Kelly Regan

Kelly Regan
Deputy Premier of Nova Scotia
In office February 23, 2021 – August 31, 2021
Premier	Iain Rankin
Preceded by	Karen Casey
Succeeded by	Allan MacMaster
Member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly for Bedford Basin Bedford (2009-2021)
In office 9 June 2009 – 27 October 2024
Preceded by	Len Goucher
Minister of Community Services
In office 15 June 2017 – 31 August 2021
Premier	Stephen McNeil Iain Rankin
Preceded by	Joanne Bernard
Succeeded by	Karla MacFarlane
Minister of Labour and Advanced Education
In office 22 October 2013 – 15 June 2017
Premier	Stephen McNeil
Preceded by	Marilyn More
Succeeded by	Labi Kousoulis
Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act
In office 22 October 2013 – 31 August 2021
Premier	Stephen McNeil
Preceded by	Marilyn More
Succeeded by	Karla MacFarlane
Chief Opposition Whip
In office 12 January 2012 – 22 October 2013
Liberal Caucus Chair
In office 17 March 2010 – 12 January 2012
Personal details
Born	Kelly Maureen Smith (1961-02-04) February 4, 1961 Chatham, Ontario, Canada
Political party	Nova Scotia Liberal
Spouse	Geoff Regan ​ (m. 1993)​
Children	3
Residence(s)	Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada
Alma mater	University of Waterloo
Profession	Journalist
Website	www.kellyregan.ca

Kelly Maureen Regan (née Smith; born 4 February 1961) is a Canadian politician who served in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 2009 to 2024, most recently as the MLA for Bedford Basin. She was first elected as the Member for Bedford-Birch Cove. She is a member of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party.

Early life and education

A native of Kitchener, Ontario, Regan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Waterloo in 1984.

Career

Journalism and community involvement

Regan moved to Nova Scotia in 1984 where she began working at CFDR-AM as a reporter covering municipal politics. Her journalism career continued as news director at ATV / ASN for seven years where she won two awards for health documentaries. This was followed by various media and public relations projects.

Regan has been active in many community organizations, serving as a library volunteer at Sunnyside Schools, a member of the organizing committee of the annual Bedford volunteer awards, as executive member of Ridgevale Homeowners’ Association, and as an elder of Bedford United Church. She also serves as a judge for the Atlantic Journalism Awards. She is also a founding member of the Nova Scotia chapter of Equal Voice, a multi-partisan group dedicated to increasing the number of women elected in Canada.

Politics

In 2009, Regan successfully ran for the Nova Scotia Liberal Party nomination in the riding of Bedford-Birch Cove. She was elected in the 2009 provincial election, defeating Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Len Goucher. The riding was renamed Bedford in 2012 and she was re-elected in this riding in the 2013 provincial election.

On October 22, 2013, following the Liberal victory in the 2013 Nova Scotia general election Regan was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia to serve as Minister of Labour and Advanced Education and Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act. On July 24, 2015, Regan was given an additional role in cabinet as minister responsible for youth.

On June 15, 2017, following the Liberal re-election in the 2017 Nova Scotia general election Premier Stephen McNeil shuffled his cabinet, moving Regan to Minister of Community Services, while keeping her as Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act. Regan was Deputy Premier of Nova Scotia in the Rankin government from February 23, 2021 until August 31, 2021. Regan was re-elected in the 2021 election, however the Rankin Liberals lost government becoming the Official Opposition. In August 2022, Liberal Leader Zach Churchill appointed her Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition, Chair of the Legislature’s Public Accounts, and shadow minister for Skills and Labour. She is a member of the Legislature Internal Affairs Committee. As of September 22, 2024, Regan serves as Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition and critic for Health and Wellness.

Electoral record

2021 Nova Scotia general election: Bedford Basin
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Liberal	Kelly Regan	3,700	50.87	–1.88	$54,231.55
	Progressive Conservative	Nick Driscoll	1,874	25.76	–5.10	$22,733.12
	New Democratic	Jacob Wilson	1,554	21.36	+9.59	$28,624.28
	Green	Madeleine Taylor	146	2.01	–2.61	$685.50
Total valid votes/Expense limit			7,274	99.68	–	$77,511.59
Total rejected ballots			23	0.32
Turnout			7,297	55.51
Eligible voters			13,146
	Liberal notional hold		Swing		+1.61
Source: Elections Nova Scotia

2017 Nova Scotia general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Kelly Regan	5,831	52.69
	Progressive Conservative	Valerie White	3,388	30.61
	New Democratic Party	Mike Poworozynk	1,362	12.30
	Green	Michealle Hanshaw	485	4.38	–

2013 Nova Scotia general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Kelly Regan	6,081	60.66
	Progressive Conservative	Joan Christie	2,026	20.21
	New Democratic Party	Mike Poworozynk	1,701	16.97
	Green	Ian Charles	217	2.16	–

2009 Nova Scotia general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Kelly Regan	4,861	44.48
	New Democratic Party	Brian Mosher	3,552	32.50
	Progressive Conservative	Len Goucher	2,268	20.75
	Green	Neil Green	248	2.27	–

Personal life

Regan married her husband Geoff, who was the Member of Parliament for Halifax West, in December 1993, and has three children, Caitlin, Nicole, and Harrison. She resides in Bedford.

She is the granddaughter in law of John Harrison, daughter in law of Gerald Regan and sister in law of the longest host of CTV News at 5 (previously Live at 5) Nancy Regan and actress Laura Regan, of FOX's Minority Report.

External links

• Official website
• Members of the Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly
• Liberal caucus profile