Len Simms

Leonard (Len) Simms (born 1943) is a former politician in Newfoundland and Labrador and a public servant. Since 2005 he has been chairman and chief executive officer of the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, a provincial crown corporation.

Simms was the Progressive Conservative Member of the House of Assembly for Grand Falls-Windsor-Buchans from 1979 to 1995. He served as Speaker of the House of Assembly from 1979 to 1982 when he was appointed to the provincial Cabinet of Premier Brian Peckford. Simms served successively as Minister of Culture, Recreation and Youth, ["Royal visit announced," "Globe and Mail", March 23, 1983] ["Sports ministers urge increase in Olympic athletes," "Globe and Mail", January 26, 1984] Forestry Minister ["Forestry ministers develop proposal to replace 15% tax," "Toronto Star", June 2, 1987] and later Treasury Board president under Peckford."Newfoundland cuts cabinet as election rumors fly," "Toronto Star", March 28, 1989]

Simms ran for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party in 1989 but lost to Tom Rideout who subsequently appointed him Development Minister in his Cabinet. The Tory government was defeated in the 1989 general election and Simms moved to the Opposition benches. He succeeded Rideout in 1991 to become Leader of the Opposition and party leader. The party lost the 1993 general election and Simms resigned as party leader two years later.

He was appointed head of the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation by Premier Danny Williams in 2005. In 2007 he stepped down in order to take a senior role in Williams' 2007 re-election campaign and was immediately re-appointed to the $130,000 a year housing corporation position following the election leading to complaints of "blatant patronage" from the Opposition. [ [http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2007/10/19/simms-patronage.html Critics decry 'obscene' patronage in Simms reappointment] , "CBC News", October 19, 2007]

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