ref>
===Minister of Education=== On 9 April 2009, King was sworn in as Minister of Education, succeeding Joan Burke.<ref>{{cite news|title=Burke moved out of education portfolio in small cabinet shuffle|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/burke-moved-out-of-education-portfolio-in-small-cabinet-shuffle-1.802692|accessdate=8 April 2014|newspaper=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=9 April 2009}}</ref> King faced criticism from the deaf and hard of hearing communities in the Summer of 2010, when he announced that the Newfoundland School for the Deaf would not be reopening in September. The school's enrollment had steadily declined over the years due to advancements in medicine and technology and no students were set to attend the school.<ref>{{cite news|title=Newfoundland School for the Deaf to close|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/newfoundland-school-for-the-deaf-to-close-1.875906|accessdate=8 April 2014|newspaper=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=2 August 2010}}</ref> Students, former students and their parents spoke out against the closing of the school and several students said that government was forcing them to attend public schools.<ref>{{cite news|title=Don't shut N.L. deaf school: graduate|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/don-t-shut-n-l-deaf-school-graduate-1.941251|accessdate=26 May 2018|newspaper=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=3 August 2010}}</ref>
===Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment=== On 13 January 2011, premier Kathy Dunderdale shuffled King out of the Education portfolio, replacing him with his predecessor Burke. King was appointed the Minister of Human, Resources, Labour and Employment. King was also minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities, the Labour Relations Agency, Youth Engagement and the NL Housing Corporation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/rookie-tapped-for-dunderdale-cabinet-1.984222|title=Rookie tapped for Dunderdale cabinet |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=13 January 2011|accessdate=8 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Herridge|first=Paul|title=King shuffled|url=http://www.southerngazette.ca/News/2011-01-18/article-2122456/King-shuffled/1|accessdate=21 April 2013|newspaper=Southern Gazette|date=18 January 2011}}</ref>
===Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture=== King was re-elected in October 2011, and was appointed as the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.<ref>{{cite news|last=Herridge|first=Paul|title=Four more years for King in Grand Bank|url=http://www.southerngazette.ca/News/2011-10-12/article-2774426/Four-more-years-for-King-in-Grand-Bank/1|accessdate=21 April 2013|newspaper=The Southern Gazette|date=12 October 2013}}</ref> The portfolio is among the highest ranking in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is often quite difficult. Former minister Clyde Jackman, who was moved to Education, had faced numerous controversies during his time as Fisheries Minister, and during the provincial election Dunderdale had spoken about there being overcapacity in the fishing industry.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dunderdale unveils leaner cabinet|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/dunderdale-unveils-leaner-cabinet-1.1000981|accessdate=21 April 2013|newspaper=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=26 May 2018}}</ref>
In November 2011, provincial government-appointed auditors backed up claims by Ocean Choice International (OCI) that they were losing millions of dollars each year operating the Marystown fish plant.<ref>{{cite news|title=Marystown plant money-losing operation: external audit|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/marystown-plant-money-losing-operation-external-audit-1.1067880|accessdate=26 May 2018|newspaper=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=25 November 2011}}</ref> On 2 December 2011, the company announced that they would permanently close their Marystown and Port Union fish processing plants and invest money into other plants throughout the province.<ref name="fish">{{cite news|title=Marystown, Port Union plants closed permanently|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/marystown-port-union-plants-closed-permanently-1.995368|accessdate=26 May 2018|newspaper=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=2 December 2011}}</ref> The following week OCI asked the provincial government for an exemption to export unprocessed fish in return for nearly doubling the workforce at the company's plant in Fortune. King reacted positively to the proposed idea and said the government would consider it.<ref>{{cite news|title=OCI plan would see year-round jobs at Fortune|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/oci-plan-would-see-year-round-jobs-at-fortune-1.1035457|accessdate=26 May 2018|newspaper=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=9 December 2011}}</ref> Negotiations on a deal would become tense, King criticized the company for using 'pressure tactics' to try to get a deal. OCI said that they were in damage control all around the world because of King's comments.<ref>{{cite news|title=OCI hurt by minister's comments, company says|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/oci-hurt-by-minister-s-comments-company-says-1.1145226|accessdate=26 May 2018|newspaper=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=9 January 2012}}</ref> In February 2012, King rejected a proposal by the company saying that it was not in the best interest of the province.<ref>{{cite news|title=OCI processing request rejected|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/oci-processing-request-rejected-1.1256011|accessdate=26 May 2018|newspaper=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=9 February 2012}}</ref> The deal was also controversial among the fish plant workers in Fortune and their union. Fish plant workers voted unanimously to allow for the export of fish in return for full-time work, while the Fish, Food and Allied Workers union (FFAW) were opposed to exporting fish.<ref>{{cite news|title=Furious Fortune workers fight back against own union|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/furious-fortune-workers-fight-back-against-own-union-1.1242321|accessdate=26 May 2018|newspaper=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=22 October 2012}}</ref> King was shuffled out of the Fisheries portfolio and replaced by Derrick Dalley before a decision was reached. On 21 December 2012, Dalley announced the government would allow OCI to ship 75 per cent of its yellowtail flounder quota overseas for processing, along with 100 per cent of its redfish quota. In return a total of 236 year-round jobs, between the Fortune fish plant and on company vessels at sea, for at least five years.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bartlett|first=Dave|title=Province, OCI reach deal on yellowtail|url=http://www.southerngazette.ca/News/2012-12-22/article-3146233/Province-OCI-reach-deal-on-yellowtail/1|accessdate=21 April 2013|newspaper=The Southern Gazette|date=22 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022150539/http://www.southerngazette.ca/News/2012-12-22/article-3146233/Province-OCI-reach-deal-on-yellowtail/1|archive-date=22 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In February 2012, King announced that effective immediately he would be freezing funding to the FFAW. He cited the union's criticism of the provincial government as the reason for the move. King stated 'No matter what we do in this province, the FFAW are more concerned with their own self-interest than they are with the interests of the industry.'<ref>{{cite news|title=King freezes funding to FFAW, citing criticism of province|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/king-freezes-funding-to-ffaw-citing-criticism-of-province-1.1186478|accessdate=26 May 2018|newspaper=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=28 February 2012}}</ref>
===Minister of Justice and Government House Leader=== On 19 October 2012, King was sworn in as the Minister of Justice, Government House Leader, and Minister Responsible for the Labour Relations Agency.<ref>{{cite news|last=Macvicar|first=George|title=King shuffled out of fisheries portfolio|url=http://www.southerngazette.ca/News/2012-10-19/article-3103439/King-shuffled-out-of-fisheries-portfolio/1|accessdate=21 April 2013|newspaper=The Southern Gazette|date=19 October 2013}}</ref>
Following the 2013 provincial budget, which saw major funding cuts throughout government, King and the government came under fire for cuts made to the Department of Justice. The government faced backlash from members of the legal community and the public over cuts and lay offs.<ref>{{cite news|title=Prosecutor layoffs will harm justice system, lawyer says|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/prosecutor-layoffs-will-harm-justice-system-lawyer-says-1.1365543|accessdate=26 May 2018|newspaper=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=27 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Justice system delays predicted to become more common|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/justice-system-delays-predicted-to-become-more-common-1.1375079|accessdate=26 May 2018|newspaper=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=2 April 2013}}</ref> Despite this King reassured the public that services would not be jeopardized and that people were overreacting to the cuts.<ref>{{cite news|title=Union statements misleading, justice minister says|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/union-statements-misleading-justice-minister-says-1.1375077|accessdate=26 May 2018|newspaper=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=3 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Justice minister says critics jumping the gun on cuts|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/justice-minister-says-critics-jumping-the-gun-on-cuts-1.1384416|accessdate=26 May 2018|newspaper=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=4 April 2013}}</ref> However, ten days after the budget was released King announced he had established a committee to review the cuts within his department.<ref>{{cite news|title=Government to reassess justice cuts|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/government-to-reassess-justice-cuts-1.1334921|accessdate=26 May 2018|newspaper=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=5 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Cochrane|first=David|title=On Point {{!}} Cutting the courts|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/on-point-cutting-the-courts-1.1334918|accessdate=26 May 2018|newspaper=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=7 April 2013}}</ref> The committee met for just one day before King announced he would be reversing many of the budget cuts. Employees that had been laid off following the budget would be re-instated, and some vacant positions would be filled. While King said he took 100 per cent of the credit for the cuts being made, he said the reversal showed that government was willing to listen.<ref>{{cite news|title=Many justice cuts repealed after judges, lawyers file appeals|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/many-justice-cuts-repealed-after-judges-lawyers-file-appeals-1.1320080|accessdate=26 May 2018|newspaper=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=11 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Justice cuts rolled back|url=http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Local/2013-04-12/article-3218629/Justice-cuts-rolled-back/1|accessdate=22 April 2013|newspaper=The Telegram|date=12 April 2013}}</ref>
===Leadership aspirations=== King has been seen as possible leadership candidate for the Progressive Conservatives since entering politics and following the resignation of Premier Danny Williams in December 2010 he stated that he may run to succeed him.<ref>{{cite news|title=Possible PC leader candidate list growing|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/possible-pc-leader-candidate-list-growing-1.887968|access-date=15 October 2011|newspaper=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=7 December 2010}}</ref> On 22 December 2010, King announced that he would not be seeking the leadership of the party at this time due to his young family and that he would be encouraging Premier Kathy Dunderdale to run for the leadership of the party on a permanent basis.<ref>{{cite news|title=2 key ministers skip PC race|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/2-key-ministers-skip-pc-race-1.913264|accessdate=26 May 2018|newspaper=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=22 December 2010}}</ref>
==Retirement== King did not run for re-election in the 2015 provincial election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/darin-king-veteran-pc-minister-announces-retirement-from-politics-1.3233496|title=Darin King, veteran PC minister, announces retirement from politics|publisher=CBC News|date=18 September 2015|accessdate=26 May 2018}}</ref> He subsequently served as Executive Director for the Newfoundland and Labrador Building and Construction Trades Council from 2015 to 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vocm.com/2024/07/30/darin-king-leaving-trades-nl-after-nine-years/|title=Darin King Leaving Trades NL After Nine Years|publisher=VOCM News|date=July 30, 2024|accessdate=September 12, 2024}}</ref>
===Federal politics=== On September 12, 2024, King announced that he is seeking the federal conservative nomination in Terra Nova—The Peninsulas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/conservative-terra-nova-1.7321002|title=2 seek nomination for Poilievre's Conservatives in Terra Nova-The Peninsulas|publisher=CBC News|date=September 12, 2024|accessdate=September 12, 2024}}</ref> King dropped out of the nomination race before it was called.
==Electoral history== {{2011 Newfoundland and Labrador general election/Grand Bank}}
{{Election box begin | title=2007 Newfoundland and Labrador general election<ref name=cbcnews>{{cite web|title=Grand Bank District Profile 2007|url=http://www.cbc.ca/nlvotes2007/riding/017/|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=15 October 2011}}</ref> }} |- {{CANelec |NL |PC |Darin King |3563 |80.03% |+31.5}} |- {{CANelec|NL|Liberal|Rod Cake|889|19.97%|-29.35}} |}
{{Election box begin | title=2003 Newfoundland and Labrador general election<ref name=cbcnews2>{{cite web|title=Grand Bank District Profile 2003|url=http://www.cbc.ca/nlvotes2003/riding/017/|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=15 October 2011}}</ref> }} |- {{CANelec|NL|Liberal|Judy Foote|3101|49.32%|-20.86}} |- {{CANelec |NL |PC |Darin King |3058 |48.53% |+28.24}} |- {{Canadian party colour|NL|NDP|row}} |NDP |Bill Wakeley |align="right"|136 |align="right"|2.15% |align="right"|-7.37 |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Twitter}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:King, Darin}} Category:Members of the Executive Council of Newfoundland and Labrador Category:Living people Category:Canadian educators Category:Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador MHAs Category:People from Conception Bay South Category:Memorial University of Newfoundland alumni Category:Saint Mary's University (Halifax) alumni Category:People from Grand Bank Category:1966 births Category:21st-century members of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly Category:People from Fortune, Newfoundland and Labrador Category:Ministers of labour of Newfoundland and Labrador