Current Legislative duties:

Minister of Finance, Minister responsible for the Credit Union Act, Minister responsible for the Liquor Control Act, Minister responsible for the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation, Minister responsible for the Securities Act, Minister responsible for the Utility and Review Board Act

Past Legislative duties:

Minister of Health, Minister of Health Promotion and Protection, Minister responsible for the Office of Gaelic Affairs, NDP Caucus Chair, Health Critic, Education Critic, Critic for Status of Women and the Public Service Commission, Vice Chair of Standing Committee on Community Services (Chair), Standing Committee on Economic Development, member of Standing Committee on Human Resources, member of Standing committee on Public Accounts; Critic for Health Promotion, Health Reform and Mental Health; Critic for African Nova Scotian Affairs, Critic for Labour and Workforce Development; Critic for the Workers Compensation Board; and Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.

Born:

1954, Linwood, Antigonish County, Nova Scotia

Education:

St. F.X. (B.A.), Maritime School of Social Work, Dal. (M.S.W.),
University of Warwick, U.K. (Ph.D.)

Employment:

social worker — Adolescent Services, N.S. Hospital;
community legal worker — Dal. Legal Aid;
researcher — CBC 1st Edition;
community health educator — North End Clinic;
professor — Maritime School of Social Work, Dalhousie U.

Community involvement:

Halifax Metro Credit Union, North End Community Health Association, Bryony House, Adsum House
Activism: numerous social justice organizations, e.g. Options, Social Action Coalition, Alternative Budget work, union organizing with transition house workers at Bryony House and Chrysalis House
NDP member since 1978, candidate in 1984 and 1988
Elected in Halifax Needham in 1998, re-elected in 1999, 2003, 2006 and 2009