Chris Collins (politician)
Encyclopedia
Chris Collins is a politician from Moncton, New Brunswick
, Canada
. Currently the sitting MLA
(Liberal) for the riding of Moncton East
, having previously served part of one term on Moncton City Council
.
Collins first entered politics as a New Brunswick New Democratic Party
candidate in the 1987 election
. He was not active in politics thereafter until his son, Sean, became ill with cancer in 2002. Frustrated by the lack of support by the lack of assistance in travel costs for he and his family to go see his son who was being treated at the IWK Health Centre
in Halifax, Nova Scotia
, he tried to meet his local Member of Legislative Assembly
. That MLA was Bernard Lord
, who was concurrently serving as Premier of New Brunswick
and would not take his meetings.
Frustrated, Collins ran against Lord, a Progressive Conservative
, under the Liberal
banner. Collins made it a close race and for parts of election night, Collins led Lord, though Lord was eventually victorious by a margin of 10%. Collins sought election to Moncton City Council
in the 2004 municipal elections
and won. He was widely expected to face Lord in a rematch in what would be the 2006 election
but was travelling to Australia with his son when the election was called a year earlier than expected. Collins was elected however to replace Lord in a by-election
in 2007 after Lord resigned the leadership of his party and his seat in the legislature following his government's defeat in the 2006 election.
Collins' son Sean died on July 9, 2007 at the age of 13.
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Currently the sitting MLA
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
(Liberal) for the riding of Moncton East
Moncton East
Moncton East is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, Canada. Prior to 2007, it has been held by only two individuals both of whom served as Premier of New Brunswick. Ray Frenette, a Liberal who served as premier from 1997 to 1998, represented the district...
, having previously served part of one term on Moncton City Council
Moncton City Council
The Moncton City Council is the governing body of the City of Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. It consists of a mayor and ten councillors elected to four-year terms. The council is non-partisan with the mayor serving as the chairman, casting a ballot only in cases of a tie vote...
.
Collins first entered politics as a New Brunswick New Democratic Party
New Brunswick New Democratic Party
The New Brunswick New Democratic Party is a social-democratic provincial political party in New Brunswick, Canada linked with the federal New Democratic Party .-Origins and early history:...
candidate in the 1987 election
New Brunswick general election, 1987
The 31st New Brunswick general election was held on October 13, 1987, to elect 58 members to the 51st New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada...
. He was not active in politics thereafter until his son, Sean, became ill with cancer in 2002. Frustrated by the lack of support by the lack of assistance in travel costs for he and his family to go see his son who was being treated at the IWK Health Centre
IWK Health Centre
The IWK Health Centre is a hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia that provides care to women, children, and youth from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.-Location:The IWK Health Centre is located in the south end of Halifax...
in Halifax, Nova Scotia
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
, he tried to meet his local Member of Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
The Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick is located in Fredericton. It was established de jure when the colony was created in 1784, but only came in to session in 1786 following the first elections in late 1785. Until 1891, it was the lower house in a bicameral legislature when its upper house...
. That MLA was Bernard Lord
Bernard Lord
Bernard Lord, ONB, QC, is a Canadian politician and lobbyist. Lord served as the 30th Premier of New Brunswick from 1999 to 2006.-Early life:...
, who was concurrently serving as Premier of New Brunswick
Premier of New Brunswick
The Premier of New Brunswick is the first minister for the Canadian province of New Brunswick. They are the province's head of government and de facto chief executive....
and would not take his meetings.
Frustrated, Collins ran against Lord, a Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick
The Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick is a centre-right political party in New Brunswick, Canada. It has its origins in the pre-Canadian confederation Conservative Party that opposed the granting of responsible government to the colony...
, under the Liberal
New Brunswick Liberal Association
The New Brunswick Liberal Association , more popularly known as the New Brunswick Liberal Party or Liberal Party of New Brunswick, is one of the two major political parties in the Canadian province of New Brunswick...
banner. Collins made it a close race and for parts of election night, Collins led Lord, though Lord was eventually victorious by a margin of 10%. Collins sought election to Moncton City Council
Moncton City Council
The Moncton City Council is the governing body of the City of Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. It consists of a mayor and ten councillors elected to four-year terms. The council is non-partisan with the mayor serving as the chairman, casting a ballot only in cases of a tie vote...
in the 2004 municipal elections
New Brunswick municipal elections, 2004
The most recent municipal elections in the Canadian province of New Brunswick were held on May 10, 2004. All 104 municipalities in New Brunswick elected mayors and councillors. Also held on that day were elections for regional health boards and district education councils.These elections marked the...
and won. He was widely expected to face Lord in a rematch in what would be the 2006 election
New Brunswick general election, 2006
The 36th New Brunswick general election was held on September 18, 2006, to elect 55 members to the 56th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada....
but was travelling to Australia with his son when the election was called a year earlier than expected. Collins was elected however to replace Lord in a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
in 2007 after Lord resigned the leadership of his party and his seat in the legislature following his government's defeat in the 2006 election.
Collins' son Sean died on July 9, 2007 at the age of 13.