Gerald Keddy
Encyclopedia
Gerald Gordon Keddy is a Canadian
politician. Keddy is a former Christmas tree grower, and offshore drill operator. He is currently serving as the Parliamentary Secretary
to the Minister of International Trade Canada
. His wife, Judy Streatch
, is a former Nova Scotia MLA and cabinet minister.
. He is a graduate of Acadia University
. He is a current member of the Conservative Party of Canada
in the Canadian House of Commons
, representing the riding of South Shore from 1997 to 2004, and South Shore—St. Margaret's
since 2004. He was a member of the Progressive Conservative Party
before 2004. He served as the Whip and the Deputy Whip of the Progressive Conservative Party, and as critic of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Natural Resources, Fisheries and Oceans, Public Accounts, Parliamentary Affairs, and Library of Parliament.
As a member of Stephen Harper
's caucus, he currently serves as the Chairman of the Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans. On October 10, 2007, Keddy was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. He also served as a school board trustee in New Ross, Nova Scotia.
, including some to Christian Heritage Party
candidate Jim Hnatiuk
who ran specifically to protest Keddy's stance on this issue. However, an evenly split opposition (Liberal and New Democrat rivals came within 60 votes of each other) and rising Green Party also split his opposition's vote.
in 2008, which led to Royal Assent on May 29, 2008.
, saying that "many of these people are struggling with mental health issues and addictions. They don’t need to be insulted. They need a little bit of assistance,"
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...
politician. Keddy is a former Christmas tree grower, and offshore drill operator. He is currently serving as the Parliamentary Secretary
Parliamentary Secretary
A Parliamentary Secretary is a member of a Parliament in the Westminster system who assists a more senior minister with his or her duties.In the parliamentary systems of several Commonwealth countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, it is customary for the prime minister to...
to the Minister of International Trade Canada
Minister of International Trade (Canada)
The Minister of International Trade is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet is the head of the federal government's international trade department and the provisions of treaties such as the North American Free Trade Agreement .The post was first established in 1983 as the Minister...
. His wife, Judy Streatch
Judy Streatch
Judy Streatch is a Canadian politician, who was a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Chester-St. Margaret's in Nova Scotia from 2005 to 2009....
, is a former Nova Scotia MLA and cabinet minister.
Life and political career
Keddy was born in Bridgewater, Nova ScotiaBridgewater, Nova Scotia
Bridgewater is a town in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, Canada, at the navigable limit of the LaHave River. It is the largest town in the South Shore region. While the majority of the South Shore's economy is based upon the tourist trade, Bridgewater is more a commercial and industrial centre and...
. He is a graduate of Acadia University
Acadia University
Acadia University is a predominantly undergraduate university located in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada with some graduate programs at the master's level and one at the doctoral level...
. He is a current member of the Conservative Party of Canada
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
, representing the riding of South Shore from 1997 to 2004, and South Shore—St. Margaret's
South Shore—St. Margaret's
South Shore–St. Margaret's is a federal electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1968. It covers the South Shore region of Nova Scotia....
since 2004. He was a member of the Progressive Conservative Party
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
before 2004. He served as the Whip and the Deputy Whip of the Progressive Conservative Party, and as critic of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Natural Resources, Fisheries and Oceans, Public Accounts, Parliamentary Affairs, and Library of Parliament.
As a member of Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
's caucus, he currently serves as the Chairman of the Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans. On October 10, 2007, Keddy was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. He also served as a school board trustee in New Ross, Nova Scotia.
Same sex marriage
He is one of only a handful of Conservative MPs to support same-sex marriage. His stance on this issue cost him votes in the western portion of his riding in the Canadian federal election, 2006Canadian federal election, 2006
The 2006 Canadian federal election was held on January 23, 2006, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 39th Parliament of Canada. The Conservative Party of Canada won the greatest number of seats: 40.3% of seats, or 124 out of 308, up from 99 seats in 2004, and 36.3% of votes:...
, including some to Christian Heritage Party
Christian Heritage Party of Canada
The Christian Heritage Party of Canada, also referred to as CHP Canada, is a federal political party that advocates that Canada be governed according to Biblical principles...
candidate Jim Hnatiuk
Jim Hnatiuk
Jim Hnatiuk is the leader of the Christian Heritage Party of Canada. He was elected to that post in November 2008.As a youth, he attended a boarding school run by Oblate priests...
who ran specifically to protest Keddy's stance on this issue. However, an evenly split opposition (Liberal and New Democrat rivals came within 60 votes of each other) and rising Green Party also split his opposition's vote.
Lighthouses
Keddy's riding includes many historic lighthouses and is in fact known as the "Lighthouse Route". In 2006, he sponsored in the House of Commons a bill which had emerged from the Senate, the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act, until Parliament was prorogued in 2007. Keddy supported the Act when it was re-introduced by MP Larry MillerLarry Miller (politician)
Larry Miller is a Canadian politician. He is a current member of the Canadian House of Commons, representing the riding of Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound for the Conservative Party....
in 2008, which led to Royal Assent on May 29, 2008.
Government Cheques with Conservative Party ethics probe
In 2009, Keddy used a ceremonial cheque at a funding announcement which contained a large Conservative party logo and was in the blue colour scheme associated with the party. Usually such cheques carry the Government of Canada logo. The use of the partisan cheque was found to be "inappropriate" but not "illegal" by the Ethics CommissionerNovember 2009 "no-good bastards" comment
On November 23, 2009, Keddy sparked a controversy when he was discussing the use of immigrant labour in the industry when he remarked that "Nova Scotians won’t do it — all those no-good bastards sitting on the sidewalk in Halifax that can’t get work." Keddy subsequently apologized for the remark the following day, saying that "many of these people are struggling with mental health issues and addictions. They don’t need to be insulted. They need a little bit of assistance,"