Percy Paris
| The Honourable Percy A. Paris |
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| MLA for Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office June 13, 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Gary Hines |
| Minister of Economic and Rural Development | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office June 19, 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Angus MacIsaac |
| Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Heritage | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office June 19, 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Bill Dooks |
| Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office June 19, 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Barry Barnet |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Windsor, Nova Scotia |
| Political party | NDP |
| Residence | Windsor Junction, Nova Scotia |
| Occupation | Politician |
Percy A. Paris is a Canadian politician and member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. He represents the constituency of Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party.
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Early life [edit]
Born in Windsor, Nova Scotia, Paris was actively involved in sports in his youth. He played hockey on the King's-Edgehill school team in 1965-1966. Paris's father was John Paris Jr. Paris graduated from Saint Mary's University with a Bachelor of Arts in English.
Before politics [edit]
In 1985, Paris began teaching Black History at Dalhousie University. He was also involved with the University's Transition Year Program. Paris was the Director of Dalhousie University’s Diversity Initiative and has also acted as Black Student Advisor.
An entrepreneur, Paris owned and operated a bar in Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, and started the Jet Journal, a local publication. He has also worked as a civic employee with Halifax City Hall, and was a hockey scout with the International Hockey League and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
Paris was the recipient of a human rights award from the Human Rights Commission of Nova Scotia for his work bringing communities together through sport.
Paris has held positions on a number of boards including the Riverlake Residents' Association, the Black Business Initiative, National Access Awareness Week, Network for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities, the King’s-Edgehill Alumni Association, Team Work Co-operative, Halifax Black Community Workshop, Dartmouth East Black Learning Centre and the Metro Committee for Persons with Disabilities.
Political career [edit]
First elected in 2006, Paris defeated Progressive Conservative incumbent Gary Hines with 46.39% of the vote.[1] Paris was re-elected in the 2009 provincial election with 54.47 per cent of the vote.[2] He is the only African-Nova Scotian member of the provincial legislature.
In the last sitting of the legislature before the 2009 election, Paris served as the New Democratic Party Caucus critic for Education and African-Nova Scotian Affairs. Following the 2009 election, in which the NDP formed government, he was named Minister of Economic and Rural Development, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, and Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs.[3]
Assault charge and resignation [edit]
On May 9, 2013, Paris resigned from cabinet after an incident at the House of Assembly earlier in the day.[4][5] Paris later said he "lost his composure" during an incident at the provincial legislature involving a fellow member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. Later that same day, a spokesman for Halifax Regional Police confirmed they were investigating an alleged assault at the legislature, issuing a statement saying that they charged a 65-year-old man from the Windsor Junction area with uttering threats and assault after receiving a complaint.[6]
On May 10, 2013, Liberal member of the Nova Scotia legislature Keith Colwell stated "Yesterday in the house of assembly, I was assaulted and threatened by the minister of economic and rural development and tourism", adding that he did not know what prompted the attack. According to Paris, the pair had a "heated exchange" near the doorway of a washroom for members of the legislature, admitting that he momentarily lost his temper and stating "I regret I lost my cool for a few seconds". Colwell has been a member of the legislature since 1993. Paris is scheduled to appear in court June 18, 2013.[7]
References [edit]
- ^ Elections Nova Scotia, Complete Results and Statistics of Provincial General Elections 1933 - 2006, Complete Poll By Poll Results - Waverley-Fall River-Beaverbank (June 13, 2006 ). Retrieved on October 30, 2007
- ^ CBC.ca, Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank, 2009 results [1] Retrieved on June 11, 2009
- ^ Premier Dexter Unveils 12-member Cabinet, Government of Nova Scotia website, [2] Retrieved June 19, 2009
- ^ "Premier accepts Percy Paris's resignation from Cabinet". Government of Nova Scotia, May 9, 2013. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
- ^ "N.S. cabinet minister resigns after bathroom fight". CBC News, May 10, 2013. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
- ^ "Nova Scotia cabinet minister resigns after police called to investigate alleged assault at legislature". National Post, May 10, 2013. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
- ^ "Paris to appear in court June 18". Cape Breton Post, May 10, 2013. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
External links [edit]
- Official website
- Members of the Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly
- NDP caucus profile
- Percy Paris' NSNDP Profile
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