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Canadian politician From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Michael Gilbert Baker, ONS QC (January 28, 1957 – March 2, 2009) was a Canadian politician. He represented the electoral district of Lunenburg in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly between 1998 and 2009. He was a Progressive Conservative.[1]
Michael Baker | |
---|---|
Member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly for Lunenburg | |
In office March 24, 1998 – March 2, 2009 | |
Preceded by | Lila O'Connor |
Succeeded by | Pam Birdsall |
Minister of Finance | |
In office February 23, 2006 – February 22, 2009 | |
Premier | Rodney MacDonald |
Preceded by | Peter G. Christie |
Succeeded by | Chris d'Entremont |
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Nova Scotia | |
In office August 16, 1999 – December 19, 2002 | |
Premier | John Hamm |
Preceded by | Robbie Harrison |
Succeeded by | Murray Scott |
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Nova Scotia | |
In office August 18, 2003 – February 24, 2006 | |
Premier | John Hamm |
Preceded by | Jamie Muir |
Succeeded by | Murray Scott |
Personal details | |
Born | Lunenburg, Nova Scotia | January 28, 1957
Died | March 2, 2009 52) Lunenburg, Nova Scotia | (aged
Political party | Progressive Conservative |
Occupation | Lawyer |
Born in 1957 at Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Baker was a graduate of Dalhousie Law School.[2] He practiced law at Hennigar, Wells, Lamey & Baker in Mahone Bay and Chester and as a solicitor for the Town of Mahone Bay.[3] He was past president of Lunenburg County Barristers Association, member of Nova Scotia Barristers Society Council, and Director of Marine Atlantic.[2] Baker was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1999.[2]
Baker entered provincial politics in 1998, defeating Liberal incumbent Lila O'Connor by 132 votes in the Lunenburg riding.[4][5] In the 1999 election, Baker was re-elected, defeating O'Connor by over 2200 votes.[6] In August 1999, Baker was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia as Minister of Justice and Attorney General.[7] In December 2001, Baker was given an additional role in cabinet as Chair of Treasury and Policy Board.[8] In a December 2002 cabinet shuffle, Baker was moved to Minister of Transportation and Public Works.[9] He was re-elected in the 2003 election,[10] and was re-appointed as Minister of Justice and Attorney General, retained Chair of Treasury and Policy Board, and given a new role as Minister of Aboriginal Affairs in a post-election cabinet shuffle.[11]
When Rodney MacDonald took over as premier in February 2006, Baker was named Minister of Finance, and Minister of Aboriginal Affairs.[12] In May 2006, Baker underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor,[13] but still ran for re-election in June 2006, winning his seat by 1300 votes.[14] Following the election, Baker retained his cabinet positions,[15] and continued to serve despite facing more serious health issues.[16] As of January 2009, Baker was still planning on reoffering in the next election, but his condition worsened and he stepped down from cabinet in February.[17] Baker died of cancer on March 2, 2009, at his home in Lunenburg. He was 52.[18]
In 2009, he was a posthumous recipient of the Order of Nova Scotia.[19][20]
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