Jamie Muir (politician)
Encyclopedia
Jamie Muir is an educator and politician. He was the MLA
for Truro-Bible Hill
in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
from 1998 to 2009, and served as Minister of Finance and Minister of Aboriginal Affairs in the Executive Council of Nova Scotia
.
, and received a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education before completing his Master’s and Doctorate degrees in education at the University of Virginia
.
In 1964, he married Mary Jean Cox. They have four children.
before serving as Director of Inspection Services in the Nova Scotia Department of Education
. He also served as inspector of schools in Cumberland
, Colchester
and East Hants
counties.
He has taught at the post-secondary level, lecturing at University of Prince Edward Island
, serving as assistant professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland
, senior research associate at the Atlantic Institute of Education, principal of the Nova Scotia Teachers College
and as a faculty member in education department at St. Francis Xavier University
.
in the 1998 election
for the Progressive Conservatives in the riding of Truro-Bible Hill
in the central Colchester region of Nova Scotia.
He was re-elected in the 1999
, 2003
and 2006
elections. Cabinet duties have included Attorney General, Minister of Justice, Minister of Health, Minister of Education and Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municiplal Relations. He has been the Minister responsible for the Human Rights Act, the Regulations Act, Part II of the Workers’ Compensation Act, the Youth Secretariat Act, the Emergency Measures Act and the Residential Tenancies Act. Muir was also Chair of Treasury and Policy Board, and served on and off as acting Finance Minister for two years due to Michael Baker
's illness.
Muir announced on December 29, 2008, that he would not reoffer in the 2009 election, and was shuffled out of cabinet on January 7, 2009. He returned to cabinet on March 10, 2009, taking over as Minister of Finance and Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, following the death of Michael Baker.
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
for Truro-Bible Hill
Truro-Bible Hill
Truro—Bible Hill is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.-Members of the Legislative Assembly:This riding has elected the following Members of the Legislative Assembly:...
in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
Nova Scotia House of Assembly
The Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...
from 1998 to 2009, and served as Minister of Finance and Minister of Aboriginal Affairs in the Executive Council of Nova Scotia
Executive Council of Nova Scotia
The Executive Council of Nova Scotia is the cabinet of that Canadian province....
.
Background
Muir is a graduate of Dalhousie UniversityDalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
, and received a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education before completing his Master’s and Doctorate degrees in education at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
.
In 1964, he married Mary Jean Cox. They have four children.
Employment history
Muir taught as a Frontier College instructor and a high school teacher in TruroTruro
Truro is a city and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The city is the centre for administration, leisure and retail in Cornwall, with a population recorded in the 2001 census of 17,431. Truro urban statistical area, which includes parts of surrounding parishes, has a 2001 census...
before serving as Director of Inspection Services in the Nova Scotia Department of Education
Nova Scotia Department of Education
The Nova Scotia Department of Education is a department of the Government of Nova Scotia responsible for overseeing education institutions in the province...
. He also served as inspector of schools in Cumberland
Cumberland County, Nova Scotia
Cumberland County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.-History:The name Cumberland was applied by Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Monckton to the captured Fort Beauséjour on June 18, 1755 in honour of the third son of King George II, William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, victor at...
, Colchester
Colchester County, Nova Scotia
Colchester County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.-History:The appellation Colchester was applied in 1780 to the district previously called "Cobequid," and was derived from the town of Colchester in Essex...
and East Hants
East Hants, Nova Scotia
East Hants is a municipal district in Hants County, Nova Scotia.With its administrative seat in Milford Station, the district occupies the eastern half of Hants County from the Minas Basin to the boundary with Halifax County, sharing this boundary with the West Hants municipal district...
counties.
He has taught at the post-secondary level, lecturing at University of Prince Edward Island
University of Prince Edward Island
The University of Prince Edward Island is a public liberal arts university in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, and the sole university in the province. Founded in 1969, it traces its roots back to its two earlier predecessor organizations, St. Dunstan's University and Prince of Wales...
, serving as assistant professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, senior research associate at the Atlantic Institute of Education, principal of the Nova Scotia Teachers College
Nova scotia teachers college
The Nova Scotia Teachers College is a former university that was located in the town of Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada.Founded as the Provincial Normal School the college was established by an act of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, which received Royal Assent on March 31, 1854...
and as a faculty member in education department at St. Francis Xavier University
St. Francis Xavier University
St. Francis Xavier University is a post-secondary institution located in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. The school was founded in 1853, but did not offer degrees until 1868. The university has approximately 5000 students.-History:...
.
Political career
Muir was first elected to the Nova Scotia House of AssemblyNova Scotia House of Assembly
The Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...
in the 1998 election
Nova Scotia general election, 1998
The 34th Nova Scotia general election was held on March 24, 1998 to elect members of the 57th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. The Liberal party and the New Democratic Party tied in the seat count, with 19 each, while the Progressive Conservatives won 14 seats...
for the Progressive Conservatives in the riding of Truro-Bible Hill
Truro-Bible Hill
Truro—Bible Hill is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.-Members of the Legislative Assembly:This riding has elected the following Members of the Legislative Assembly:...
in the central Colchester region of Nova Scotia.
He was re-elected in the 1999
Nova Scotia general election, 1999
The 35th Nova Scotia general election was held on July 27, 1999, to elect members of the 58th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative party, led by Dr...
, 2003
Nova Scotia general election, 2003
The 36th Nova Scotia general election was held on August 5, 2003 to elect members of the 59th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada...
and 2006
Nova Scotia general election, 2006
The 37th Nova Scotia general election was held on June 13, 2006 to elect members of the 60th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada....
elections. Cabinet duties have included Attorney General, Minister of Justice, Minister of Health, Minister of Education and Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municiplal Relations. He has been the Minister responsible for the Human Rights Act, the Regulations Act, Part II of the Workers’ Compensation Act, the Youth Secretariat Act, the Emergency Measures Act and the Residential Tenancies Act. Muir was also Chair of Treasury and Policy Board, and served on and off as acting Finance Minister for two years due to Michael Baker
Michael Baker (politician)
Michael Baker ONS, QC, was a Canadian politician. He represented the electoral district of Lunenburg in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly between 1998 and 2009. He was a Progressive Conservative....
's illness.
Muir announced on December 29, 2008, that he would not reoffer in the 2009 election, and was shuffled out of cabinet on January 7, 2009. He returned to cabinet on March 10, 2009, taking over as Minister of Finance and Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, following the death of Michael Baker.