Jim Smith (Nova Scotia politician)

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]

Jim Smith
MLA for Dartmouth East
In office
1984–2003
Preceded byRichard L. Weldon
Succeeded byJoan Massey
Minister of Health
In office
June 9, 1997 – August 16, 1999
Preceded byBernie Boudreau
Succeeded byJamie Muir
Personal details
Born
James Alexander Smith

(1935-05-25)May 25, 1935
Liverpool, Nova Scotia, Canada
DiedJanuary 18, 2020(2020-01-18) (aged 84)
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Political partyLiberal
OccupationDoctor

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]

References
  1. "Electoral History for Dartmouth East" (PDF). Nova Scotia Legislative Library. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
  3. "Liberal Caucus biography". Nova Scotia Liberal Caucus. Archived from the original on April 17, 2003. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
  4. "Cabinet biography". Government of Nova Scotia. Archived from the original on December 1, 1998. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
  5. "Health big issue in minister's riding". The Chronicle Herald. July 12, 1999. Archived from the original on January 24, 2005. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
  6. "Returns of General Election for the House of Assembly 1981" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. 1981. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-03-10. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
  7. "Returns of General Election for the House of Assembly 1984" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. 1984. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-05. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
  8. "Buchanan Tories crush opponents in N.S. election". The Globe and Mail. November 7, 1984.
  9. "Returns of General Election for the House of Assembly 1988" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. 1988. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-05-12. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
  10. "Returns of General Election for the House of Assembly 1993" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. 1993. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-10-06. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
  11. "Liberal landslide". The Chronicle Herald. May 26, 1993. Archived from the original on August 30, 2000. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
  12. "Historic Liberal cabinet sworn in". The Chronicle Herald. June 12, 1993. Archived from the original on August 30, 2000. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
  13. "Premier shuffles cabinet". Government of Nova Scotia. June 27, 1996. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
  14. "Premier appoints new Minister of Health". Government of Nova Scotia. June 6, 1997. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
  15. "MacLellan makeover". The Chronicle Herald. July 19, 1997. Archived from the original on February 4, 1998. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
  16. "Election Returns, 1998 (Dartmouth East)" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
  17. "NDP takes metro". The Chronicle Herald. March 25, 1998. Archived from the original on January 24, 2005. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
  18. "A cabinet with four legs". The Chronicle Herald. April 9, 1998. Archived from the original on January 23, 2005. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
  19. "Premier MacLellan shuffles cabinet". Government of Nova Scotia. December 11, 1998. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
  20. "Election Returns, 1999 (Dartmouth East)" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
  21. "Grits to lose veteran Dartmouth MLA". CBC News. May 2, 2003. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
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