Gail Shea, who spent seven years as a conservative deputy of Prince Eduardo de Egmont during Stephen Harper’s years, has died at the age of 66.
The PEI Prime Minister’s office confirmed the news on Thursday afternoon in a statement that did not include details of when and where Shea had died.
“Gail was a pillar in the progressive conservative party, a loyal, respected and reliable voice that gave himself a lot to our province and the people he served,” said statement Rob Lantz. “She was a pioneer, who had senior roles in provincial and federal cabinets.
“She was proud of her roots in western Pei and never lost contact with the people and the values that molded her. Her dedication, humility and quiet strength won the respect of the islanders of all areas of life.”
Shea was a member of Parliament during two terms that lasted a total of seven years, from 2008 to 2015. When Egmont voters chose her as her representative, she became the first non -liberal parliamentary of driving in 28 years.
I would continue to make history as the first PEI woman named for the federal cabinet.
She served as minister in several portfolios, while Harper was prime minister, including national income and fishing and oceans. She was also the Minister of the Cabinet responsible for the Opportunities Agency of the Atlantic of Canada for a while.
“As regards me, we have delivered a lot to Prince Eduardo Island and the Atlantic of Canada,” he said after losing his deputy’s seat in the federal elections of 2015. “The real changes to the IE that we did actually put a million dollars more in the pockets of the recipients here on the island Prince Edward.”
Shea said that an erroneous information campaign on the actions of the conservative government was at least partially responsible for her defeat.
“It wasn’t a big surprise,” said Shea. “There was a strong antiharper movement around.”
The current conservative leader Pierre Poilievre published messages on social networks on Thursday afternoon by calling Shea a “dear friend” and sending his condolences to his family.
“Gail was a bigger figure than life in our conservative movement,” said the publication in part. “It was full of energy, warmth, good humor and it was the epitome of maritime hospitality. Whether he was serving his voters, fighting for our fisheries or simply sharing a laugh, Gail’s spirit raised everyone around him.”
Pailievre added: “I will miss it deeply, but her generosity of spirit and dedication to others will live in the many lives she touched.”
The liberal Bobby Morrissey, who is still the deputy of Egmont 10 years after defeating Shea, was also one of the first to pay tribute to her.
“He never forgot where he came from, regardless of the office he occupied over the years,” he said, and said they grew in the same area and knew each other long before their policy took different paths.
Before moving on to federal politics, Shea spent seven years as the progressive conservative MLA for District 27, Tignish-Deblois.
She was the Prime Minister of Women’s Transportation of the Province, who was among several portfolios that Pat Binns had under the then firstítero.
I wouldn’t let a cake stop her
Shea told CBC News in a 2016 interview that one of the low points in her career was to have an American Hunt protester to push a cake while attending a demonstration as a fishing minister.
The cake addressed to Shea was apparently made of Tofu, although he told Hamilton spectator that “he knew a razor.”
At that time, Shea told the nervous staff that he was going to resume his appearance at the event in Burlington, Ontario.
“And they said: ‘You are not!’ And I said: ‘Yes, I am.
Born in Skinners Pond
Ann Marie Gail Doucette was born on April 6, 1959, daughter of Roy Ernest Doucette and Elva Mary Perry.
He had just turned 17 when he married Russell Shea. They would continue to have five children.
Shea was formed as an accountant and managed a family business for 15 years, in addition to working for a while for the Canada Revenue Agency, at the Summerside Tax Center.
EX news of CBC: Compass presenter Bruce Rainnie interviews Gail Shea in Charlottetown in April 2016, six months after leaving the policy after his defeat in the federal elections of October 2015.
She shared the hometown of Skinners Pond with the legend of the Stompin ‘Tom Connors song composition, who was born in New Brunswick, but considered Pei for her native floor.
“Canada has lost a friend,” Shea said a commemorative service after Connors died in 2013.
After losing the 2015 elections, Shea said she did not feel like trying a political return, although she acknowledged that people asked her to run for provincial progressive conservative leadership.
“It is good to be able to respond and pick up the grandchildren in school if parents can’t, so just being there to do it is great,” Shea told Matt Rainnie of CBC six months after those elections.
“Once you are no longer busy, you realize how busy you were and how the work really took every moment every day.”
