David Nantes (politician) explained

David Nantes
Birth Date:6 June 1945
Birth Place:Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Office:MLA for Cole Harbour
Term Start:1978
Term End:1993
Predecessor:new riding
Successor:riding dissolved
Office2:Minister of Health
Term Start2:December 23, 1988
Term End2:September 25, 1990
Predecessor2:Joel Matheson
Successor2:George Moody
Party:Progressive Conservative

Gerald David Nantes (born June 6, 1945) is an engineer and former political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Cole Harbour in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1978 to 1993 as a Progressive Conservative member.[1]

Early life and career

Nantes was born in 1945 at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, the son of Gerald T. Nantes and Mary Catherine Hogan.[2] He was educated at St. Dunstan's University, the Technical University of Nova Scotia and Dalhousie University.[2] Nantes married Diane LaRose in March 1967.[2] Nantes was the president and chief executive officer of the Nova Scotia Tidal Power Corporation from January 1980[2] to March 1984.[3]

Political career

Nantes entered provincial politics in the 1978 election, winning the Cole Harbour riding.[4] He was re-elected in 1981.[5] On November 4, 1983, Nantes was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia as Minister of Labour.[6] [7] Nantes was re-elected in the 1984 election,[8] and continued to serve in the Labour portfolio until moving to Minister of Municipal Affairs in a November 1985 cabinet shuffle.[9] [10] In November 1987, Nantes was shuffled to Minister of Small Business Development.[11] [12]

In the 1988 election, Nantes was re-elected for a fourth term, defeating Liberal Alan Mitchell by 1400 votes.[13] In a post election cabinet shuffle, he was named Minister of Health.[14] On September 25, 1990, Nantes resigned from cabinet after Halifax police charged him with releasing confidential mental health information about a former deputy minister who had made allegations of widespread patronage in the Tory government.[15] [16] An initial investigation of Nantes's remarks found that no charges could be laid as he was protected by parliamentary privilege,[17] but the case was reopened when the local CBC station broadcast similar comments made by Nantes to reporters outside the legislature.[18] Nantes went on trial in January 1991,[19] and was acquitted of the charges in March 1991.[20] [21]

On January 22, 1993, Nantes announced that he was not running for re-election in the 1993 election.[22]

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Electoral History for Cole Harbour. Nova Scotia Legislative Library. 2015-11-21. March 4, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023730/http://nslegislature.ca/pdfs/about/ConstituencyHistories/cole%20harbour-eastern%20passage.pdf. dead.
  2. Book: Elliott. Shirley B.. The Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia, 1758–1983 : a biographical directory. 2018-05-07. 1984. Public Archives of Nova Scotia. 0-88871-050-X. 166.
  3. News: Chairman appointed. The Globe and Mail. March 31, 1984.
  4. Web site: Returns of General Election for the House of Assembly 1978. Elections Nova Scotia. 49. 2015-11-21.
  5. Web site: Returns of General Election for the House of Assembly 1981 . Elections Nova Scotia . 52 . 2015-11-21 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140310212300/http://electionsnovascotia.ca/sites/default/files/General%20Election%201981.pdf . 2014-03-10 .
  6. News: Five added, seven shift jobs in Nova Scotia inner circle. The Globe and Mail. November 5, 1983.
  7. News: Five new faces enter cabinet. The Chronicle Herald. November 5, 1983.
  8. Web site: Returns of General Election for the House of Assembly 1984 . Elections Nova Scotia . 54 . 2015-11-21 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131005021932/http://electionsnovascotia.ca/sites/default/files/General%20Election%201984.pdf . 2013-10-05 .
  9. News: First woman appointed to Nova Scotia Cabinet. The Globe and Mail. November 22, 1985.
  10. News: 3 new faces join cabinet. The Chronicle Herald. November 22, 1985.
  11. News: Buchanan shuffles his Cabinet. The Globe and Mail. November 25, 1987.
  12. News: New look cabinet for NS: surprise move changes ministers, departments. The Chronicle Herald. November 25, 1987.
  13. Web site: Returns of General Election for the House of Assembly 1988 . Elections Nova Scotia . 54 . 2015-11-21 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140512225642/http://electionsnovascotia.ca/sites/default/files/General%20Election%201988.pdf . 2014-05-12 .
  14. News: Premier shuffles Cabinet: Thornhill back, Bacon promoted. The Chronicle Herald. December 24, 1988.
  15. News: N.S. Health Minister quits over charges. The Globe and Mail. September 26, 1990.
  16. News: N.S. minister quits cabinet after police lay two charges. Toronto Star. September 26, 1990.
  17. News: Nantes will not be charged: minister protected by parliamentary privilege. The Chronicle Herald. July 18, 1990.
  18. News: 'Additional information' reason for investigation. The Chronicle Herald. July 25, 1990.
  19. News: Ex-health minister on trial in privacy case. Toronto Star. January 23, 1991.
  20. News: Former minister cleared of charges. The Globe and Mail. March 9, 1991.
  21. News: NS health minister not guilty on confidentiality charge. Medical Post. 27. 11. March 19, 1991.
  22. News: Nantes quits politics. The Chronicle Herald. January 23, 1993.