Anna Thistle’s springboard into politics began at the
municipal level in 1990, when she was elected to the
Council of the newly-amalgamated Town of Grand
Falls-Windsor. She was successfully re-elected in
1993. Economic Development was her focus on Council
and she was responsible for developing and
implementing the first Strategic Economic Development
Plan for Grand Falls-Windsor, with a regional focus to
include the entire Exploits Valley.
Ms. Thistle
has a strong background in finance. Her early career
began with the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce,
where she held senior level positions at various
branches throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. In 1977
she became the first manager of the Newfoundland and
Labrador Credit Union in Grand Falls-Windsor, a
position she held until being elected to the
Provincial House of Assembly in February 1996. Ms.
Thistle was elected caucus representative to the
Executive Board of the Liberal Party of Newfoundland
and Labrador and served as a member of the Public
Accounts and Resource committees.
Ms. Thistle
has gained a reputation for being a "hands-on"
politician, and credits hard work and intense lobbying
efforts as the reason for her success in initiating
historical legislative changes. She spearheaded
legislative provisions for disabled persons to apply
for a "Big Game hunting licence," and has championed
the cause of CNIB clients in Grand Falls-Windsor to
avert an office closure. Ms. Thistle secured
first-time funding for autistic children and lobbied
for a consumer advocate to investigate gasoline
prices, and on behalf of a kidney patient in her
district for the establishment of a dialysis unit at
the Central Newfoundland Regional Heath Centre in
Grand Falls-Windsor.
In her capacity as a volunteer, Ms.
Thistle is a past Director of the South and Central
Health Foundation and the Exploits Valley Development
Association. She is also past Co-ordinator of
fund-raising for the Heart and Stroke Foundation and a
volunteer for the Exploits Disabled Association. On a
provincial level, she is a past-board member of the
Provincial Government Advisory Council on the Economy
and the Royal Commission on Education Advisory
Committee.
In 1998, Ms. Thistle was appointed
to Cabinet as President of Treasury Board, and served
on the Planning and Priorities Committee. She was
successfully re-elected to a second term in 1999. On
February 13, 2001, Ms. Thistle was appointed Minister
of the Province’s new Department of Labour and chaired
the Cabinet committee on Routine Matters/Appointments.
Ms. Thistle was appointed Minister of Youth Services
and Post-Secondary Education on February 17, 2003. She
also served as Chair of the Social Policy Committee of
Cabinet and as a member of the Policy and Planning
Committee of Cabinet.
On October 21, 2003, Ms. Thistle was
re-elected for a third term as the Member of the House
of Assembly for the Grand Falls-Buchans District. She
now serves as critic for Finance and Treasury Board as
well as Youth Services and Post-Secondary Education.
