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]
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 Weymouth, Dorset, England |
| Political party | PC (2024–) |
| Other political affiliations | Liberal (until 2024) |
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]
Personal life
Maguire is married with three children. They currently live in Herring Cove, Nova Scotia.[citation needed]
Electoral record
| 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 | +0.09 | $34,341.09 | |||
| Progressive Conservative | Tim Cranston | 1,493 | 19.57 | +2.47 | $34,168.26 | |||
| Green | Sarah Weston | 183 | 2.40 | -2.29 | $200.00 | |||
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | 7,629 | 99.70 | – | $92,718.64 | ||||
| Total rejected ballots | 23 | 0.30 | ||||||
| Turnout | 7,652 | 47.27 | ||||||
| Eligible voters | 16,188 | |||||||
| Liberal hold | Swing | -0.18 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Nova Scotia[11] | ||||||||
| 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 | ||