Kelly Regan

The Honourable
Kelly Regan
MLA
Member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
for Bedford
Assumed office
9 June 2009
Preceded by Len Goucher
Minister of Community Services
Assumed office
15 June 2017
Premier Stephen McNeil
Preceded by Joanne Bernard
Minister of Labour and Advanced Education
In office
22 October 2013  15 June 2017
Premier Stephen McNeil
Preceded by Marilyn More
Succeeded by Labi Kousoulis
Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act
Assumed office
22 October 2013
Premier Stephen McNeil
Preceded by Marilyn More
Chief Opposition Whip
In office
12 January 2012  22 October 2013
Liberal Caucus Chair
In office
17 March 2010  12 January 2012
Personal details
Born Kelly Maureen Smith
(1961-02-04) February 4, 1961
Chatham, Ontario
Political party Nova Scotia Liberal Party
Spouse(s) Geoff Regan
Children Caitlin, Nicole, and Harrison
Residence Bedford, Nova Scotia
Alma mater University of Waterloo
Profession Journalist
Website Official website

Kelly Maureen Regan (née Smith) MLA (born 4 February 1961) is a Canadian politician, who has represented the electoral district of Bedford-Birch Cove in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly since 2009 as a member of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party.[1]

Early life and education

A native of Kitchener, Ontario, Regan graduated with a B.A. (Hons) from the University of Waterloo in 1984. Regan moved to Nova Scotia in 1984 where she began working at CFDR-AM as a reporter covering municipal politics. Her journalism career continued as news director at ATV / ASN for seven years where she won two awards for health documentaries. This was followed by various media and public relations projects.

Regan has been active in many community organizations, serving as a library volunteer at Sunnyside Schools, a member of the organizing committee of the annual Bedford volunteer awards, as executive member of Ridgevale Homeowners’ Association, and as an elder of Bedford United Church. She also serves as a judge for the Atlantic Journalism Awards. She is also a founding member of the Nova Scotia chapter of Equal Voice, a multi-partisan group dedicated to increasing the number of women elected in Canada.

Political career

In 2009 Regan successfully ran for the Nova Scotia Liberal Party nomination in the riding of Bedford-Birch Cove. She was elected in the 2009 provincial election, defeating Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Len Goucher.[2][3][4] The riding was renamed Bedford in 2012 and she was re-elected in this riding in the 2013 provincial election.[5]

On October 22, 2013, following the Liberal victory in the 2013 Nova Scotia general election Regan was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia to serve as Minister of Labour and Advanced Education and Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act.[6] On July 24, 2015, Regan was given an additional role in cabinet as minister responsible for youth.[7]

On June 15, 2017, following the Liberal re-election in the 2017 Nova Scotia general election Premier Stephen McNeil shuffled his cabinet, moving Regan to Minister of Community Services, while keeping her as Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act.[8][9]

Electoral record

Nova Scotia general election, 2017
Party Candidate Votes % ±
     Liberal Kelly Regan 5,831 52.69
     Progressive Conservative Valerie White 3,388 30.61
     New Democratic Party Mike Poworozynk 1,362 12.30
GreenMichealle Hanshaw4854.38
Nova Scotia general election, 2013
Party Candidate Votes % ±
     Liberal Kelly Regan 6,081 60.66
     Progressive Conservative Joan Christie 2,026 20.21
     New Democratic Party Mike Poworozynk 1,701 16.97
GreenIan Charles2172.16
Nova Scotia general election, 2009
Party Candidate Votes % ±
     Liberal Kelly Regan 4,861 44.48
     New Democratic Party Brian Mosher 3,552 32.50
     Progressive Conservative Len Goucher 2,268 20.75
GreenNeil Green2482.27

Personal life

Regan married her husband Geoff, who is the Member of Parliament for Halifax West and currently is the Speaker of the House of Commons; in December 1993, and has three children, Caitlin, Nicole, and Harrison. She resides in Bedford.[10]

She is the granddaughter in law of John Harrison, daughter in law of Gerald Regan and sister in law of the longest host of CTV News at 5 (previously Live at 5) Nancy Regan and actress Laura Regan, of FOX's Minority Report.

References

  1. "Electoral History for Bedford" (PDF). Nova Scotia Legislative Library. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  2. "Nine Tory cabinet ministers bounced". The Chronicle Herald. 10 June 2009. Archived from the original on 13 June 2009. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  3. "Majority of Tory cabinet members lose seats". The Globe and Mail. 10 June 2009. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  4. "NDP has iron grip on Metro Halifax". CBC News. 9 June 2009. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  5. "Metro Halifax ridings turn Liberal red". The Chronicle Herald. 8 October 2013. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  6. "Premier Stephen McNeil welcomes 16-member cabinet". CBC News. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-22.
  7. "N.S. premier expands cabinet, reinstates former minister". CTV News. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  8. "Stephen McNeil shuffles cabinet, but vows not to change course". CBC News. June 15, 2017. Retrieved 2017-06-15.
  9. "N.S. cabinet unveiled: Casey now deputy premier, finance minister". The Chronicle Herald. June 15, 2017. Retrieved 2017-06-15.
  10. "Life in the Regan household not all politics". Halifax News Net. 19 November 2009. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.