This time of year is often a time for new beginnings.
So, it seems like the right moment to share with you that I’ve decided I will not be a candidate in the next provincial election, scheduled for July 2025.
I want to thank my constituents of the three districts I’ve served (Bedford-Birch Cove, Bedford, and Bedford Basin) for your steadfast support over the past 15 years.
You’ve invited me into your homes and your hearts, and I have been so proud to represent this growing community.
We’ve been together on the best days of your lives—when you’ve celebrated milestones and received awards.
We’ve been together on the worst days of your lives—when you lost a loved one, made painful decisions, or suffered through life-altering events like a flood or a pandemic.
And we’ve been together at all points in between.
It’s been a privilege to serve the people of the Bedford area and the people of Nova Scotia. I am so grateful for this great honour—one I could never have imagined when I was growing up.
There are many people I would like to thank, starting with those who supported me on my political journey. No politician gets elected on her own, and I was blessed to have dedicated campaign teams and constituency associations that supported me so well over four elections.
I owe so much to former Premier Stephen McNeil for convincing me to run and then challenging me with significant roles in opposition and cabinet; to former Premier Iain Rankin, for continuing those roles, adding to them, and giving me the opportunity to serve as Deputy Premier; and to Opposition Leader Zach Churchill, who named me Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition. I’m really inspired by the direction our party is taking with Zach at the helm, and I look forward to supporting our next Nova Scotia Liberal Party candidate for Bedford Basin.
Over the past fifteen years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with some really fine people—my Executive Assistants and Constituency Assistants, my caucus and cabinet colleagues, and all of our staffs. I am so grateful for your support. You made me a better member and a better minister.
I’ve had the opportunity to work with so many really dedicated civil servants who worked devotedly to make life better for Nova Scotians. You impressed me daily, never more than during the tough days of 2020. Thank you all for your perseverance and your professionalism.
And I’d like to commend my colleagues in the Legislature. We haven’t always agreed, but I have appreciated hearing your different viewpoints as we debated issues. I’ve learned a lot from you.
Most of all, I’d like to thank my family: Geoff—who has been my rock, always—our three children, their partners, and now our wee grandbaby, for their support and understanding. Imagine what our kids have been through: 13 elections between TWO parents in politics! To them, and to our extended family members who have been understanding and so supportive through the past 15 years, thank you. I love you all so much.
In the days ahead, I expect Zach will name a new deputy leader. That means I’ll have a new seat in the House; I look forward to the change of view and to supporting my colleagues in their new roles.
And until an election is called, I will continue to do my job, as MLA for Bedford Basin and as Health Critic for the Official Opposition.
So please feel free to continue reaching out to my office, letting me know about your concerns—your health care issues, your affordability challenges, and your vision for your community. We remain on this journey together.
And once again, thank you for giving me this opportunity to serve you in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. It has been my great honour.
Kelly
Many thanks to Wendy Hayes-Walsh for the conversation
Hon. Kelly Regan (she/her)
Member of the NS Legislature
for Bedford Basin