Shawn Graham

Shawn Graham 2007

Shawn Michael Graham (born February 22, 1968 in Rexton , New Brunswick ) is a Canadian politician . He was Prime Minister of the Province of New Brunswick from October 3, 2006 to October 12, 2010. The trained teacher entered politics in 1998 when he took over the seat previously held by his father in a by-election. In 2002 he was elected chairman of the New Brunswick Liberal Association and led the opposition in the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly for four years .

biography

His father, Alan Graham , was a member of the Legislative Assembly for 31 years, the longest term in office of any MP in the history of the province. His son Shawn trained to be a teacher at the University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University . But he only worked part-time in this profession and mainly worked in public administration. After his father's resignation, Shawn Graham ran for the vacant parliamentary seat in the Kent electoral district and was elected as his successor in March 1998 by a large margin.

Camille Thériault , leader of the Liberals, announced his resignation in March 2001, and his successor was to be determined at a party congress in May 2002. As there was a lack of candidates, Graham was persuaded to run as well. Contrary to the forecasts, he was able to prevail in the third ballot and became the new chairman. Although Graham was little known in public, the Liberals were able to increase their share of the vote by over seven percent in June 2003 and only missed the majority by two seats. In autumn 2004, Graham was in the opinion polls for the first time before the progressive-conservative Prime Minister Bernard Lord . A stalemate arose in February 2006 when a member of the government resigned and exercised his mandate as an independent.

In the early elections in September 2006, the Liberals were able to increase their share of the vote and win a narrow majority of the seats. Lieutenant Governor Herménégilde Chiasson swore in Graham on October 3rd as the new Prime Minister. He also took over the management of the Ministry of Culture and Sport, and was also responsible for relations with the federal government and the other provinces. In the elections to the provincial parliament in September 2010, the Liberal Party suffered a defeat, whereupon Graham resigned as prime minister.

Web links

• Official biography: English , French
• Shawn Graham ( English, French ) In: The Canadian Encyclopedia .