The Brian Mulroney Institute of Government and the StFX Students’ Union Present
Nova Scotia Election 2024: Candidates Forum
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Mulroney Hall 2070
The Brian Mulroney Institute of Government and the StFX Students’ Union will be hosting a forum for candidates running in the provincial election for the Antigonish. All students and members of the campus and Antigonish community are welcome to attend to learn more about the candidates’ platforms.
Questions will be fielded and selected prior to the debate. Please submit your questions to the Mulroney Institute (mulinst@stfx.ca) by noon on Friday, November 1.
The Liberal Party, New Democratic Party, and Progressive Conservative candidates will be participating in the forum.
All are welcome.
The event will be recorded.
Candidates
John D. MacIsaac
New Democratic Party
John David MacIsaac is the Nova Scotia NDP’s candidate in Antigonish. Many may know John David. Born and raised in Antigonish, he is a Master Mariner with over 35 years in various areas of the offshore and merchant marine. Since 2016, he has been a faculty member at the Nova Scotia Nautical Institute Marine Technology Program (NSCC) in Port Hawkesbury. He has also been a volunteer with a variety of service organizations including chair of Board of Directors for the Strait of Canso Superport Corporation, and in the community, the annual street canvas for CACL and the Antigonish Highland Games. He still goes to the Arctic every summer as a Polar Ice Navigator for the resupply operation of Canada’s North Warning stations in the western Canadian Arctic. The Antigonish Movement is deeply embedded in John David as his mother was on the original staff of the Coady Institute. He firmly believes in the principles of co-operatives as a solution to housing and developing rural enterprise. He has a degree in Economics from StFX, which has given me a deep insight to the solutions of the challenges people face today. John David has always given a hand or contributed when asked to do so. This is why he is running in this election, to work for the people that need help the most.
Sheila Sears
Liberal Party
Sheila Sears was a Primary Health Care and Public Health leader in Nova Scotia from 2003 until retirement. Sheila has worked as a nurse, health leader, and public health advisor in all of Canada’s provinces and territories (except Quebec), Central America, the Middle East and Sri Lanka and with numerous First Nations. Her 36 years of nursing practice and career decisions have been influenced by the principles of social justice and population health. Sheila was a founding member of SAFE the Syria-Antigonish Families Embrace (SAFE) Society, a volunteer run Settlement Agreement Holder assisting new Syrian Canadians fleeing war and displacement to settle safely in Canada and make Antigonish their new home. Sheila was a member of the SAFE Steering Committee and the volunteer treasurer from 2015 – 2023. Until recently she was a volunteer with Dying with Dignity Canada. Sheila served as a Director on the Board of Nova Scotia Health Authority and chaired the Public Engagement subcommittee of the Board. In the past she has been on the Boards of Kids First Family Resource Centres, the Antigonish Chamber of Commerce, and the Antigonish Regional Development Authority. She is a former basketball player and coach. She now enjoys her son’s journey while supporting local and Atlantic University Sport basketball. She also cheers wildly for the Raptors!
Michelle Thompson
Progressive Conservative
Michelle Thompson is a leader whose passion and commitment for health inspired her to run for a seat at the provincial table in 2021. Michelle is a Registered Nurse, having worked in acute care, critical care, public health, young health and long-term care, and was a long-term care administrator prior to her election to the Legislature. Michelle was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly as MLA for Antigonish in 2021. Since then, she has served as a key member of Premier Houston’s cabinet as she was appointed Minister of Health and Wellness and the Minister responsible for the Office of Healthcare Professional Recruitment. In 2024, she was also appointed as the Minister responsible for healthcare infrastructure development.