MLA Kelly Regan: A Good Steward

Kelsey MacDonald  //  December 22, 2011

The political life was never something Kelly Regan had set out for herself, but finding herself strongly supported by the people of her riding as well as Nova Scotia Liberal leader Stephen McNeil, she says the decision to put her name forth ultimately came in the form of a nudge from a higher authority.

“I changed my mind the next day (after initially declining the offer) after being inspired during a church sermon that was about being a good steward,” she said. This Member of the Nova Scotia Legislature for Bedford-Birch Cove says that she firmly believes it was not “God’s calling” that inspired her to run for office. However, she often gets criticism from the occasional constituent because of this.

Elected in June 2009, she now works at a job where “every day is different”. This Ontario-native quickly fell in love with the unique beauty and the heritage of the Maritimes and made Nova Scotia her home since 1984. “I fell in love with the place and the history of it, which is so fascinating,” she stated. She worked as a respected journalist for many years and she brings the enthusiasm from her past experience to her political work.

Ms. Regan says she finds her inspiration from the people of Bedford-Birch Cove whom elected her. “They will tell you if you’re doing something right or wrong,” she stated. “You want to do your best to help them.”

Her eagerness to help her constituents has motivated her to push for issues that are near and dear to her for example; fighting to keep the plans for a new high school to replace the existing one in her riding. After hearing that the original site may not be chosen thereby, moving the new high school outside her riding, she tabled a letter to both the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal as well as to the Minister of Education to get them to urge their department officials to try to negotiate for the preferred site.

“I have come to respect and admire her dedication and passion,” stated Ms. Regan’s new constituency assistant, Patrick Connors. “Kelly works tirelessly- early in the morning, into the night and on weekends. She stands up for her constituents, even when it might not be the most popular or easiest issue to take a stand on.”

Other issues she has brought forth in the House of Assembly are the threat of Lyme disease to her riding and others. Being the critic for Education, she has remained strong to her party’s position on the O’Neil Report. On the issue of O’Neil’s recommended increase tuition in Nova Scotia, Ms. Regan states: “I don’t know if economists would think that would be a recipe for anything other than disaster.”

She states that she “never romanticized the political life” given that her husband is the Member of Parliament for Halifax West, Geoff Regan. That gave her a full view of all aspects of what the lifestyle required in terms of commitment. However, she does warn that the job is not for the “faint of heart and it is not a 9 to 5 job.”

Ms. Regan’s  passion and devotion to the people of Bedford-Birch Cove motivates her to go above and beyond to help. She also encourages other women to get involved by running for office, saying that a good motto to go by is to “under-promise and over-deliver.”  She also says to work hard at any job you do and to “do it well, that way people will remember should you decide to run for office.”

Ms. Regan says that the most rewarding aspect of being an MLA is when she’s able to help those in her community. “It’s not always about being able to solve their problems if it isn’t solvable, but it helps to know sometimes that someone is walking with you through it.”

Being a good steward: that’s what Ms. Regan says is the best way to make a difference in her community.