View source for Geoff Regan

{{Short description|Canadian politician}}
{{For|the English author|Geoffrey Regan}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[The Honourable]]
| name             = Geoff Regan
| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|size=100%}}
| image            = Geoff Regan MP.jpg
| alt              = 
| caption          = Regan in 2008
| office2          = [[Canadian House of Commons Special Committee on Canada-China Relations|Chairman of the Special Committee on Canada-China Relations]]
| term_start2      = January 20, 2020
| term_end2        = August 15, 2021
| predecessor2     = ''Position established''
| successor2       = ''Vacant''
| office           = 36th [[Speaker of the House of Commons (Canada)|Speaker of the House of Commons]]
| term_start       = December 3, 2015
| term_end         = December 5, 2019
| predecessor      = [[Andrew Scheer]]
| successor        = [[Anthony Rota]]
| office3          = [[Minister of Fisheries and Oceans (Canada)|Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]]
| term_start3      = December 12, 2003
| term_end3        = February 5, 2006
| primeminister3   = [[Paul Martin]]
| predecessor3     = [[Robert Thibault]]
| successor3       = [[Loyola Hearn]]
| office4          = [[Parliamentary secretary|Parliamentary Secretary]] to the [[Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]]
| term_start4      = September 13, 2001
| term_end4        = December 11, 2003
| primeminister4   = [[Jean Chrétien]]
| predecessor4     = [[Derek Lee (politician)|Derek Lee]]
| successor4       = [[Roger Gallaway]]
| riding5          = [[Halifax West]]
| parliament5      = Canadian
| term_start5      = November 27, 2000
| term_end5        = September 20, 2021
| predecessor5     = [[Gordon Earle]]
| successor5       = [[Lena Diab]]
| term_start6      = October 25, 1993
| term_end6        = June 2, 1997
| predecessor6     = [[Howard Edward Crosby]]
| successor6       = Gordon Earle
| birth_name       = Geoffrey Paul Regan
| birth_date       = {{Birth date and age|1959|11|22}}
| birth_place      = [[Windsor, Nova Scotia]], Canada
| death_date       =
| death_place      =
| party            = [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]]
| spouse           = {{marriage|[[Kelly Regan|Kelly Smith]]|December 3, 1993}}
| father           = [[Gerald Regan]]
| mother           = Carole Harrison
| relatives        = {{plainlist|
* [[John Harrison (Canadian politician)|John Harrison]] (grandfather)
* [[Nancy Regan]] (sister)
* [[Laura Regan]] (sister)
}}
| residence        = [[Bedford, Nova Scotia]], Canada
| alma_mater = {{plainlist|
* [[St. Francis Xavier University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
* [[Dalhousie University]]
}}
| profession       = [[Lawyer]]
| website          = {{URL|www.geoffregan.ca}}
}}

'''Geoffrey Paul Regan''' {{post-nominals|country=CAN|PC}} (born November 22, 1959) is a retired Canadian politician who served as the 36th [[Speaker of the House of Commons (Canada)|speaker of the House of Commons]] from 2015 to 2019. A member of the [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal Party]], he was the [[Member of Parliament (Canada)|member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Halifax West]] 2000 to 2021, previously holding the seat from 1993 to 1997. Under [[Paul Martin]], he was [[Minister of Fisheries and Oceans (Canada)|Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]] from 2003 to 2006.

==Early life and career==
Regan was born in [[Windsor, Nova Scotia]]. He is the son of [[Gerald Regan]], the 19th [[premier of Nova Scotia]] and Cabinet Minister under [[Pierre Trudeau]], and Carole Harrison, the daughter of [[John Harrison (Canadian politician)|John Harrison]], a member of Parliament from [[Saskatchewan]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title = Meet Geoff Regan, the new Speaker of the House of Commons|url = http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/speaker-house-geoff-regan-liberal-mp-1.3349744|publisher = Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date = December 4, 2015}}</ref> He is the brother of [[Nancy Regan]], a retired television personality with [[CTV Atlantic|ATV]], and [[Laura Regan]], an actress.{{citation needed|date=August 2014}}

Regan graduated from [[Sackville High School]] in 1977 and then earned his [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in Political Science from [[St. Francis Xavier University]] in 1980. Following university, Regan went on to earn a law degree from [[Dalhousie University]], graduating in 1983. He was admitted to the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society in 1984 and practiced real estate and commercial law before entering public life.

Regan was a member of [[Toastmasters]] for almost ten years, in the late 1980s to early 1990s.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Meet Geoff Regan, Canada's Speaker of the House of Commons|journal=The Toastmaster|issue=August 2016|pages=16–19|url=https://www.toastmasters.org/Magazine/Articles/Meet-Geoff-Regan|access-date=26 March 2021}}</ref>

==Federal politics==
Regan was first elected to the House of Commons as part of the Liberal victory in the [[1993 Canadian federal election|1993 federal election]] under [[Jean Chrétien]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/fedelect97/archive/931026108.html|title=Atlantic region hands Liberals near-clean sweep|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=26 October 1993|access-date=17 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011121074131/http://www.herald.ns.ca/fedelect97/archive/931026108.html|archive-date=21 November 2001 }}</ref> He was defeated in the [[1997 Canadian federal election|1997 election]] by [[New Democratic Party|NDP]] candidate [[Gordon Earle]], mainly because of the federal government's changes to employment insurance.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/fedelect/97archive/jun3/970603153.html|title=NDP's Earle becomes first Black MP for N.S.|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=3 June 1997|access-date=17 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010522114533/http://www.herald.ns.ca/fedelect/97archive/jun3/970603153.html|archive-date=22 May 2001}}</ref>

After regaining his seat in the [[2000 Canadian federal election|2000 federal election]], Regan was appointed [[Parliamentary Secretary]] to the [[Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]], a position then held by [[Don Boudria]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?2000/11/28+236.raw+FE00Nov28+2|title=Halifax West's Regan 'delighted' to be back|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=28 November 2000|access-date=17 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050124091442/http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?2000%2F11%2F28+236.raw+FE00Nov28+2|archive-date=24 January 2005|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2003, Paul Martin appointed him as [[Minister of Fisheries and Oceans (Canada)|Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]].<ref name=":0" />

Regan was the Regional Minister for Nova Scotia in the newly formed government of [[Paul Martin]], sworn in on 12 December 2003. Regan was re-elected in the [[2004 Canadian federal election|2004 federal election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?2004/06/29+279.raw+FE04Jun29+2|title=Geoff Regan: 'What a thrill'|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=29 June 2004|access-date=17 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050906115355/http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?2004%2F06%2F29+279.raw+FE04Jun29+2|archive-date=6 September 2005|url-status=dead}}</ref> He would keep position in cabinet in Martin’s minority government. In February 2004, Regan was appointed to act as [[Minister of Justice (Canada)|Minister of Justice]] and [[Attorney General of Canada]], in matters related to [[Maher Arar]].

=== In opposition ===
[[File:Michael Ignatieff at the Halifax Ferry Terminal.jpg|thumb|left|Regan with Liberal leader [[Michael Ignatieff]] during the [[2011 Canadian federal election|2011 federal election]] campaign]]

Upon the defeat of the Liberal government in the [[2006 Canadian federal election|2006 election]], he was appointed by [[Bill Graham (Canadian politician)|Bill Graham]], Interim Leader of the Official Opposition, to the shadow cabinet as the Official Opposition Critic for Human Resources and Skills Development. During his time as critic, Regan introduced a private members’ bill to expand Canada Access Grants for disabled and low income students. In January 2007, he was appointed to the newly created Liberal Priorities and Planning Committee, which was chaired by then Liberal Opposition Leader [[Stéphane Dion]]. In March 2008, Regan was named Chair of the Caucus Committee on Environmental Sustainability. Regan also served as Vice-Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development.

Regan was re-elected in [[2008 Canadian federal election|2008]], and [[2011 Canadian federal election|2011 federal elections]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/regan-holds-halifax-west-for-liberals-1.1002100|title=Regan holds Halifax West for Liberals|publisher=CBC News|date=3 May 2011|access-date=17 August 2015}}</ref> despite significant Liberal losses in both. Regan won his seat by a few percentage points in the latter election as the Liberals finished in third place.<ref name=":0" /> Under the leadership of [[Stephane Dion]], Regan served as Opposition Critic for Human Resources and Skills Development. Under [[Michael Ignatieff]], Regan served as Liberal Critic for Natural Resources, and later, Public Works and Government Services and also as the Liberal Natural Resources Critic under leader [[Justin Trudeau]] and the  Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources.

=== Speaker of the House of Commons ===
[[File:Speaker Geoff Regan 2016.jpg|thumb|Regan as Speaker in 2016.]]

Regan was re-elected in the [[2015 Canadian federal election|2015 federal election]] with 68% of the vote as the Liberal party swept all 32 [[Atlantic Canada]] seats and formed a majority government.<ref name=":0" /> On 2 December 2015, Regan was selected as [[Speaker of the House of Commons (Canada)|Speaker of the House of Commons]] in secret ballot by members of the [[42nd Canadian Parliament|42nd Parliament]] over Liberals [[Denis Paradis]] and [[Yasmin Ratansi]] and Conservative [[Bruce Stanton]].<ref name=":0" /> Regan won on the first ballot and served as the first speaker from Atlantic Canada in almost a hundred years.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Geoff Regan elected House Speaker as 42nd Parliament opens|url = http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/parliament-opens-speaker-election-1.3348640|publisher = Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date = 4 December 2015}}</ref> In December 2019, he ran for re-election for Speaker of the Commons but lost to fellow Liberal MP [[Anthony Rota]].<ref name="speaker">{{cite news |last1=Tunney |first1=Catharine |last2=Zimonjic |first2=Peter |last3=Harris |first3=Kathleen |title=Liberal MP Anthony Rota elected Speaker of the House of Commons |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/speaker-house-of-commons-rota-1.5384728 |access-date=16 December 2019 |publisher=CBC News |date=5 December 2019}}</ref> Following Rota's win, the [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservatives]] said that he had them to thank for his new position. They had made the decision during a caucus meeting to unseat Regan as a show of strength to the Liberal minority government.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/speech-from-the-throne-liberals-seek-common-ground-with-opposition-parties|title=Liberal MP Anthony Rota elected Speaker. You're welcome, Conservatives say|date=5 December 2019|website=National Post|access-date=6 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.burnabynow.com/liberal-mp-anthony-rota-upsets-regan-to-become-speaker-in-minority-parliament-1.24028433|title=Liberal MP Anthony Rota upsets Regan to become Speaker in minority Parliament|date=5 December 2019|website=Burnaby Now|access-date=6 December 2019|archive-date=5 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205222807/https://www.burnabynow.com/liberal-mp-anthony-rota-upsets-regan-to-become-speaker-in-minority-parliament-1.24028433|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On March 31, 2021, Regan announced that he would not seek re-election.<ref>{{cite web|title=Former speaker of the House and long-time Nova Scotian MP Geoff Regan not re-offering|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7730553/geoff-regan-halifax-west-not-running/|date=March 31, 2021|access-date=March 31, 2021|work=Global News|last1=Renic|first1=Karla|archive-date=March 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210331141312/https://globalnews.ca/news/7730553/geoff-regan-halifax-west-not-running/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Awards and honours ==
* Metro Food Bank Society Community Leadership Award (1992)
* Halifax Board of Trade Certificate of Merit (1992)
* Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002)
* Appointed member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada (2003)
* Elisabeth Mann Borgese Medal (2005) The International Ocean Institute awarded Regan then Minister of Fisheries and Oceans for his "exemplary leadership in the field of Ocean Governance."
* Lebanese Community Recognition Award (2008)
* Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012)
* Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (2022)

== Personal life ==
Regan's wife, [[Kelly Regan]], is a provincial [[Member of the Legislative Assembly|MLA]] and former Deputy Premier of Nova Scotia.<ref name=":0" />

==Electoral record==
{{2019 Canadian federal election/Halifax West}}
{{2015 Canadian federal election/Halifax West}}
{{2011 Canadian federal election/Halifax West}}
{{2008 Canadian federal election/Halifax West}}
{{2006 Canadian federal election/Halifax West}}
{{2004 Canadian federal election/Halifax West}}
{{2000 Canadian federal election/Halifax West}}
{{1997 Canadian federal election/Halifax West}}
{{1993 Canadian federal election/Halifax West}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links==
{{Commons category|Geoff Regan}}
* {{Official website|http://www.geoffregan.ca}}
* {{Canadian Parliament links|ID=1127|nolist=yes}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|ca}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Howard Edward Crosby]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Member of Parliament (Canada)|Member of Parliament]] for [[Halifax West]]|years=1993–1997}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Gordon Earle]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Gordon Earle]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Member of Parliament (Canada)|Member of Parliament]] for [[Halifax West]]|years=2000–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Andrew Scheer]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada]]|years=2015–2019}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Anthony Rota]]}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Robert Thibault]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Minister of Fisheries and Oceans (Canada)|Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]]|years=2003–2006}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Loyola Hearn]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{CA-Ministers of Fisheries}}

{{Speakers of the Canadian House of Commons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Regan, Geoff}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the 27th Canadian Ministry]]
[[Category:Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Nova Scotia]]
[[Category:Members of the King's Privy Council for Canada]]
[[Category:Liberal Party of Canada MPs]]
[[Category:People from Windsor, Nova Scotia]]
[[Category:Regan family|Geoff]]
[[Category:St. Francis Xavier University alumni]]
[[Category:Speakers of the House of Commons of Canada]]
[[Category:Schulich School of Law alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the House of Commons of Canada]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the House of Commons of Canada]]