Graham Steele

Graham J. Steele (July 8, 1964, Winnipeg, Manitoba) is a Canadian lawyer, author, and former politician, having represented the constituency of Halifax Fairview in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 2001 to 2013 for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party. In January 2021, he began service as the Information and Privacy Commissioner for Nunavut.[1]

The Honourable
Graham Steele
ECNS
Member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
for Halifax Fairview
In office
March 6, 2001 – October 8, 2013
Preceded byEileen O'Connell
Succeeded byLena Diab
Minister of Finance
In office
June 19, 2009 – May 30, 2012
PremierDarrell Dexter
Preceded byJamie Muir
Succeeded byMaureen MacDonald
Minister of Acadian Affairs
In office
June 19, 2009 – May 30, 2012
PremierDarrell Dexter
Preceded byChris d'Entremont
Succeeded byDave Wilson
Minister of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism
In office
May 10, 2013 – October 22, 2013
PremierDarrell Dexter
Preceded byPercy Paris
Succeeded byMichel Samson
Personal details
Born (1964-07-06) July 6, 1964
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Political partyNDP
Residence(s)Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
OccupationLawyer
Websitewww.grahamsteele.ca
Not to be confused with Graham Steele (American attorney), an American lawyer and policy advisor.

Early life and education

A native of Winnipeg, Steele graduated with a BA from the University of Manitoba and was recipient of the Governor General's Silver Medal. Steele received a Rhodes Scholarship and attended St Edmund Hall, Oxford University, graduating in 1986 with a degree in philosophy, politics, and economics. Steele moved to Halifax in fall 1986 to attend Dalhousie Law School and graduated with an LLB in 1989.

Steele practised law with Stewart McKelvey Stirling Scales in Halifax from 1989 to 1993 and was General Counsel to the Nova Scotia Workers Compensation Board from 1993 to 1998. Steele was Research Director for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party's caucus office from 1998 to 2001.

Steele has done workshops in Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and the Middle East for the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs.

Political career

In 2001 Steele successfully ran for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party nomination in the riding of Halifax Fairview.[2][3] He was elected in a by-election in March 2001,[4][5] winning the seat with 58.17%[6] of the vote. Steele was re-elected in the 2003, (45.85%[7]) 2006 (58.51%[8]) and 2009 provincial elections (63.71%[9]).

While in official opposition, Steele served as the NDP's critic for Finance, Environment, Acadian Affairs, Insurance Act, and Treasury and Policy Board. He also served as Deputy House Leader. During this time, Steele also served on the Select Committee on Democratic Participation and was Chair of the Public Accounts Committee.

On June 19, 2009, Steele was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia where he served as Minister of Finance as well as Minister of Acadian Affairs.[10] On May 30, 2012, Steele resigned from cabinet and announced that he would not be re-offering in the next election.[11][12][13][14][15] Steele was appointed an honorary member of the Executive Council of Nova Scotia on May 31, 2012.

Steele was re-appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia on May 10, 2013 where he took over as Minister of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism, as well as Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs following the resignation of Percy Paris.[16] Steele served in the Executive Council of Nova Scotia until October 22, 2013.

Life after politics

He became a broadcaster on CBC Information Morning, providing a weekly political commentary. In September 2014, he released a memoir called What I Learned About Politics: Inside the Rise — and Collapse – of Nova Scotia's NDP Government.[17] The book was a shortlisted nominee for the 2015 Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing.[18]

Steele taught at the Rowe School of Business at Dalhousie University from 2016 to 2019.

Personal life

Steele is an Esperantist, having offered part of his legislative website in Esperanto,[19] and has commemorated Nova Scotia Esperantists in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.[20] He is married to Tilly Pillay and they have two children.[21]

References
  1. Patar, Dustin (3 November 2020). "Nunavut MLAs appoint new information and privacy commissioner". Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  2. "Steele to carry banner for NDP in Halifax Fairview". The Daily News. Halifax. 23 January 2001.
  3. "NDP pick Steele to contest Fairview byelection". The Chronicle Herald. 23 January 2001.
  4. "Mixed results for NDP in crucial N.S. byelections". CBC News. 7 March 2001. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  5. "Steele savours byelection win". The Chronicle Herald. 7 March 2001. Archived from the original on 11 March 2001. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  6. "By-election Returns, 2001 (Halifax Fairview)" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  7. "Election Returns, 2003 (Halifax Fairview)" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  8. "Election Returns, 2006 (Halifax Fairview)" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  9. "Election Returns, 2009 (Halifax Fairview)" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  10. "Atlantic Canada's 1st NDP government takes office in Nova Scotia". CBC News. 19 June 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  11. "Steele to give up seat". The Chronicle Herald. 30 May 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  12. "First female finance minister appointed in N.S." CBC News. 30 May 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  13. "Premier shuffles cabinet, MacDonald takes over finance". Metro. 30 May 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  14. "Cabinet shuffle: Losing some keepers". The Chronicle Herald. 31 May 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  15. "Dexter shuffles cabinet as senior members say farewell". News 95.7. 31 May 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  16. "N.S. cabinet minister resigns after bathroom fight". CBC News. 10 May 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  17. "Why he quit: Union contract last straw for Graham Steele". The Chronicle Herald. 3 September 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  18. "Shaughnessy Cohen Prize finalists announced". The Globe and Mail, January 27, 2015.
  19. Graham Steele, MLA - Esperanto Archived 2010-08-03 at the Wayback Machine
  20. "Nova Scotia House of Assembly, Hansard, May 5, 2005". Nova Scotia Legislature. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  21. Stainless Steele Atlantic Business Magazine
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