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Gordon Balser

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Canadian politician (1954–2024)

Gordon Balser
MLA for Digby-Annapolis
In office
March 24, 1998 – August 5, 2003
Preceded byJoseph H. Casey
Succeeded byHarold Theriault
Personal details
Born(1954-02-24)February 24, 1954
Digby, Nova Scotia, Canada
DiedApril 10, 2024(2024-04-10) (aged 70)
Digby, Nova Scotia, Canada
Political partyProgressive Conservative
OccupationTeacher

Gordon Douglas Balser (February 24, 1954 – April 10, 2024) was a Canadian educator and politician in Nova Scotia. He represented Digby-Annapolis in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1998 to 2003 as a Progressive Conservative member.

Early life

Balser was born on February 24, 1954. He grew up on a farm in Digby, Nova Scotia. He had four brothers and a sister. He attended Acadia University, where he received a BBA, BEd and a Masters in Education.

Balser was a teacher, teaching principal and acting superintendent of schools for the Digby district. During his education career, he was a teacher and principal at both Barton Consolidated School and Digby Elementary School, as well as superintendent of schools for the Tri-County Area. In the summer, he worked as a carpenter for over 30 years.

Political career

Balser entered provincial politics in the 1998 election, defeating Liberal John Drish by 233 votes in the Digby-Annapolis riding. He was re-elected in the 1999 election by over 2,200 votes. In August 1999, he was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia as Minister of Economic Development and Minister of Transportation and Public Works. In December 1999, the Transportation and Public Works portfolio was transferred to Ron Russell. In June 2002, Balser was shuffled to Minister of Energy. On December 19, 2002, premier John Hamm shuffled his cabinet, moving Balser to Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, and Minister of the Public Service Commission. In the 2003 election, Balser was defeated by Liberal Harold Theriault. Balser's loss was attributed to his support for a local quarrying project that Theriault had opposed.

Personal life and death

In 1981, he married Wendy Suzanne Moore. His daughter Jill Balser was elected to the legislature to represent Digby-Annapolis in the 2021 Nova Scotia general election. In 2021, she became Nova Scotia's Minister of Labour, Skills and Immigration, as well as Minister responsible for Apprenticeship. He also had two other daughters, Erin and Anne. In 2002, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal.

Balser died on April 10, 2024, at the age of 70.

References

  1. ^ "OBITUARY - Honourable Gordon Douglas Balser". Jayne's Funeral Home. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  2. ^ Houston, Tim (11 April 2024). "Statement on Death of Former Cabinet Minister Gordon Balser". Government of Nova Scotia. Archived from the original on 11 April 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  3. "Election Returns, 1998 (Digby-Annapolis)" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  4. "Election Returns, 1999 (Digby-Annapolis)" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  5. "Hamm shrinks cabinet". The Chronicle Herald. 14 August 1999. Archived from the original on 24 January 2005. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  6. "New Cabinet smaller than the last". CBC News. 13 August 1999. Archived from the original on 21 September 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  7. "Nova Scotia cabinet shuffled". CBC News. 30 December 1999. Archived from the original on 20 September 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  8. "Balser named Minister of Energy, Clark and Olive join cabinet". Government of Nova Scotia. 17 June 2002. Archived from the original on 23 September 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  9. "Purves new health boss". The Chronicle Herald. 20 December 2002. Archived from the original on 9 May 2003. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  10. "Election Returns, 2003 (Digby-Annapolis)" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  11. "Several ministers lose seats". The Chronicle Herald. 6 August 2003. Archived from the original on 24 January 2005. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  12. Williams, Zoe (2022). The Political Economy of Investment Arbitration. Oxford University Press. p. 109. ISBN 9780192635457.
  13. Tina Comeau, "PC candidate Jill Balser follows in dad's footsteps with Digby-Annapolis election win" Archived 18 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine. SaltWire Network, August 18, 2021.
  14. "New Cabinet to Deliver Solutions for Nova Scotians". Government of Nova Scotia. 11 May 2018.
  15. ^ "Former N.S. cabinet minister dies". CTV News. 12 April 2024. Archived from the original on 11 April 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
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