Gordon Douglas Balser (February 24, 1954 – April 10, 2024) was a Canadian educator and politician in Nova Scotia. He represented Digby-Annapolis in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1998 to 2003 as a Progressive Conservative member.
Gordon Balser | |
|---|---|
| MLA for Digby-Annapolis | |
| In office March 24, 1998 – August 5, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph H. Casey |
| Succeeded by | Harold Theriault |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 24, 1954 Digby, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Died | April 10, 2024 (aged 70) Digby, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Political party | Progressive Conservative |
| Occupation | Teacher |
Early life
Balser was born on February 24, 1954. He grew up on a farm in Digby, Nova Scotia. He had four brothers and a sister. He attended Acadia University, where he received a BBA, BEd and a Masters in Education.[1]
Balser was a teacher, teaching principal and acting superintendent of schools for the Digby district. During his education career, he was a teacher and principal at both Barton Consolidated School and Digby Elementary School, as well as superintendent of schools for the Tri-County Area. In the summer, he worked as a carpenter for over 30 years.[1][2]
Political career
Balser entered provincial politics in the 1998 election, defeating Liberal John Drish by 233 votes in the Digby-Annapolis riding.[3] He was re-elected in the 1999 election by over 2,200 votes.[4] In August 1999, he was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia as Minister of Economic Development and Minister of Transportation and Public Works.[5][6] In December 1999, the Transportation and Public Works portfolio was transferred to Ron Russell.[7] In June 2002, Balser was shuffled to Minister of Energy.[8] On December 19, 2002, premier John Hamm shuffled his cabinet, moving Balser to Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, and Minister of the Public Service Commission.[9] In the 2003 election, Balser was defeated by Liberal Harold Theriault.[10][11] Balser's loss was attributed to his support for a local quarrying project that Theriault had opposed.[12]
Personal life and death
In 1981, he married Wendy Suzanne Moore. His daughter Jill Balser was elected to the legislature to represent Digby-Annapolis in the 2021 Nova Scotia general election.[13] In 2021, she became Nova Scotia's Minister of Labour, Skills and Immigration, as well as Minister responsible for Apprenticeship.[2][14] He also had two other daughters, Erin and Anne.[2] In 2002, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal.[15]