Cathy Bennett

Cathy Bennett

fixed infobox, minor copy edits

← Previous revision Revision as of 02:15, 19 April 2026
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{{Short description|Canadian politician}}{{For|the Irish politician|Cathy Bennett (Irish politician)}}
{{Short description|Canadian politician}}
{{For|the Irish politician|Cathy Bennett (Irish politician)}}


{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
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| name = Cathy Bennett
| name = Cathy Bennett
| image = Cathy-bennett.jpg
| image = Cathy-bennett.jpg
| caption = Bennett in April 2016.
| caption = Bennett in April 2016
| office = [[Executive Council of Newfoundland and Labrador|Minister of Finance, President of Treasury Board, Minister Responsible for the Human Resource Secretariat, Minister Responsible for the NL Liquor Corporation, Minister Responsible for the office of the chief information officer, and Minister Responsible for the public service commission of Newfoundland and Labrador]]
| office = [[Executive Council of Newfoundland and Labrador
| term_start = December 14, 2015
| term_start = December 14, 2015
| term_end = July 31, 2017
| term_end = July 31, 2017
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'''Cathy Bennett''' is a [[Canadians|Canadian]] businesswoman and politician in [[Newfoundland and Labrador]], Canada. She represented the electoral district of [[Virginia Waters (electoral district)|Virginia Waters]] in the [[Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly]] from 2014 to 2018.
'''Cathy Bennett''' is a [[Canadians|Canadian]] businesswoman and politician in [[Newfoundland and Labrador]], Canada. She represented the electoral district of [[Virginia Waters (electoral district)|Virginia Waters]] in the [[Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly]] from 2014 to 2018.


Bennett was first elected in a 2014 by-election to succeed former Premier [[Kathy Dunderdale]], who had resigned earlier in the year. She defeated her [[Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador|Progressive Conservative]] opponent by 40 votes.{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/cathy-bennett-wins-virginia-waters-byelection-1.2604168|title=Cathy Bennett wins Virginia Waters byelection|access-date=April 9, 2014|publisher=[[CBC News]]}}
She was first elected in a 2014 by-election to succeed former Premier [[Kathy Dunderdale]], who had resigned earlier in the year. She defeated her [[Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador|Progressive Conservative]] opponent by 40 votes.{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/cathy-bennett-wins-virginia-waters-byelection-1.2604168|title=Cathy Bennett wins Virginia Waters byelection|access-date=April 9, 2014|publisher=[[CBC News]]}}


In 2013, Bennett [[2013 Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador leadership election|ran for the leadership]] of the [[Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador|Liberal Party]], coming in third. She served as Minister of Finance in the Ball government.
In 2013, Bennett [[2013 Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador leadership election|ran for the leadership]] of the [[Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador|Liberal Party]], coming in third. She served as Minister of Finance in the Ball government.
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Bennett received a [[High school (North America)|High School]] [[diploma]] in 1982.{{cite news|title=At the Top: From McJobs to Atlantic Canada advocacy|url= https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/management/from-mcjobs-to-atlantic-canada-advocacy/article12443479/|access-date=12 April 2016|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=9 June 2013}}
Bennett received a [[High school (North America)|High School]] [[diploma]] in 1982.{{cite news|title=At the Top: From McJobs to Atlantic Canada advocacy|url= https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/management/from-mcjobs-to-atlantic-canada-advocacy/article12443479/|access-date=12 April 2016|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=9 June 2013}}


Bennett is a prominent business person in Newfoundland, owning and operating numerous restaurants throughout the province. She was also a significant contributor and fundraiser for St. John's first [[Ronald McDonald House Charities|Ronald McDonald House]]. Bennett previously served as the chairperson of the St. John's Board of Trade and governor of the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council.{{cite news|url=http://cathybennett.ca/aboutcathy.html|title=About Cathy|access-date=April 23, 2014|publisher=CathyBennett.ca}}
Bennett is a prominent business person in Newfoundland, owning and operating numerous restaurants throughout the province. She was also a significant contributor and fundraiser for St. John's first [[Ronald McDonald House Charities|Ronald McDonald House]]. She previously served as the chairperson of the St. John's Board of Trade and governor of the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council.{{cite news|url=http://cathybennett.ca/aboutcathy.html|title=About Cathy|access-date=April 23, 2014|publisher=CathyBennett.ca}}


==Politics==
==Politics==
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On April 14, 2016 Bennett revealed the [[2016 Newfoundland and Labrador budget protests|provincial government's budget]] which implements [[Austerity|austerity measures]].{{cite web| url = http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/a-budget-to-drive-newfoundlanders-away/| title = A budget to drive Newfoundlanders away - Macleans.ca}} She criticized the high amount of spending by the government from 2003-15 led by the Progressive Conservative Party.{{cite web| url = http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/nl-budget-blame-game-begins-1.3530522| title = N.L. budget blame game begins {{!}} CBC News}}
On April 14, 2016 Bennett revealed the [[2016 Newfoundland and Labrador budget protests|provincial government's budget]] which implements [[Austerity|austerity measures]].{{cite web| url = http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/a-budget-to-drive-newfoundlanders-away/| title = A budget to drive Newfoundlanders away - Macleans.ca}} She criticized the high amount of spending by the government from 2003-15 led by the Progressive Conservative Party.{{cite web| url = http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/nl-budget-blame-game-begins-1.3530522| title = N.L. budget blame game begins {{!}} CBC News}}


Bennett resigned as Finance Minister on July 31, 2017. Bennett continued as a backbencher MHA from July 2017 until August 2018; most notably her involvement in the debate regarding bullying and harassment in the House of Assembly.{{cite web| url = http://www.thetelegram.com/news/local/cathy-bennett-to-resign-as-mha-231792/| title = Cathy Bennett to resign as MHA |work=The Telegram| access-date=11 February 2026 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807044758/http://www.thetelegram.com/news/local/cathy-bennett-to-resign-as-mha-231792/| archivedate=7 August 2018}} She resigned on August 21, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/ches-crosbie-windsor-lake-1.4775976|title=Party leaders spar over who should replace Cathy Bennett|publisher=CBC News|date=7 August 2018|access-date=9 August 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thetelegram.com/news/local/ball-crosbie-come-out-swinging-ahead-of-windsor-lake-byelection-ndp-meets-with-displaced-workers-232080/|title=Ball, Crosbie come out swinging ahead of Windsor Lake byelection; NDP meets with displaced workers|work=The Telegram|date=7 August 2018|access-date=11 February 2026|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180808123501/http://www.thetelegram.com/news/local/ball-crosbie-come-out-swinging-ahead-of-windsor-lake-byelection-ndp-meets-with-displaced-workers-232080/|archivedate=8 August 2018}}
Bennett resigned as Finance Minister on July 31, 2017. She continued as a backbencher MHA from July 2017 until August 2018; most notably her involvement in the debate regarding bullying and harassment in the House of Assembly.{{cite web| url = http://www.thetelegram.com/news/local/cathy-bennett-to-resign-as-mha-231792/| title = Cathy Bennett to resign as MHA |work=The Telegram| access-date=11 February 2026 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807044758/http://www.thetelegram.com/news/local/cathy-bennett-to-resign-as-mha-231792/| archivedate=7 August 2018}} She resigned on August 21, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/ches-crosbie-windsor-lake-1.4775976|title=Party leaders spar over who should replace Cathy Bennett|publisher=CBC News|date=7 August 2018|access-date=9 August 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thetelegram.com/news/local/ball-crosbie-come-out-swinging-ahead-of-windsor-lake-byelection-ndp-meets-with-displaced-workers-232080/|title=Ball, Crosbie come out swinging ahead of Windsor Lake byelection; NDP meets with displaced workers|work=The Telegram|date=7 August 2018|access-date=11 February 2026|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180808123501/http://www.thetelegram.com/news/local/ball-crosbie-come-out-swinging-ahead-of-windsor-lake-byelection-ndp-meets-with-displaced-workers-232080/|archivedate=8 August 2018}}


===Abuse in office===
===Abuse in office===


In a 2016 article in the National Observer, Bennett shared that she faces body-shaming and abuse from disappointed constituents.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalobserver.com/2016/12/12/news/body-shamed-threatened-and-bullied-finance-minister-exposes-online-abuse|title = Body shamed, threatened and bullied: Finance minister exposes online abuse|date = 12 December 2016}} Some of these constituents offered that the best solution to her policy would be kill herself or "All Newfoundlanders should put a bounty on her head. She is a witch." She is quoted saying,"Language that starts with the shaming and the insults and the verbal abuse is the beginning steps that lead to [physical violence]." In 2018, following the suspension of two cabinet ministers for harassment, Bennett stated that her resignation as Finance Minister in 2017 was due to bullying, isolation and [[gaslighting]] within the Liberal caucus and cabinet.{{cite web| url = http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/cathy-bennett-harassment-bullying-1.4642732| title = Cathy Bennett calls out bullying by Liberals; not in my cabinet, says Dwight Ball {{!}} CBC News}}
In a 2016 article in the ''National Observer'', Bennett shared that she faces body-shaming and abuse from disappointed constituents.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalobserver.com/2016/12/12/news/body-shamed-threatened-and-bullied-finance-minister-exposes-online-abuse|title = Body shamed, threatened and bullied: Finance minister exposes online abuse|date = 12 December 2016}} Some of these constituents offered that the best solution to her policy would be kill herself or "All Newfoundlanders should put a bounty on her head. She is a witch." She is quoted as saying, "Language that starts with the shaming and the insults and the verbal abuse is the beginning steps that lead to [physical violence]." In 2018, following the suspension of two cabinet ministers for harassment, Bennett stated that her resignation as Finance Minister in 2017 was due to bullying, isolation and [[gaslighting]] within the Liberal caucus and cabinet.{{cite web| url = http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/cathy-bennett-harassment-bullying-1.4642732| title = Cathy Bennett calls out bullying by Liberals; not in my cabinet, says Dwight Ball {{!}} CBC News}}


== Awards and honors ==
== Awards and honors ==
2013 CEO of the Year - Atlantic Business Magazine {{Cite web|title = 2013 Top 50 CEO Award Winners {{!}} Atlantic Business Magazine|url = http://www.atlanticbusinessmagazine.net/2013-winners/|website = www.atlanticbusinessmagazine.net|access-date =24 May 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911012724/http://www.atlanticbusinessmagazine.net/2013-winners/|archivedate=11 September 2014}}
* 2013 CEO of the Year - ''Atlantic Business Magazine''{{Cite web|title = 2013 Top 50 CEO Award Winners {{!}} Atlantic Business Magazine|url = http://www.atlanticbusinessmagazine.net/2013-winners/|website = www.atlanticbusinessmagazine.net|access-date =24 May 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911012724/http://www.atlanticbusinessmagazine.net/2013-winners/|archivedate=11 September 2014}}
* 2012 Top 25 Women of Influence{{Cite web|title = Women of Influence|url = http://www.womenofinfluence.ca/2012/08/23/2012-top-25-announcement/|access-date = 2015-10-29}}

2012 Top 25 Women of Influence{{Cite web|title = Women of Influence|url = http://www.womenofinfluence.ca/2012/08/23/2012-top-25-announcement/|access-date = 2015-10-29}}


== Electoral record ==
== Electoral record ==
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{{end}}
{{end}}


{{Election box begin | title=[[Virginia Waters (electoral district)|Virginia Waters]] [[By-election]] April 9, 2014
{{Election box begin | title=[[Virginia Waters (electoral district)|Virginia Waters]] [[by-election]] April 9, 2014 on the resignation of [[Kathy Dunderdale]], February 28, 2014}}
On the resignation of [[Kathy Dunderdale]], February 28, 2014}}}
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{{CANelec|NL|Liberal|Cathy Bennett|1932|39.88|+30.33}}
{{CANelec|NL|Liberal|Cathy Bennett|1932|39.88|+30.33}}