Frank Corbett

The Honourable
Frank Corbett
Member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
for Cape Breton Centre
In office
March 24, 1998 – April 2, 2015
Preceded byRussell MacNeil
Succeeded byDavid Wilton
Minister of the Public Service Commission
In office
June 19, 2009 – March 15, 2013
Preceded byLen Goucher
Succeeded byMarilyn More
Minister of Communications Nova Scotia
In office
June 19, 2009 – March 15, 2013
Preceded byJudy Streatch
Succeeded byMarilyn More
Personal details
Born1954
New Waterford, Nova Scotia
Political partyNDP
ResidenceLingan, Nova Scotia

Francis "Frank" Corbett (born 1954[1]) is a former Deputy Premier of Nova Scotia.

He represented the riding of Cape Breton Centre in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1998 to 2015. He was a member of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party.[2]

Early life and career

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Corbett was born and raised in New Waterford and currently resides in Lingan. Corbett worked as a television cameraman for CJCB-TV, the CTV affiliate in Sydney and volunteered with the provincial NDP as well as the labour movement for over 25 years, primarily with the Communications, Energy, and Paperworkers Union.[3] He served as official agent for Buddy MacEachern's successful elections in the 1974 and 1978 provincial elections.[4][5]

Political career

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Corbett ran for the NDP nomination in the riding of Cape Breton Centre[6] and was first elected in the 1998 provincial election.[7] Corbett was subsequently re-elected in the 1999, 2003,[8] 2006, 2009[9] and 2013 provincial elections.[10]

Following the 2009 election, Corbett was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia as Deputy Premier, Minister of the Public Service Commission, and Minister of Communications Nova Scotia.[11] In a March 2013 cabinet shuffle, Corbett was appointed Minister of Labour and Advanced Education, and Minister of Immigration.[12] Along with his cabinet duties, Corbett also served as the Government House Leader.[citation needed]

On November 10, 2009, it was revealed that Corbett had the highest meal expense bills on file amongst cabinet members in the new NDP government.[13] A check of ministers' records showed that Corbett expensed $441.48 for six people at the Keg restaurant in downtown Halifax on June 19, the night he and his 11 cabinet colleagues were sworn in. In July Corbett expensed $332.90 at CUT Steakhouse in Halifax for a dinner meeting for three people. Two nights later he expensed $250.28 at Ryan Duffy's in Halifax for three people.[citation needed]

These revelations came after a statement released in September 2009 in which Corbett stated that because of the province's projected $590-million deficit, MLAs and staff had to be prepared to "lead by example." When news of Corbett's meal expenses was made public, he was quoted as saying "I screwed up and it won't happen again".[14]

On April 2, 2015, Corbett announced his resignation as MLA.[15]

Personal life

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He is married to Joan and they have two children.[16]

References

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  1. ^ 62nd General Assembly Nova Scotia Legislature
  2. ^ "Frank Corbett, Gordie Gosse resign from legislature". Cape Breton Post. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  3. ^ "Nova Scotia NDP biography". Nova Scotia New Democratic Party. Archived from the original on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  4. ^ Nova Scotia General Election 1974 Elections Nova Scotia
  5. ^ Nova Scotia General Election 1978 Elections Nova Scotia
  6. ^ "Coal is king in C.B. Centre". The Chronicle Herald. 11 March 1998. Archived from the original on 23 January 2005. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  7. ^ "Drake now faces fight for union post". The Chronicle Herald. 26 March 1998. Archived from the original on 24 January 2005. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  8. ^ "C.B. Liberals buoyed by five-seat snag: 'We're going to be heard'". The Chronicle Herald. 7 August 2003. Archived from the original on 24 January 2005. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  9. ^ "Corbett landslide winner in Cape Breton Centre". Cape Breton Post. 10 June 2009. Archived from the original on 13 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  10. ^ "Corbett re-elected in Cape Breton Centre". Cape Breton Post. 8 October 2013. Archived from the original on 13 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  11. ^ "Atlantic Canada's 1st NDP government takes office in Nova Scotia". CBC News. 19 June 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  12. ^ "Nova Scotia cabinet has minor shuffle". Metro. Halifax. 15 March 2013. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  13. ^ "Corbett takes early lead in meal expenses". The Chronicle Herald. 10 November 2009. Archived from the original on 13 November 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  14. ^ http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/cbc/091111/canada/canada_novascotia_ns_corbett_dinner [dead link]
  15. ^ "NDP MLAs Gordie Gosse, Frank Corbett resign". The Chronicle Herald. 2 April 2015. Archived from the original on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  16. ^ "The summer of Frank". Cape Breton Post. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
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