However, Brown resigned as the party's candidate the following year and Skinner won the nomination for the district in August 2003.
In the October 2003, election Skinner easily defeated Minister of Finance Joan Marie Aylward, winning 55% of the popular vote.
His appointment came after Paul Shelley, the department's former minister, announced he would not be seeking re-election in the October election.
[5] In August 2007, Skinner said he planned to bring forth legislation to protect jobs of reservists who leave work for military duty.
[6] Skinner's announcement was in response to Major Wallace Noseworthy, who called for the legislation after he was forced to quit his job in order to serve in Afghanistan.
[7] In April 2008, the government brought forth changes to The Labour Standards Act to provide for unpaid leave for reservists.
In the months leading up to the provincial election support for the New Democratic Party had surged and they were running businesswoman and filmmaker Gerry Rogers against Skinner.
[14][15][16] Following the resignation of Dunderdale as Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, Skinner's name was brought up as a potential successor.