Stephen Aloysius Neary (1925–1996) is a former politician and cabinet minister in

Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador (; french: Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador; frequently abbreviated as NL) is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region ...

, Canada. Neary worked at the

Argentia Naval Base Naval Station Argentia is a former base of the United States Navy that operated from 1941 to 1994. It was established in the community of Argentia in what was then the Dominion of Newfoundland, which later became the tenth Canadian province, Ne ...

until 1945 before moving to a job at the Dominion Steel Company on Bell Island. He helped unionize the office employees at the company and then served on the municipal council. He was active with the Newfoundland Federation of Labour serving as its secretary-treasurer and ran for office as a candidate for the

Newfoundland Democratic Party The Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party (NL NDP) is a social democracy, social democratic political party in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is a provincial section of the federal New Democratic Party (Canada), New Democratic Par ...

in the 1959 provincial election In 1962, he was elected to the

Newfoundland House of Assembly The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly is the unicameral deliberative assembly of the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It meets in the Confederation Building in St. Jo ...

as a

Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

and, as a backbench MHA, took on the legal industry for charging excessive fees and sparked a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the matter. In 1968 he was appointed to cabinet and was Minister of Public Services from 1969 to 1972 when the government was defeated. After losing the Liberal nomination for his riding in 1975 he ran, and was elected as an Independent Liberal. Rejoining the party, he ran unsuccessfully for leader in 1977. He was appointed

Leader of the Opposition The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest political party not in government, typical in countries utilizing the parliamentary system form of government. The leader of the opposition is typically se ...

on May 3, 1982 after party leader

Len Stirling Len Stirling is a former politician in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. He was a member of the Newfoundland House of Assembly from 1979 to 1982 and was leader of the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador from 1980 to 1982. ...

failed to win a seat in the 1982 provincial electionHarris, Michael, "Baron of bombast a political survivor," ''Globe and Mail'', March 11, 1983 and also served as interim party leader from 1983 to 1984. He retired from provincial politics in 1985. He attempted to win a seat in the

House of Commons of Canada The House of Commons of Canada (french: Chambre des communes du Canada) is the lower house of the Parliament of Canada. Together with the Crown and the Senate of Canada, they comprise the bicameral legislature of Canada. The House of Common ...

in a

St. John's East St. John's East (french: St. John's-Est; formerly known as St. John's North) is a federal electoral district in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 1949. It covers a part of St ...

federal by-election in 1987 but was defeated. After his retirement he wrote a book about the German

U-boat U-boats were naval submarines operated by Germany, particularly in the First and Second World Wars. Although at times they were efficient fleet weapons against enemy naval warships, they were most effectively used in an economic warfare role ...

attack on Bell Island in the second World War, called ''Enemy on our Doorstep''. He also devoted a great deal of time to Bell Island and was instrumental in raising monuments, and to creating a museum.

References

1925 births 1996 deaths Members of the Executive Council of Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador MHAs Liberal Party of Canada candidates for the Canadian House of Commons Newfoundland and Labrador political party leaders {{Newfoundland-politician-stub