Brendan Maguire
Brendan Maguire | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly for Halifax Atlantic | |
| Assumed office October 8, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Michèle Raymond |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 29, 1975 |
| Party | PC (2024–) |
| Other political affiliations | Liberal (until 2024) |
Brendan Oliver Maguire (born August 29, 1975) is a Canadian politician who was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 2013 provincial election. Elected as a member of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party, he joined the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia in February 2024. He represents the electoral district of Halifax Atlantic.[1]
Early life
Born in Weymouth, England to parents from Northern Ireland, Maguire and his family emigrated to Canada at four years old. He and his four siblings were abandoned by their parents at the Halifax Shopping Centre shortly after that. As a result, he grew up in foster care in the Halifax area and became a Canadian citizen when he was 16.[2][3]
Maguire graduated from college with a diploma in computer studies. He worked in telecommunications and later became a sales representative and technician at the Halifax Water Commission.[2]
Political career
Maguire serves on the Public Accounts Committee, the Health Committee, the Law Amendments Committee and is Vice Chair of the Community Services Committee. In 2014, 2015, and 2016, Maguire was named the Best Member of the Provincial Legislature by The Coast magazine.[4] Maguire was also named the 2015 Ambassador of the year by Family SOS.[5]
On February 23, 2021, Maguire was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia as Minister of Municipal Affairs.[6]
Maguire was re-elected in the 2021 election, however the Rankin Liberals lost government becoming the Official Opposition.[7][8]
On February 22, 2024, Progressive Conservative premier Tim Houston announced that Maguire had crossed the floor to the Progressive Conservatives, and that Maguire was being appointed Community Services Minister.[9][10]
On December 12, 2024, Maguire was appointed Minister of Education and Early Childhood development, Minister of Advanced Education and Government House Leader.[11]
Electoral record
| 2024 Nova Scotia general election: Halifax Atlantic | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Brendan Maguire | 3,879 | 57.41 | +37.84 | ||||
| New Democratic | Cathy Cervin | 1,883 | 27.87 | +5.06 | ||||
| Liberal | Phil Chisholm | 911 | 13.48 | -41.74 | ||||
| Green | Gadfly Stratton | 84 | 1.24 | -1.16 | ||||
| Total | 6,757 | – | ||||||
| Total rejected ballots | 32 | |||||||
| Turnout | 6,789 | 41.24 | ||||||
| Eligible voters | 16,464 | |||||||
| Progressive Conservative gain | Swing | |||||||
| Source: Elections Nova Scotia[12] | ||||||||
| 2021 Nova Scotia general election: Halifax Atlantic | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Liberal | Brendan Maguire | 4,213 | 55.22 | -0.26 | $45,253.75 | |||
| New Democratic | Shauna Hatt | 1,740 | 22.81 | +0.08 | $34,341.09 | |||
| Progressive Conservative | Tim Cranston | 1,493 | 19.57 | +2.47 | $34,168.26 | |||
| Green | Sarah Weston | 183 | 2.40 | -2.30 | $200.00 | |||
| Total valid votes/expense limit | 7,629 | 99.70 | – | $92,718.64 | ||||
| Total rejected ballots | 23 | 0.30 | -0.03 | |||||
| Turnout | 7,652 | 47.06 | -2.96 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 16,259 | |||||||
| Liberal hold | Swing | -0.17 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Nova Scotia[13][14] | ||||||||
| 2017 Nova Scotia general election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Liberal | Brendan Maguire | 4,219 | 55.48 | +12.94% | ||||
| New Democratic | Trish Keeping | 1,728 | 22.72 | -10.91% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Bruce Holland | 1,300 | 17.10 | -6.73% | ||||
| Green | Chelsey Carter | 357 | 4.69 | |||||
| Total valid votes | 7,604 | 100.0 | ||||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Brendan Maguire | 3,244 | 42.54 | ||
| New Democratic Party | Tanis Crosby | 2,564 | 33.63 | ||
| Progressive Conservative | Ryan Brennan | 1,817 | 23.83 | ||
References
- ^ "Nova Scotia votes: Riding-by-riding results for Halifax region". Metro. Halifax. October 8, 2013. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014.
- ^ a b John DeMont: Brendan Maguire’s amazing journey from homelessness to N.S. cabinet Halifax Chronicle Herald
- ^ "Meet Brendan". NS Liberal Party. October 24, 2016. Archived from the original on October 24, 2016.
- ^ "Best Member of the Provincial Legislature 2014". The Coast. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
- ^ "2015 Courage to Give Back Awards". Family SOS. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015.
- ^ "Iain Rankin sworn in as Nova Scotia premier, along with 16 cabinet ministers". CBC News. February 23, 2021. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
- ^ "Bad campaign, leader who didn't connect with voters led to N.S. Liberal loss: Experts". August 18, 2021.
- ^ "Progressive Conservatives surge to surprise majority win in Nova Scotia election". CBC News.
- ^ @TimHoustonNS (22 February 2024). "I'm proud of the team of Nova Scotians in the PC Caucus who work hard to support their constituents and keep building up Nova Scotia. With the gap that appeared in our Cabinet in Community Services, I knew we had an incredible team who could step in to help. One person in the Legislature, though, came to mind as someone who has a unique lived experience with this department, having grown up through the system. He's been offering productive solutions to the challenges facing Nova Scotians over the past few months. I'm happy to welcome Halifax Atlantic MLA Brendan Maguire to the PC Caucus as the province's new Minister of Community Services. I'm proud to have Brendan join our hard-working team of Nova Scotians focused on getting things done" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
- ^ "N.S. Liberal MLA Brendan Maguire joining PCs, named minister of community services". CBC News. February 22, 2024. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
- ^ "Nova Scotia's new Member cabinet sworn in at Halifax ceremony". CBC News. December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
- ^ Nova Scotia, Chief Electoral Officer (2025). 42nd Provincial General Election, November 26, 2024: Volume 1 – Statement of Votes & Statistics (PDF) (Report). Elections Nova Scotia. pp. 167–168. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
- ^ Nova Scotia, Chief Electoral Officer (2022). 41st Provincial General Election, August 17, 2021: Volume 1 – Statement of Votes & Statistics (PDF) (Report). Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
- ^ Nova Scotia, Chief Electoral Officer (2022). 41st Provincial General Election, August 17, 2021: Volume 3 – Financial Information & Statistics (PDF) (Report). Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved February 1, 2026.