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James Aloysius McGrath, PC (January 11, 1932 – February 28, 2017) was a politician and the eighth lieutenant governor of Newfoundland, Canada.

Life

As a young man, McGrath was a member of the Responsible Government League which opposed Newfoundland becoming a province of Canada. Nevertheless, upon the dominion's joining confederation in 1949, McGrath left to enlist with the Royal Canadian Air Force. He returned to Newfoundland in 1953 and became sales manager with radio station CJON. In 1955, he became secretary of the provincial Progressive Conservative Party association. In 1956, he ran unsuccessfully for the party in the provincial election.

His daughter Robin McGrath is a poet and novelist.

Federal politics

He entered federal politics the next year, and won a seat in the House of Commons of Canada in the 1957 election as the Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for St. John's East. In 1962, McGrath became parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys, and served in that position until he was defeated along with the Diefenbaker government in the 1963 election.

McGrath regained his seat in the 1968 election, and remained in parliament through five subsequent elections.

When the Progressive Conservatives formed the government following the 1979 election, Prime Minister Joe Clark advised the Governor General to appoint McGrath Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. McGrath returned to the opposition bench when Clark's minority government was defeated in the 1980 election.

McGrath was not included in the Cabinet when the Tories returned to power in the 1984 election under Brian Mulroney. Instead, McGrath was appointed chairman of the Special Committee on the Reform of the House of Commons. The report he authored led to a number of procedural changes, including the introduction of election by secret ballot for the position of Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons. Its recommendations also led to the formation of the Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians, established in 1996. McGrath also served as chairman of the Standing Committee on Human Rights.

Retirement

In August 1986, McGrath left politics to accept an appointment as Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland. He retired from the position in 1991.

Death

McGrath died at home on February 28, 2017.

Arms

Coat of arms of James McGrath

Notes The arms of James McGrath consist of: Crest Upon a helmet mantled Rose and Vert doubled Argent on a wreath Argent, Rose and Vert a demi-lion Or gorged with an antique crown pendant therefrom a chevron Gules bearing in its dexter paw a trefoil slipped Vert. Escutcheon Tierced in pale Rose Argent and Vert over all a representation of the mace of the House of Commons of Canada in bend Or between six crosses botonny two in pale per pale Rose and Vert two in fess Argent two in bend sinister counterchanged. Supporters Two Caribou Argent langued Gules attired and unguled Or. Compartment On a rock Proper rising from waves Azure crested Argent. Motto Melius Est Nomen Bonum Quam Divitiae Multae

References

1. Aaron Peach, "Robin McGrath (1949-)". Heritage Newfoundland and Labrador, 2006.
2. J. Barry Turner, "Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians" Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine. Canadian Parliamentary Review, Autumn, 1996. As reprinted by The Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians. Retrieved 2011-01-12.
3. "Longtime politician, former lieutenant governor, James McGrath dies at 85 | CBC News".
4. Canadian Heraldic Authority (Volume II), Ottawa, 1990

External links

• Biography at Government House The Governorship of Newfoundland and Labrador
• James McGrath – Parliament of Canada biography

v t e Lieutenant-Governors and Governors of Newfoundland
Proprietary Governors (1610–1660)	Guy Mason Hayman Whitbourne Tanfield Wynne Aston Calvert Baltimore Hill Kirke Treworgie
French Governors of Plaisance (1655–1713)	de Kéréon Gargot Du Perron Bellot Palme Pioppe Parat Louis de Pastour de Costebelle de Brouillan de Monic de Subercase Philippe Pastour de Costebelle
Lieutenant-governors of Placentia (1713–1770)	Moody Purcell Gledhill Cope Hamilton Goreham
Commodore-Governors (1729–1825)	Osborn Clinton Falkingham Muskerry Lee Vanbrugh Medley Smith Byng Smith Hardy Edwards Douglas Watson Rodney Drake Bonfoy Dorrill Edwards Webb Graves Palliser Byron Shuldham Duff Montagu Edwards Campbell Elliot Milbanke King Wallace Waldegrave Pole Gambier Gower Holloway Duckworth Keats Pickmore Hamilton
Civil Governors (1825–1855)	Cochrane Prescott Harvey Law Le Marchant Hamilton
Colonial Governors (1855–1907)	Darling Bannerman Musgrave Hill Glover Maxse Glover Des Vœux Blake O'Brien Murray McCallum Boyle MacGregor
Dominion Governors (1907–1934)	MacGregor Williams Davidson Harris Allardyce Middleton Anderson
Commission Governors (1934–1949)	Anderson Walwyn Macdonald
Lieutenant Governors (1949–present)	Walsh Outerbridge Macpherson O'Dea Harnum Winter Paddon McGrath Russell House Roberts Crosbie Fagan Foote Aylward

• 1932 births
• 2017 deaths
• Canadian people of Irish descent
• Lieutenant governors of Newfoundland and Labrador
• Progressive Conservative Party of Canada MPs
• Members of the 21st Canadian Ministry
• Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Newfoundland and Labrador
• Members of the King's Privy Council for Canada
• People from Buchans
• Politicians from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
• 20th-century members of the House of Commons of Canada