Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin

Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin (born July 7, 1969) is a Canadian politician. She was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 2017 provincial election.[1] A member of the Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia, she represents the electoral district of Cumberland North.[2]

Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin MLA
Member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly for Cumberland North
Incumbent
Assumed office May 30, 2017
Preceded by	Terry Farrell
Personal details
Born	Elizabeth Anne Smith July 7, 1969 Linden, Nova Scotia
Political party	Progressive Conservative
Residence	Amherst, Nova Scotia
Occupation	Registered Nurse

Smith-McCrossin launched a bid for the leadership of the PC Party of Nova Scotia on February 6, 2018.[3] Her leadership campaign is co-chaired by Halifax-businessman Rob Batherson and former Member of Parliament Scott Armstrong.[4]

Early life and education

Smith-McCrossin was born and raised on a dairy farm in Linden, Nova Scotia. She graduated from Dalhousie University in 1991 with a bachelor of science in nursing. She earned an executive MBA from Saint Mary's University in 2013.[5]

Prior to her election to the House of Assembly, Smith-McCrossin owned and operated her own health care business.

Controversies

On April 18, 2018, Smith-McCrossin received criticism over comments describing Jamaicans as having a "completely different work ethic" and "very low productivity" because of consumption of marijuana, during a debate over legalisation.[6] She claims to have based her comments on a conversation with a friend from her constituency, however, that friend refuted those comments as "completely inaccurate." [7]

In July 2018, Smith-McCrossin received criticism when a former constituency office employee spoke out against the way she was treated while working for her. She claimed that "[Smith-McCrossin's] behaviour was extremely offensive", after allegedly breaching the employee's privacy by demanding personal health care information, and refusing to provide documented proof of her completed cultural sensitivity training.[8]

Electoral record

2017 Nova Scotia general election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive Conservative	Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin	3,639	51.71
	Liberal	Terry Farrell	2,713	38.55
	New Democratic	Earl Dow	496	7.05
	Independent	Richard Plett	106	1.51
	Atlantica	Bill Archer	84	1.19
Total valid votes			7,038	100.0

References

1. "McCrossin, Baillie cruise to election wins in Cumberland County". Amherst News. May 30, 2017. Retrieved 2018-02-07.
2. "Who won in your riding? See the list of elected MLAs". CBC News. May 30, 2017. Retrieved 2017-05-31.
3. "Smith-McCrossin officially joins race for PC leadership". The Chronicle Herald. 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2018-04-19.
4. "MacPolitics: Batherson A Significant 'Get' For Smith-McCrossin | The Macdonald Notebook". www.themacdonaldnotebook.ca. Retrieved 2018-04-19.
5. Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin - PC Party biography
6. Boon, Jacob. "Tory leadership candidate worries weed will make Nova Scotians lazy like Jamaicans". The Coast Halifax. Retrieved 2018-04-19.
7. "PC leadership candidate says sorry in legislature for Jamaica pot comments | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2018-10-10.
8. Chater, Fadila. "Former employee files human rights complaint against Smith-McCrossin". The Coast Halifax. Retrieved 2018-10-10.