Gerald Regan
Encyclopedia
Gerald Augustine Regan, PC
(born February 13, 1928) is a Canadian
politician
, who served as the 19th Premier of Nova Scotia
from 1970 to 1978.
Born in Windsor, Nova Scotia
, Regan graduated from Dalhousie Law School
and was admitted to the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society in 1954. He became one of the region's best known labour lawyers, and his high-profile image led to an invitation to enter politics.
He was first elected to the House of Commons
in the 1963 federal election
. He resigned his seat in 1965 when he was named leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party. Regan entered the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
in 1967, and aggressively pursued the government of Premier George Isaac Smith
as Leader of the opposition
. Regan led a fourteen hour filibuster
against the government's plans to increase the sales tax in 1969.
Regan's Liberals won a minority government
in 1970
, and were re-elected with a majority
in 1974
.
As premier
, Regan supported industrialization and the development of offshore gas and oil. His first government amended the province's labour code to prevent courts from issuing injunctions to prevent picketing in labour disputes, and the office of the provincial ombudsman was established. In its second term, the Regan government nationalized the Nova Scotia Light and Power electrical utility, and consolidated electricity supply under the Nova Scotia Power Corporation. A massive plan for the development of tidal power in the Bay of Fundy was also announced.
His government was defeated by John Buchanan
's, Progressive Conservative Party in the 1978 general election
, in part due to the oil shock's effect on the economy.
Regan returned to the federal House of Commons in the 1980 federal election
, and was appointed Minister of Labour and Minister of State for International Trade in the Cabinet of Prime Minister
Pierre Trudeau
. Regan was defeated along with the Liberal government in the 1984 election
.
In March 1995, he was charged with 16 counts of sexual offences, and ultimately faced trial for eight sex-related charges for events that allegedly occurred in 1956 and 1969. He was acquitted, but faced more charges in 1999. In 2002, the crown attorney's office announced that it would not continue prosecution on the eight remaining charges of sexual assault due to the age of the allegations, cost and the age of the defendant.
His son Geoff Regan
was first elected as a Liberal
MP
in 1993
. From 2003 until 2006, he served as Minister of Fisheries and Oceans in the government of Paul Martin. Two of his daughters are also well-known: Nancy Regan
was a local television personality with ATV
, and Laura Regan
is an actress.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
(born February 13, 1928) is a Canadian
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, who served as the 19th Premier of Nova Scotia
Premier of Nova Scotia
The Premier of Nova Scotia is the first minister for the Canadian province of Nova Scotia who presides over the Executive Council of Nova Scotia. Following the Westminster system, the premier is normally the leader of the political party which has the most seats in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly...
from 1970 to 1978.
Born in Windsor, Nova Scotia
Windsor, Nova Scotia
Windsor is a town located in Hants County, Mainland Nova Scotia at the junction of the Avon and St. Croix Rivers. It is the largest community in western Hants County with a 2001 population of 3,779 and was at one time the shire town of the county. The region encompassing present day Windsor was...
, Regan graduated from Dalhousie Law School
Dalhousie Law School
The Schulich School of Law is part of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Formerly called Dalhousie Law School, it was established in 1883, making it the oldest university-affiliated common law school in the Commonwealth. It is the primary law school in Atlantic Canada and...
and was admitted to the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society in 1954. He became one of the region's best known labour lawyers, and his high-profile image led to an invitation to enter politics.
He was first elected to the 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...
in the 1963 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1963
The Canadian federal election of 1963 was held on April 8 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 26th Parliament of Canada. It resulted in the defeat of the minority Progressive Conservative government of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker.-Overview:During the Tories' last year in...
. He resigned his seat in 1965 when he was named leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party. Regan entered the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
Nova Scotia House of Assembly
The Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...
in 1967, and aggressively pursued the government of Premier George Isaac Smith
George Isaac Smith
George Isaac Smith, usually referred to as G.I. Smith, was a Canadian lawyer who was recruited by Robert Stanfield to help rebuild the Progressive Conservatives in Nova Scotia. He was the 18th Premier of Nova Scotia from 1967 to 1970.Born in Stewiacke, Nova Scotia, Smith practice law in Truro. He...
as Leader of the opposition
Opposition (parliamentary)
Parliamentary opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster-based parliamentary system. Note that this article uses the term government as it is used in Parliamentary systems, i.e. meaning the administration or the cabinet rather than the state...
. Regan led a fourteen hour filibuster
Filibuster
A filibuster is a type of parliamentary procedure. Specifically, it is the right of an individual to extend debate, allowing a lone member to delay or entirely prevent a vote on a given proposal...
against the government's plans to increase the sales tax in 1969.
Regan's Liberals won a minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
in 1970
Nova Scotia general election, 1970
The 27th Nova Scotia general election was held on 13 October 1970 to elect members of the 50th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It was won by the Liberal party....
, and were re-elected with a majority
Majority government
A majority government is when the governing party has an absolute majority of seats in the legislature or parliament in a parliamentary system. This is as opposed to a minority government, where even the largest party wins only a plurality of seats and thus must constantly bargain for support from...
in 1974
Nova Scotia general election, 1974
The 28th Nova Scotia general election was held on 2 April 1974 to elect members of the 51st House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It was won by the Liberal party....
.
As premier
Premier (Canada)
In Canada, a premier is the head of government of a province or territory. There are currently ten provincial premiers and three territorial premiers in Canada....
, Regan supported industrialization and the development of offshore gas and oil. His first government amended the province's labour code to prevent courts from issuing injunctions to prevent picketing in labour disputes, and the office of the provincial ombudsman was established. In its second term, the Regan government nationalized the Nova Scotia Light and Power electrical utility, and consolidated electricity supply under the Nova Scotia Power Corporation. A massive plan for the development of tidal power in the Bay of Fundy was also announced.
His government was defeated by John Buchanan
John Buchanan
John MacLennan Buchanan, PC, QC is a Canadian lawyer and former politician who served as the 20th Premier of Nova Scotia from 1978 to 1990 and as a member of the Senate of Canada from 1990 to 2006.-Early life:...
's, Progressive Conservative Party in the 1978 general election
Nova Scotia general election, 1978
The 29th Nova Scotia general election was held on September 19, 1978 to elect members of the 52nd House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative party....
, in part due to the oil shock's effect on the economy.
Regan returned to the federal House of Commons in the 1980 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1980
The Canadian federal election of 1980 was held on February 18, 1980 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 32nd Parliament of Canada...
, and was appointed Minister of Labour and Minister of State for International Trade in the Cabinet of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
. Regan was defeated along with the Liberal government in the 1984 election
Canadian federal election, 1984
The Canadian federal election of 1984 was held on September 4 of that year to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 33rd Parliament of Canada...
.
In March 1995, he was charged with 16 counts of sexual offences, and ultimately faced trial for eight sex-related charges for events that allegedly occurred in 1956 and 1969. He was acquitted, but faced more charges in 1999. In 2002, the crown attorney's office announced that it would not continue prosecution on the eight remaining charges of sexual assault due to the age of the allegations, cost and the age of the defendant.
His son Geoff Regan
Geoff Regan
Geoffrey Paul Regan, PC, MP is a Canadian politician. He has the prenomial "the Honourable" and the postnomial "PC" for life by virtue of being made a privy councillor and a member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada. Regan grew up in a strong political family...
was first elected as a Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
in 1993
Canadian federal election, 1993
The Canadian federal election of 1993 was held on October 25 of that year to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 35th Parliament of Canada. Fourteen parties competed for the 295 seats in the House at that time...
. From 2003 until 2006, he served as Minister of Fisheries and Oceans in the government of Paul Martin. Two of his daughters are also well-known: Nancy Regan
Nancy Regan
Nancy Regan is a Canadian actress, journalist, news anchor, and television personality, most known for her fifteen year tenure as host of CTV's Live at 5, a live news and general interest television program reaching more than a quarter of a million viewers nightly...
was a local television personality with ATV
CTV Atlantic
CTV Atlantic is a system of four television stations in the Canadian Maritimes, owned and operated by the CTV Television Network, a division of Bell Media...
, and Laura Regan
Laura Regan
Laura Regan is a Canadian actress, best known for her role as Jessica Lynch in the TV movie Saving Jessica Lynch.-Private life:...
is an actress.