Mike Laffin

Michael Alexander Laffin (January 12, 1918 – May 23, 2019) was a Canadian politician and dentist. He represented the electoral district of Cape Breton Centre in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1963 to 1974, and 1981 to 1988. He was a Progressive Conservative.^[1]

Mike Laffin
MLA for Cape Breton Centre
In office 1963–1974
Preceded by	Michael James MacDonald
Succeeded by	James "Buddy" MacEachern
In office 1981–1988
Preceded by	James "Buddy" MacEachern
Succeeded by	Wayne Connors
Personal details
Born	Michael Alexander Laffin (1918-01-12)January 12, 1918 New Waterford, Nova Scotia
Died	May 23, 2019(2019-05-23) (aged 101) Cape Breton Regional Hospital, Sydney, Nova Scotia
Political party	Progressive Conservative
Occupation	Dentist

Career

Laffin was first elected in the 1963 provincial election,^[2] defeating New Democrat House leader Michael James MacDonald.^[3] He was re-elected in the 1967^[4] and 1970 elections.^[5] Laffin was defeated when he ran for re-election in 1974,^[6] losing his seat to New Democrat James "Buddy" MacEachern.^[7]

In the 1981 election, Laffin returned to politics and defeated MacEachern to regain the seat.^[8][9] Following the election, he was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia as Minister of Housing.^[10][11] Laffin was re-elected in 1984,^[12] and retained his cabinet seat until a cabinet shuffle in November 1985, when he was appointed Minister of Government Services.^[13]

On July 24, 1988, Laffin resigned from cabinet and announced that he would not seek re-election in the 1988 election.^[14][15] In August 2012, Laffin was interviewed about his experience as a prisoner of war during World War II.^[16]

Personal life

Born in 1918 in New Waterford, Nova Scotia, Laffin was educated at St. Francis Xavier University and McGill University, and was a dentist by career.^[17][18] Laffin died in May 2019 at the age of 101.^[19]

References

1. "Electoral History for Cape Breton Centre" (PDF). Nova Scotia Legislative Library. Retrieved 2018-04-02.
2. "Returns of General Election for the House of Assembly 1963" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. 1963. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
3. "PCs take 39 of 43 ridings in N.S. election". The Globe and Mail. October 9, 1963.
4. "Returns of General Election for the House of Assembly 1967" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. 1967. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
5. "Returns of General Election for the House of Assembly 1970" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. 1970. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
6. "Returns of General Election for the House of Assembly 1974" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. 1974. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
7. "Liberals sweep back in N.S.". The Globe and Mail. April 3, 1974.
8. "Returns of General Election for the House of Assembly 1981" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. 1981. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-03-10. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
9. "PCs win crushing victory in N.S.". The Globe and Mail. October 7, 1981.
10. "9 Nova Scotia ministers moved to new portfolios". The Montreal Gazette. news.google.com. December 11, 1981. Retrieved 2014-11-01.
11. "Nine N.S. ministers change titles". The Globe and Mail. December 12, 1981.
12. "Returns of General Election for the House of Assembly 1984" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. 1984. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-05. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
13. "Minister quits on eve of cabinet swearing-in". The Globe and Mail. November 27, 1985.
14. "4th N.S. minister quits". The Globe and Mail. July 25, 1988.
15. "No additions in N.S. cabinet shuffle". The Globe and Mail. July 28, 1988.
16. "Former POW donates artifacts to New Waterford museum". Cape Breton Post. August 10, 2012. Retrieved 2018-02-16.
17. Elliott, Shirley B. (1984). The Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia, 1758–1983 : a biographical directory. Public Archives of Nova Scotia. p. 111. ISBN 0-88871-050-X. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
18. "Dr. Michael A. Laffin fonds". Archives Canada. Retrieved 2016-12-25.
19. "New Waterford man lived life to the fullest". Cape Breton Post. May 24, 2019. Retrieved 2022-03-06.