Andrew Younger

Andrew Younger is a public speaker, author, and consultant who is a former Canadian politician, elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 2009 provincial election.[1] He represented the electoral district of Dartmouth East first as a member of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party and subsequently as an Independent. He served in the provincial cabinet as Minister of Energy, Minister of Communications Nova Scotia, Minister Responsible for Gaming, and Minister of the Environment. On November 5, 2015, Younger was removed from his cabinet position and ejected from the Liberal caucus, after failing to show up at the court case of someone accused of assaulting him by invoking legislative privilege.[2] On June 22, 2017 he was made an honorary member of the Nova Scotia Executive Council (cabinet)[3] upon the recommendation of Premier Stephen McNeil.

Andrew Younger
Andrew Younger in 2013
Member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
for Dartmouth East
In office
June 9, 2009 – May 30, 2017
Preceded byJoan Massey
Succeeded byTim Halman
Personal details
BornDartmouth, Nova Scotia
Political partyIndependent (2015–2017)
Other political
affiliations		Liberal (2009–2015)

Early life and career

Younger was born in Oakville, Ontario but grew up in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. In 1992 and 1993 he was one of seven Canadians to receive a Canadian Merit Scholarship Foundation Award[4] for volunteerism and community service.[5]

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology and Political Science from Dalhousie University, and a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of King's College.[6]

Younger worked for CBC Television in Halifax and Charlottetown.[7] He then ran a television production, corporate social responsibility, and communications consulting company prior to entering politics.[6] He dedicated a significant portion of his work to social justice and environmental projects and assisted with development projects in West Africa including a women's micro-credit project in Niger[8] and an AIDS education project in the Gambia.[6]

In 2000 Younger won a Silver Atlantic Journalism Award in the category of Jim McNeil New Journalist. He also was part of a production team which won a Canadian Gemini Award in the category of Best Information/Talk Programming and international Gabriel Award.

Younger is also a Fellow of the Robert Thompson School of Government at the University of Philadelphia.

Municipal politics

Younger was first elected to the legislature in 2009 after a five-year career on Halifax Regional Council. He was first elected to council in 2004 representing East Dartmouth - The Lakes, and was re-elected by acclamation in 2008.[6]

During his time as an elected representative, Younger was recognized for his community and regional accomplishments including the development of a redevelopment plan for the Main Street business district in Dartmouth,[9] his work improving Shubie Park and the Shubenacadie Canal system,[10] and his role in the construction of the Dartmouth Community Centre.[6][11]

Younger has been involved in working on energy and environmental issues in Nova Scotia.[12] As Chair of HRM's Energy Committee he was a player in the development and analysis of energy policy, and had a role in seeing a number of district, geothermal, and alternative energy projects moved forward.[12] He is often asked to speak on energy and environmental issues at local and national conferences.[6]

Provincial politics

On October 22, 2013, Younger was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia as Minister of Energy, Minister Responsible for the Gaming Control Act, and Minister for Communications Nova Scotia.[13]

On March 25, 2015, Younger resigned from cabinet but remained MLA for Dartmouth East.[14]

Younger returned to cabinet on July 24, 2015, when he was named Minister of Environment.[15][16]

On November 5, 2015, Younger was removed from his cabinet position and ejected from the Liberal caucus, after failing to show up at the court case of someone accused of assaulting him by invoking legislative privilege.[2]

After becoming an independent, Younger's private health information was leaked by the Premier's office. An independent report by the Nova Scotia Privacy Commissioner found that the Premier's office failed in its duty of care to protect health information and found staff in the office had not read policies meant to protect information.[17]

In 2016 Younger was voted the Silver Winner in the "Best Member of the Legislature" category for The Coast's Best Of awards.[18]

Younger chose to return to the private sector and not re-offer in the 2017 provincial election.

Electoral record
2013 Nova Scotia general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±
     Liberal Andrew Younger 5,469 63.85
     New Democratic Party Deborah M. Stover 1,929 22.52
     Progressive Conservative Mike M. MacDonnell 1,167 13.63
2009 Nova Scotia general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±
     Liberal Andrew Younger 4073 45.09 +24.26
     New Democratic Party Joan Massey 3903 43.21 -0.01
     Progressive Conservative Bert Thompson 873 9.66 -23.61
GreenAnna Mukpo1842.04-0.65

References
  1. "Elections Nova Scotia Dartmouth East Results 2009" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia.
  2. "Environment Minister Andrew Younger fired from Liberal cabinet, caucus". CBC News. 5 November 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  3. Scotia, Province of Nova. "Orders in Council | novascotia.ca". www.novascotia.ca. Retrieved 2017-11-05.
  4. "Our Scholars - Loran Scholars Foundation - Fondation Boursiers Loran". Loran Scholars Foundation - Fondation Boursiers Loran. Retrieved 2017-11-05.
  5. "Home - Loran Scholars Foundation - Fondation Boursiers Loran". Loran Scholars Foundation - Fondation Boursiers Loran. Retrieved 2017-11-05.
  6. "Andrew Younger Linked In". Andrewyounger.ca. Retrieved 2010-11-12.
  7. Andrew Younger (2016-09-21), Farm Safety (CBC), retrieved 2017-11-05
  8. "Friends of Niger: Photos From Niger". www.friendsofniger.org. Retrieved 2017-11-05.
  9. http://www.villageonmain.ca
  10. http://www.shubenacadiecanal.ca
  11. "East Dartmouth Community Centre". www.edcc.ca. Retrieved 2017-11-05.
  12. "Halifax Regional Municipality". Halifax.ca. Archived from the original on 2 December 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-12.
  13. "Premier Stephen McNeil welcomes 16-member cabinet". CBC. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-22.
  14. "Andrew Younger resigns from Nova Scotia cabinet". CBC News. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 2015-04-03.
  15. "Andrew Younger sworn back in to cabinet after shuffle". CBC News. July 24, 2015. Retrieved 2015-07-24.
  16. "Cabinet shuffle: Whalen out as finance minister, Younger back in". The Chronicle Herald. July 24, 2015. Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. Retrieved 2015-07-24.
  17. "FOIPOP Commissioner Release" (PDF). CBC News. 11 February 2016. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  18. "Best Member Of The Provincial Legislature". The Coast Halifax. Retrieved 2017-11-05.
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