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Kelly Regan

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The Honourable
Kelly Regan
Deputy Premier of Nova Scotia
In office
February 23, 2021 – August 31, 2021
PremierIain Rankin
Preceded byKaren Casey
Succeeded byAllan MacMaster
Member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
for Bedford Basin
Bedford (2009-2021)
In office
9 June 2009 – 27 October 2024
Preceded byLen Goucher
Minister of Community Services
In office
15 June 2017 – 31 August 2021
PremierStephen McNeil
Iain Rankin
Preceded byJoanne Bernard
Succeeded byKarla MacFarlane
Minister of Labour and Advanced Education
In office
22 October 2013 – 15 June 2017
PremierStephen McNeil
Preceded byMarilyn More
Succeeded byLabi Kousoulis
Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act
In office
22 October 2013 – 31 August 2021
PremierStephen McNeil
Preceded byMarilyn More
Succeeded byKarla MacFarlane
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 (age 63)
Chatham, Ontario, Canada
Political partyNova Scotia Liberal
Spouse
​
(m. 1993)​
Children3
Residence(s)Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada
Alma materUniversity of Waterloo
ProfessionJournalist
Websitewww.kellyregan.ca

Kelly Maureen Regan (née Smith; born 4 February 1961) is a Canadian politician who served in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 2009 to 2024, most recently as the MLA for Bedford Basin. She was first elected as the Member for Bedford-Birch Cove. She is a member of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party.[1]

Early life and education

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A native of Kitchener, Ontario, Regan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Waterloo in 1984.

Career

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Journalism and community involvement

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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.

Politics

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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] Regan was Deputy Premier of Nova Scotia in the Rankin government from February 23, 2021 until August 31, 2021. Regan was re-elected in the 2021 election, however the Rankin Liberals lost government becoming the Official Opposition.[10][11] In August 2022, Liberal Leader Zach Churchill appointed her Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition, Chair of the Legislature’s Public Accounts, and shadow minister for Skills and Labour. She is a member of the Legislature Internal Affairs Committee. As of September 22, 2024, Regan serves as Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition and critic for Health and Wellness.

Electoral record

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2021 Nova Scotia general election: Bedford Basin
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Kelly Regan 3,700 50.87 –1.87 $54,231.55
Progressive Conservative Nick Driscoll 1,874 25.76 –5.10 $22,733.12
New Democratic Jacob Wilson 1,554 21.36 +9.58 $28,624.28
Green Madeleine Taylor 146 2.01 –2.61 $685.50
Total valid votes/Expense limit 7,274 99.68 – $77,511.59
Total rejected ballots 23 0.32
Turnout 7,297 55.61
Eligible voters 13,121
Liberal notional hold Swing +1.62
Source: Elections Nova Scotia[12][13]
2017 Nova Scotia general election
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
Green Michealle Hanshaw 485 4.38 –
2013 Nova Scotia general election
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
Green Ian Charles 217 2.16 –
2009 Nova Scotia general election
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
Green Neil Green 248 2.27 –

Personal life

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Regan married her husband Geoff, who was the Member of Parliament for Halifax West, in December 1993, and has three children, Caitlin, Nicole, and Harrison. She resides in Bedford.[14]

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

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  1. ^ "Electoral History for Bedford" (PDF). Nova Scotia Legislative Library. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  2. ^ "Nine Tory cabinet ministers bounced". The Chronicle Herald. 10 June 2009. Archived from the original on 13 June 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  3. ^ "Majority of Tory cabinet members lose seats". The Globe and Mail. 10 June 2009. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  4. ^ "NDP has iron grip on Metro Halifax". CBC News. 9 June 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  5. ^ "Metro Halifax ridings turn Liberal red". The Chronicle Herald. 8 October 2013. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Premier Stephen McNeil welcomes 16-member cabinet". CBC News. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  7. ^ "N.S. premier expands cabinet, reinstates former minister". CTV News. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  8. ^ "Stephen McNeil shuffles cabinet, but vows not to change course". CBC News. 15 June 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  9. ^ "N.S. cabinet unveiled: Casey now deputy premier, finance minister". The Chronicle Herald. 15 June 2017. Archived from the original on 15 June 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  10. ^ "Bad campaign, leader who didn't connect with voters led to N.S. Liberal loss: experts". CTV News. 18 August 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  11. ^ "Progressive Conservatives surge to surprise majority win in Nova Scotia election". CBC News. 17 August 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  12. ^ "Provincial General Election 2021-08-17- Official Results". Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  13. ^ "41st Provincial General Election". Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Life in the Regan household not all politics". Halifax News Net. 19 November 2009. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
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