Gerald Regan
| The Honourable Gerald Regan PC, QC, ECNS | |
|---|---|
| 19th Premier of Nova Scotia | |
|
In office October 28, 1970 – October 5, 1978 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Lieutenant Governor |
Victor de Bedia Oland Clarence Gosse |
| Preceded by | G.I. Smith |
| Succeeded by | John Buchanan |
| MLA for Halifax Needham | |
|
In office May 30, 1967 – February 18, 1980 | |
| Preceded by | New Riding |
| Succeeded by | Edmund L. Morris |
| MP for Halifax | |
|
In office April 8, 1963 – November 8, 1965 Serving with Robert McCleave | |
| Preceded by | Edmund Morris |
| Succeeded by | Michael Forrestall |
|
In office February 18, 1980 – September 4, 1984 | |
| Preceded by | George Cooper |
| Succeeded by | Stewart McInnes |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Gerald Augustine Paul Regan[1] February 13, 1928 Windsor, Nova Scotia |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse(s) | Anita Carole Thomas Harrison[2] |
| Occupation | lawyer |
| Religion | Catholic[3] |
Gerald Augustine Paul Regan, PC (born February 13, 1928) is a Canadian politician, who served as the 19th Premier of Nova Scotia from 1970 to 1978.
Life and career
Regan was born in Windsor, Nova Scotia, the son of Rose Mary (née Greene) and Walter Edward Regan.[4][5] He has Irish ancestry.[6] Regan graduated from Dalhousie Law School and was admitted to the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society in 1954. He became one of the region's best known labour lawyers, and his high-profile image led to an invitation to enter politics.
He was first elected to the House of Commons in the 1963 federal election.[7] He resigned his seat in 1965 when he was named leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party. Regan entered the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in 1967, and aggressively pursued the government of Premier George Isaac Smith as Leader of the opposition. Regan led a fourteen-hour filibuster against the government's plans to increase the sales tax in 1969.
Regan's Liberals won a minority government in 1970, and were re-elected with a majority in 1974.
As premier, Regan supported industrialization and the development of offshore gas and oil. His first government amended the province's labour code to prevent courts from issuing injunctions to prevent picketing in labour disputes, and the office of the provincial ombudsman was established. In its second term, the Regan government nationalized the Nova Scotia Light and Power electrical utility, and consolidated electricity supply under the Nova Scotia Power Corporation. A massive plan for the development of tidal power in the Bay of Fundy was also announced.
His government was defeated by John Buchanan's Progressive Conservative Party in the 1978 general election, in part due to the oil shock's effect on the economy.
Regan returned to the federal House of Commons in the 1980 federal election, and was appointed Minister of Labour and Minister of State for International Trade in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. Regan was defeated along with the Liberal government in the 1984 election.
In March 1995, he was charged with 16 counts of sexual offences, and ultimately faced trial for eight sex-related charges for events that allegedly occurred in 1956 and 1969. He was acquitted, but faced more charges in 1999. In 2002, the crown attorney's office announced that it would not continue prosecution on the eight remaining charges of sexual assault due to the age of the allegations, cost and the age of the defendant.[8]
Regan's wife is Anita Carole Thomas (Harrison), whose father, John Harrison, was a Saskatchewan Liberal Member of Parliament.[1][9] His son Geoff Regan is the current Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons and was first elected as a Liberal MP in 1993. From 2003 until 2006, he served as Minister of Fisheries and Oceans in the government of Paul Martin. Two of his daughters are also well-known: Nancy Regan was a local television personality with ATV, and Laura Regan is an actress.
References
| 23rd Ministry – Cabinet of John Turner | ||
| Cabinet Post (1) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Predecessor | Office | Successor |
| Jean Chrétien | Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources 1984 |
Patricia Carney |
| 22nd Ministry – Second cabinet of Pierre Trudeau | ||
| Cabinet Posts (6) | ||
| Predecessor | Office | Successor |
| position created | Minister for International Trade 1983–1984 |
Francis Fox |
| ' | Minister of State (International Trade) 1982–1983 |
' |
| Francis Fox | Secretary of State for Canada 1981–1982 |
Serge Joyal |
| ' | Minister of Amateur Sport 1980–1982 |
' |
| Lincoln Alexander | Minister of Labour 1980–1981 |
Charles Caccia |
| ' | Minister of State (Sports) 1980 |
' |
| Colonial | |
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| Provincial | |
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1The department was eliminated in 1993 when the government was reorganized. The position of Secretary of State for Canada was not legally eliminated until 1996 when its remaining responsibilities were assigned to other cabinet positions and departments, particularly the newly created position of Minister of Canadian Heritage. |
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| Ministers of Labour (1900–96) |
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|---|---|
| Ministers of Human Resources Development (1996–2005)2 | |
| Ministers of Human Resources and Skills Development (2005–13) | |
| Ministers of Employment and Social Development (2013–15) | |
| Minister of Families, Children and Social Development (2015–present) | |
| Ministers of Labour (1996–2015) | |
| Minister of Employment, Workforce and Labour (2015–present) | |
1Until 1909, the office of the minister of Labour was a secondary function of the Postmaster-General of Canada. W. L. M. King was the first to hold the office independently. 2The office of Minister of Employment and Immigration, and Minister of Labour were abolished and the office of Minister of Human Resources Development went in force on July 12, 1996. Under the new provisions, a Minister of Labour may be appointed. However, when no Minister of Labour is appointed, the Minister of Human Resources Development shall exercise the powers and perform the duties and functions of the Minister of Labour. | |
| Ministers of Trade and Commerce (1892–1969) |
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|---|---|
| Ministers of Industry (1963–69) | |
| Ministers of Industry, Trade and Commerce (1969–83) | |
| Minister of State for International Trade (1979–80) | |
| Minister of State (Trade) (1980–82) | |
| Ministers of State (International Trade) (1982–83) | |
| Ministers of International Trade (1983–) | |