Graham Steele

The Honourable Graham Steele E.C.N.S.
Graham Steele, MLA
MLA for Halifax Fairview
In office March 2001 – October 8, 2013
Preceded by	Eileen O'Connell
Succeeded by	Lena Diab
Minister of Finance
In office June 19, 2009 – May 30, 2012
Preceded by	Jamie Muir
Succeeded by	Maureen MacDonald
Minister of Acadian Affairs
In office June 19, 2009 – May 30, 2012
Preceded by	Chris d'Entremont
Succeeded by	Dave Wilson
Minister of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism
In office May 10, 2013 – October 22, 2013
Preceded by	Percy Paris
Succeeded by	Michel Samson
Personal details
Born	July 6, 1964 Winnipeg, Manitoba
Political party	NDP
Residence	Halifax, Nova Scotia
Occupation	lawyer
Website	www.grahamsteele.ca

Graham Steele (July 8, 1964, Winnipeg, Manitoba) is a Canadian lawyer and former politician, having represented the constituency of Halifax Fairview in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 2001-2013 for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party.

A native of Winnipeg, Steele graduated with a B.A. 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 (PPE). Steele moved to Halifax in fall 1986 to attend Dalhousie Law School and graduated with an LL.B. in 1989.

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

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

Steele is an Esperantist, having offered part of his legislative website in Esperanto,^[1] and has commemorated Nova Scotia Esperantists in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.^[2]

Political career

In 2001 Steele successfully ran for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party nomination in the riding of Halifax Fairview.^[3][4] He was elected in a by-election in March 2001,^[5][6] winning the seat with 58.17%^[7] of the vote. Steele was re-elected in the 2003, (45.85%^[8]) 2006 (58.51%^[9]) and 2009 provincial elections (63.71%^[10]).

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.^[11] On May 30, 2012, Steele resigned from cabinet and announced that he would not be re-offering in the next election.^{[12][13][14][15][16]} 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.^[17] 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.^[18] The book was a shortlisted nominee for the 2015 Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing.^[19]

References

1. Graham Steele, MLA - Esperanto
2. "Nova Scotia House of Assembly, Hansard, May 5, 2005". Nova Scotia Legislature. Retrieved 2014-10-14.
3. "Steele to carry banner for NDP in Halifax Fairview". The Daily News (Halifax). January 23, 2001.
4. "NDP pick Steele to contest Fairview byelection". The Chronicle Herald. January 23, 2001.
5. "Mixed results for NDP in crucial N.S. byelections". CBC News. March 7, 2001. Retrieved 2014-10-14.
6. "Steele savours byelection win". The Chronicle Herald. March 7, 2001. Archived from the original on March 11, 2001. Retrieved 2015-07-29.
7. "By-election Returns, 2001 (Halifax Fairview)" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved 2014-10-14.
8. "Election Returns, 2003 (Halifax Fairview)" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved 2014-10-14.
9. "Election Returns, 2006 (Halifax Fairview)" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved 2014-10-14.
10. "Election Returns, 2009 (Halifax Fairview)" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved 2014-10-14.
11. "Atlantic Canada's 1st NDP government takes office in Nova Scotia". CBC News. June 19, 2009. Retrieved 2014-10-14.
12. "Steele to give up seat". The Chronicle Herald. May 30, 2012. Retrieved 2014-10-14.
13. "First female finance minister appointed in N.S.". CBC News. May 30, 2012. Retrieved 2014-10-14.
14. "Premier shuffles cabinet, MacDonald takes over finance". Metro. May 30, 2012. Retrieved 2014-10-14.
15. "Cabinet shuffle: Losing some keepers". The Chronicle Herald. May 31, 2012. Retrieved 2014-10-14.
16. "Dexter shuffles cabinet as senior members say farewell". News 95.7. May 31, 2012. Retrieved 2014-10-14.
17. "N.S. cabinet minister resigns after bathroom fight". CBC News. May 10, 2013. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
18. "Why he quit: Union contract last straw for Graham Steele". The Chronicle Herald. September 3, 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-14.
19. "Shaughnessy Cohen Prize finalists announced". The Globe and Mail, January 27, 2015.

External links

• New Books Network audio interview with Graham Steele on his book What I learned About Politics.