Gerald Augustine Regan

Regan, Gerald Augustine

Gerald Augustine Regan, lawyer, politician, premier of NS (b at Windsor, NS 13 Feb 1928). He was elected MP in 1963 and leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party in 1965. His vigorous tactics did much to undermine the George Smith Conservative government and secure a Liberal minority government in 1970, followed by a solid victory in 1974. As premier, he espoused such undertakings as a new steel complex at Gabarus, industrialization and a superport at the Strait of Canso, harnessing the tides of the Bay of FUNDY, and development of the offshore oil and gas resources. Before any came to fruition, his government was defeated by John BUCHANAN's Conservatives in 1978, mainly because of the large increase in domestic energy costs resulting from more expensive foreign oil. Re-elected to the House of Commons in 1980, he has served as minister of labour and minister of state for international trade. After suffering personal defeat in the 1984 election, he followed private business pursuits. In March 1995 he was charged with 16 counts of sexual offences; in 1998 he was tried for 8 sex-related charges for events that allegedly occurred in 1956 and 1969 and found not guilty. More charges were laid in 1999.