Gerald Regan facts for kids

Gerald Augustine Paul Regan (February 13, 1928 – November 26, 2019) was an important Canadian politician. He served as a federal MP and later as a Nova Scotia MLA. He is best known for being the 19th premier of Nova Scotia from 1970 to 1978.

Early Life and Education

Gerald Regan was born in Windsor, Nova Scotia. His family had some Irish roots. He was the son of Rose Mary and Walter Edward Regan. He studied law at Dalhousie Law School. In 1954, he became a member of the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society, which meant he could practice law.

Becoming a Lawyer

After finishing his studies, Gerald Regan became a very well-known lawyer in the region. He specialized in labour law. This type of law deals with the rights and rules for workers and their employers. Because he was so good at his job and well-known, he was asked to enter politics.

Starting His Political Journey

Gerald Regan began his political career in the House of Commons. This is where elected officials from across Canada meet to make laws. He was first elected in 1963.

In 1965, he left his federal seat to become the leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party. He then joined the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in 1967. Here, he became the Leader of the Opposition. This meant he was the main critic of the government at the time, led by Premier George Isaac Smith. In 1969, he famously spoke for fourteen hours straight to try and stop a sales tax increase. This long speech is called a filibuster.

Leading Nova Scotia as Premier

In the 1970 election, Regan's Liberal party won a minority government. This means they won the most seats but not enough to have full control. However, they were re-elected in 1974 with a majority government. This time, they had enough seats to pass laws more easily.

As premier, Gerald Regan focused on making Nova Scotia's economy stronger. He supported new industries and the search for oil and gas off the coast.

Important Projects as Premier

During his time as premier, Regan's government made several important changes:

• They updated the province's labour laws. This made it harder for courts to stop workers from protesting during disputes.
• They created the office of the provincial ombudsman. An ombudsman is someone who investigates complaints from the public about government actions.
• His government also took over the Nova Scotia Light and Power company. They combined all electricity supply under one new company, the Nova Scotia Power Corporation.
• A big plan was announced to use the power of the tides in the Bay of Fundy to create electricity.

In the 1978 election, Regan's government was defeated by John Buchanan's Progressive Conservative Party. This happened partly because of the "oil shock," which affected the economy.

Back to Federal Politics

Gerald Regan returned to the federal House of Commons in 1980. He was appointed as the Minister of Labour and the Minister of State for International Trade. These were important roles in the government of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. However, he lost his seat in the 1984 election, when the Liberal government was defeated.

Family Life

Gerald Regan was married to Anita Carole Thomas (Harrison). Her father, John Harrison, was also a Liberal Member of Parliament. Gerald and Anita had six children.

Some of their children also became well-known:

• Geoff Regan became the 36th Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada. He also served as a minister in the government of Paul Martin.
• Nancy Regan became a local television personality.
• Laura Regan became an actress.

Gerald Regan passed away on November 26, 2019, at the age of 91.