John Efford - Retirement

Retirement

On September 1, 2005, after considerable speculation that he intended to resign his federal cabinet position due to ill-health, Efford announced, to much surprise, that he had no intention to resign. He later stated on NTV that he would not run again in the 2006 federal election or run for the leadership of the Newfoundland Liberal Party. In November 2005, it was reported that Efford was retiring from politics due to poor health from diabetes.

After completing a business administration program, Efford established and ran Efford’s Wholesale, Snow's Plumbing Ltd and the Della Lee retail clothing store. Efford and his wife, Madonna, have three children Jacqueline Ann, R. John III, Joseph Lee children and three grandchildren, R. John Efford IV, Jenna Emily Suzanna Efford & Cali Jean Efford Fitzgerald.

In February 2011, Efford criticized the leadership of provincial Liberal Leader, Yvonne Jones and called for her to consider resigning. Efford stated that her low poll numbers were the main reason for his request. He referenced a Telelink poll released that week by NTV, in which 11 percent of respondents said they would prefer Jones to lead the province. Jones responded by saying Efford was an absolute nuisance to the Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal party, and another poll done in March showed that Jones' popularity was now up to 18% from the 11% that the February poll showed.