Jim Smith | |
---|---|
MLA for Dartmouth East | |
In office 1984–2003 | |
Preceded by | Richard L. Weldon |
Succeeded by | Joan Massey |
Minister of Health | |
In office June 9, 1997 – August 16, 1999 | |
Preceded by | Bernie Boudreau |
Succeeded by | Jamie Muir |
Personal details | |
Born | James Alexander Smith May 25, 1935 Liverpool, Nova Scotia, Canada |
Died | January 18, 2020 Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada | (aged 84)
Political party | Liberal |
Occupation | Doctor |
James Alexander Smith (May 25, 1935 – January 18, 2020) was a Canadian politician. He represented the electoral district of Dartmouth East in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1984 to 2003. He was a member of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party. [1]
Smith was born in Liverpool, Nova Scotia in 1935, [2] and grew up in Port Mouton. [3] Smith graduated with a medical degree from Dalhousie University in 1964. [4] He practiced family medicine in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia for almost 30 years. [3] [5] Smith first attempted to enter provincial politics in the 1981 election, but was defeated by Progressive Conservative incumbent Richard L. Weldon. [6] Smith ran again in the 1984 election, defeating Weldon by 903 votes to win the Dartmouth East riding. [7] One of only six Liberals elected, [8] Smith spent the early years of his political career in opposition. He was re-elected in the 1988 election, winning the seat by 253 votes. [9] Smith was re-elected in the 1993 election, defeating cabinet minister Gwen Haliburton by almost 2,500 votes. [10] [11] Following the election, Smith would get to sit in government for the first time, as the Liberals under John Savage won a majority government. [11]
On June 11, 1993, Smith was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia as Minister of Community Services. [12] On June 27, 1996, Savage shuffled his cabinet, with Smith being named Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs. [13] On June 6, 1997, Savage announced that Smith would take over as Minister of Health on June 9, when Bernie Boudreau resigns from cabinet to run for the Liberal leadership. [14] Smith remained as Minister of Health when Russell MacLellan took over as premier on July 18, 1997. [15] Smith was re-elected in the 1998 election, [16] [17] and retained the health portfolio, but was also named Minister of Justice. [18] In December 1998, Smith was replaced as Minister of Justice, as MacLellan shuffled his cabinet to reduce the heavy workload of some of the cabinet. [19] Smith was re-elelcted by 265 votes in the 1999 election, [20] but the Liberals were defeated by John Hamm's Progressive Conservatives. Smith served in opposition for one term, announcing on May 2, 2003, that he would not seek re-election in the next election. [21] Smith died on January 18, 2020. [22]
Jim Smith | |
---|---|
MLA for Dartmouth East | |
In office 1984–2003 | |
Preceded by | Richard L. Weldon |
Succeeded by | Joan Massey |
Minister of Health | |
In office June 9, 1997 – August 16, 1999 | |
Preceded by | Bernie Boudreau |
Succeeded by | Jamie Muir |
Personal details | |
Born | James Alexander Smith May 25, 1935 Liverpool, Nova Scotia, Canada |
Died | January 18, 2020 Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada | (aged 84)
Political party | Liberal |
Occupation | Doctor |
James Alexander Smith (May 25, 1935 – January 18, 2020) was a Canadian politician. He represented the electoral district of Dartmouth East in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1984 to 2003. He was a member of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party. [1]
Smith was born in Liverpool, Nova Scotia in 1935, [2] and grew up in Port Mouton. [3] Smith graduated with a medical degree from Dalhousie University in 1964. [4] He practiced family medicine in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia for almost 30 years. [3] [5] Smith first attempted to enter provincial politics in the 1981 election, but was defeated by Progressive Conservative incumbent Richard L. Weldon. [6] Smith ran again in the 1984 election, defeating Weldon by 903 votes to win the Dartmouth East riding. [7] One of only six Liberals elected, [8] Smith spent the early years of his political career in opposition. He was re-elected in the 1988 election, winning the seat by 253 votes. [9] Smith was re-elected in the 1993 election, defeating cabinet minister Gwen Haliburton by almost 2,500 votes. [10] [11] Following the election, Smith would get to sit in government for the first time, as the Liberals under John Savage won a majority government. [11]
On June 11, 1993, Smith was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia as Minister of Community Services. [12] On June 27, 1996, Savage shuffled his cabinet, with Smith being named Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs. [13] On June 6, 1997, Savage announced that Smith would take over as Minister of Health on June 9, when Bernie Boudreau resigns from cabinet to run for the Liberal leadership. [14] Smith remained as Minister of Health when Russell MacLellan took over as premier on July 18, 1997. [15] Smith was re-elected in the 1998 election, [16] [17] and retained the health portfolio, but was also named Minister of Justice. [18] In December 1998, Smith was replaced as Minister of Justice, as MacLellan shuffled his cabinet to reduce the heavy workload of some of the cabinet. [19] Smith was re-elelcted by 265 votes in the 1999 election, [20] but the Liberals were defeated by John Hamm's Progressive Conservatives. Smith served in opposition for one term, announcing on May 2, 2003, that he would not seek re-election in the next election. [21] Smith died on January 18, 2020. [22]