Jamie Baillie

Jamie Baillie
Leader of the Opposition
In office
October 22, 2013 – January 24, 2018
Preceded by Stephen McNeil
Succeeded by Karla MacFarlane
Member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
for Cumberland South
In office
October 26, 2010 – January 24, 2018
Preceded by Murray Scott
Succeeded by Tory Rushton
Personal details
Born James Arthur Baillie
(1966-04-28) April 28, 1966
Truro, Nova Scotia
Political party Progressive Conservative
Spouse(s) Sandra Crowell
Children 2
Alma mater Dalhousie University (BCom)

Jamie Baillie (born April 28, 1966) is a former Canadian politician. He served as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia from 2010 to 2018, and was the Leader of the Opposition from 2013 until January 2018, when the party asked him to resign after an independent investigation concluded that he had engaged in behaviour which violated the Nova Scotia House of Assembly's workplace harassment policy. At the same time, he resigned as MLA for Cumberland South, the riding he had represented in the House of Assembly since 2010.

Prior to entering politics, he was a chartered accountant and the head of Credit Union Atlantic.

Early life and career

Raised in Truro, Nova Scotia, he graduated from Cobequid Educational Centre in 1984. Baillie has been involved with the Progressive Conservative Party for over 25 years. While earning his commerce degree at Dalhousie University, Baillie became involved in the Nova Scotia PC Youth and served as president of the Dalhousie Young PCs and president of the Nova Scotia Young Progressive Conservatives. He also served as a cabinet minister in the Nova Scotia Youth Parliament, and an M.P. in the Youth Parliament of Canada. He went on to earn his Chartered Accountant designation, graduated from the Canadian Securities Institute and completed the High Potential Leadership Program at Harvard Business School.

In 2002, Premier John Hamm called upon Baillie to serve as his Chief of Staff.[1] Baillie acted as a principal advisor to Hamm and played a key role on a number of initiatives, including improvements to public education and the preparation and presentation of balanced budgets.

In 2008 and 2009, he was the co-chair of the United Way of Halifax Region campaign.[2] The campaign aimed to raise $6 million but surpassed that goal.[3][4]

He has also served as Chair of the Board for Neptune Theatre and is a Director of the Halifax International Airport Authority. He was also a member of the Board of Governors at Dalhousie University and of the Junior Achievement Nova Scotia Business Hall of Fame and is a Past President of Prescott Group, a sheltered workshop for intellectually challenged adults.[5]

Baillie has also worked as a Senior Partner with Robertson Surrette, an executive search firm located in Halifax, and was the Vice-President of Finance for CitiGroup Properties.

Political career

On June 7, 2010, Baillie announced his candidacy for leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia.[6] He launched his campaign by pledging a return to accountability, conservative principles and a new direction for the party and the province.[7] Baillie brings a fiscally conservative approach to politics, including a promise to get a handle on the growing debt, return to mandatory balanced budgets and reduce the growth of a burgeoning civil service.[8]

In his campaign launch, Baillie touted ideas to combat population decline that included immigration targets to bring Nova Scotia's population to one million people and an income tax exemption for graduates under 30-years-old. He also emphasized that stronger regional collaboration is needed among Atlantic Provinces on energy generation and transmission.[9]

When nominations closed on August 16, 2010, Baillie was the only candidate to enter the race and won the leadership uncontested.[10] He was named interim leader on August 18,[11] and officially took over as leader when ratified by party members at a convention in October 2010.[12]

On September 8, 2010, Baillie announced his intention to run in a byelection for the constituency of Cumberland South, left vacant by retiring Progressive Conservative member Murray Scott.[13][14]

On October 26, 2010, Baillie won the byelection to represent Cumberland South in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.[15]

In the 2013 election, Baillie led the Progressive Conservatives to second place, winning 11 seats and becoming Leader of the Opposition.[16][17] He also won personal re-election in the Cumberland South riding.[18][19] Baillie's 2013 campaign was managed by Janet Fryday-Dorey[20] chaired by Halifax-based lawyer, Tara Erskine.[21]

In the 2017 election, Baillie's Progressive Conservatives won 17 seats, retaining Official Opposition status, as the Liberals won a second consecutive majority government.[22] Baillie was again re-elected in Cumberland South.[23] The 2017 PC campaign was managed by Chad Bowie.[24]

On November 1, 2017, Baillie announced he was resigning as Progressive Conservative leader, but would remain in the position until a new leader was chosen.[25] However, on January 24, 2018, Baillie resigned with immediate effect as party leader and as the MLA for Cumberland South, without a leadership convention date having yet been set, after the party executive requested his immediate resignation due to "allegations of inappropriate behaviour". According to the party, an independent, third-party investigation it had ordered into Baillie's behaviour after the claims first surfaced had concluded that he had violated the House of Assembly's workplace harassment policy on the prevention and resolution of harassment in the workplace.[26][27]

Personal life and honours

Baillie is married to Sandra Crowell. They have two daughters.

He was named one of Atlantic Canada's top 50 CEOs for five years running.[28] He is a member of Atlantic Business Magazine’s Hall of Fame and in 2010 he was named a Fellow Chartered Accountant, the highest designation for that profession.[29]

See also

Electoral record

2017 general election

Nova Scotia general election, 2017: Cumberland South
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeJamie Baillie3,53651.49+0.53
LiberalKenny John Jackson2,77940.47+0.26
New DemocraticLarry Duchesne3985.80-0.98
AtlanticaThor Lengies1542.24
Total valid votes 6,897100.00
Total rejected ballots 350.51-0.19
Turnout 6,90263.20-2.53
Eligible voters 10,921
Progressive Conservative hold Swing +0.14
Nova Scotia general election, 2013: Cumberland South
Party Candidate Votes % ±
     Progressive Conservative Jamie Baillie 3,653 50.9% -6.30
     Liberal Kenny Jackson 2,417 33.7% -4.26
     New Democratic Party Larry Duchesne 872 12.2% +7.36
GreenBruce McCulloch2283.2%-
October 26, 2010 Cumberland South by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±
     Progressive Conservative Jamie Baillie 3,262 57.20% -10.26
LiberalKenny Jackson2,16537.96%+32.89
     New Democratic Party Scott McKee 276 4.84% -21.06

References

  1. ↑ "Premier Welcomes Jamie Baillie as New Chief of Staff". Government of Nova Scotia. December 21, 2001. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  2. ↑ "United Way aims higher at this year's campaign kickoff". Metro. September 13, 2009. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  3. ↑ "Community generosity ensures United Way exceed $6 million goal". United Way Halifax. February 25, 2010. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  4. ↑ "United Way charity posts record donation tally". News 95.7. February 25, 2010. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  5. ↑ "Jamie Baillie". PC Party. Retrieved 2016-04-02.
  6. ↑ "Baillie wants to lead N.S. Tories". CBC News. June 7, 2010. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  7. ↑ "NS: Baillie promises new direction for PC party, province". Nova Scotia Business Journal. June 7, 2010. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  8. ↑ Stephenson, Marilla (June 9, 2010). "Early, eager will benefit Baillie". The Chronicle Herald. Archived from the original on June 16, 2010. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  9. ↑ Speech to supporters on YouTube
  10. ↑ "Baillie to be next N.S. Tory leader". CBC News. August 16, 2010. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  11. ↑ "Nova Scotia Tories name new interim leader". CTV News. August 19, 2010. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  12. ↑ "New N.S. PC leader promises fiscal restraint". CBC News. October 30, 2010. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  13. ↑ "MLA Scott makes way for Baillie". CBC News. September 8, 2010. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  14. ↑ "Scott resigns, Baillie to run for vacant seat". Metro. September 8, 2010. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  15. ↑ "Baillie wins Cumberland South byelection". CBC News. October 26, 2010. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  16. ↑ "Baillie leads PCs into 2nd". The Chronicle Herald. October 9, 2013. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  17. ↑ "Tories take 2nd and become Opposition as party rebuilds". CBC News. October 8, 2013. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  18. ↑ "Baillie, PCs to lead official opposition". Cumberland News Now. October 8, 2013. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  19. ↑ "PC leader Jamie Baillie takes his Cumberland South riding". Global News. October 8, 2013. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  20. ↑ "Few come-from-aways on trail". The Chronicle Herald. 2017-04-20. Retrieved 2018-04-19.
  21. ↑ "Baillie shows he is the only leader with a plan for Nova Scotia's economy - PC Party NS". PC Party NS. 2013-09-10. Retrieved 2018-04-19.
  22. ↑ "Liberals score back-to-back majorities in Nova Scotia nail-biter". CBC News. May 30, 2017. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  23. ↑ "McCrossin, Baillie cruise to election wins in Cumberland County". Truro Daily News. May 30, 2017. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  24. ↑ "MacPolitics: Tory Strategist Chad Bowie Backs Cecil Clarke | The Macdonald Notebook". www.themacdonaldnotebook.ca. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
  25. ↑ "Jamie Baillie stepping down as Nova Scotia PC leader". The Chronicle Herald. November 1, 2017. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  26. ↑ "PC Leader Jamie Baillie forced out after allegations of 'inappropriate behaviour'". CBC News. January 24, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  27. ↑ Leeder, Jessica (January 24, 2018). "Nova Scotia PC leader Jamie Baillie resigns amid sexual harassment allegations". The Globe and Mail. The Canadian Press. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  28. ↑ "2010 Top 50 CEO Award Winners". Atlantic Business Magazine. May 2010. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  29. ↑ "Fellow of the Chartered Accountants". ICANS. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
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