Pat Dunn (politician)

Pat Dunn
Member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
for Pictou Centre
In office
October 8, 2013 – October 27, 2024
Preceded byRoss Landry
Succeeded byDanny MacGillivray
In office
June 29, 2006 – June 19, 2009
Preceded byJohn Hamm
Succeeded byRoss Landry
Personal details
Born (1950-02-10) February 10, 1950 (age 74)
Trenton, Nova Scotia[1]
Political partyProgressive Conservative
Residence(s)New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada
OccupationSchool Principal

Pat Dunn (born February 10, 1950) is a Canadian politician. He represented the electoral district of Pictou Centre in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 2006 to 2009, and from 2013 to 2024, as a member of the Progressive Conservatives.[2] He served as Minister of Health Promotion and Protection in the Executive Council of Nova Scotia.[3]

He was defeated by Ross Landry of the New Democrats in the 2009 election,[4] but was reelected in the 2013 election.[5]

On August 31, 2021, Dunn was named Minister of Communities, Cultures, Tourism, and Heritage, as well as Minister of the Voluntary Sector and African Nova Scotian Affairs.[6] Dunn represents one of the largest communities of African Nova Scotians outside Halifax.[7]

On September 13, 2023, Dunn announced he would not run in the 2024 Nova Scotia general election,[8] and was shuffled out of cabinet the following day.[9]

Career

Dunn was born in Trenton in 1950. He is a graduate of Saint Francis Xavier University with degrees in Arts and Education. Before working as a teacher and an educator, he worked at a Michelin factory in Granton, Nova Scotia and for a number of local businesses. He is currently married to his wife Patsy and they have six children.[10]

Electoral record

2017 Nova Scotia general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Pat Dunn 3,773 52.43 +0.17
Liberal Jeff Davis 2,027 28.17 +10.34
New Democratic Henderson Paris 1,396 19.40 -10.51
Total valid votes 7,196 100.00
Total rejected ballots 28 0.39 -0.41
Turnout 7,224 55.86 -5.48
Eligible voters 12,932
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -5.08
2013 Nova Scotia general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
  Progressive Conservative Pat Dunn 4147 52.26
  New Democratic Party Ross Landry 2373 29.91
  Liberal Bill Muirhead 1415 17.83
2009 Nova Scotia general election[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
  New Democratic Party Ross Landry 3650 46.30
  Progressive Conservative Pat Dunn 3519 44.64
  Liberal Neil MacIsaac 567 7.19
Green Jim Lindsey 147 1.86 –
2006 Nova Scotia general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
  Progressive Conservative Pat Dunn 3901 52.60
  New Democratic Party Danny MacGillivray 2344 31.61
  Liberal Troy MacCulloch 1057 14.25
Green Samuel M. Clark 93 1.25 –
  Independent Dennis Tate 20 0.27

References

  1. ^ Biographical Directory of MLAs from 1984 to the Present Nova Scotia Legislature
  2. ^ "Tories take Pictou County ridings back from NDP". The Chronicle Herald. October 8, 2013. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  3. ^ "N.S. Premier Rodney MacDonald shuffles cabinet; one new face". Cape Breton Post. January 7, 2009. Archived from the original on April 24, 2018. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
  4. ^ "Landry rides orange wave to the top". The News. June 10, 2009. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved 2014-09-06.
  5. ^ "PC's Pat Dunn regains Pictou Centre seat". The News. October 8, 2013. Archived from the original on September 6, 2014. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  6. ^ "'Very bewildering': Backlash after white MLA named to African Nova Scotian, anti-racism files | CBC News".
  7. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2017-02-08). "Census Profile, 2016 Census - Nova Scotia [Province] and Canada [Country]". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
  8. ^ "Cabinet ministers Pat Dunn and Steve Craig won't seek re-election". CBC News. September 13, 2023. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  9. ^ "N.S. premier shuffles cabinet, appoints first Black woman". CBC News. September 14, 2023. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  10. ^ "Pat Dunn". PC Party of Nova Scotia. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
  11. ^ "2009 Nova Scotia election results – Pictou Centre" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. June 9, 2009. Retrieved 2018-04-23.