George Isaac Smith

George Isaac Smith, MBE (April 6, 1909 – December 19, 1982), usually referred to as G.I. Smith, was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the 18th Premier of Nova Scotia from 1967 to 1970. He was a Canadian senator from 1975 until his death. G.I. Smith is noted for having recruited Robert Stanfield to help rebuild the Progressive Conservatives in Nova Scotia.

For other people named George Smith, see George Smith (disambiguation).
The Honourable

George Isaac Smith

MBE
18th Premier of Nova Scotia
In office
September 13, 1967 – October 28, 1970
MonarchElizabeth II
Lieutenant GovernorHenry P. MacKeen
Victor deB. Oland
Preceded byRobert Stanfield
Succeeded byGerald Regan
MLA for Colchester
In office
June 9, 1949 – April 2, 1974
Preceded byGordon Purdy
Robert F. McLellan
Succeeded byMelinda MacLean
Floyd Tucker
Senator for Colchester
In office
August 7, 1975 – December 19, 1982
Appointed byPierre Trudeau
Personal details
Born(1909-04-06)April 6, 1909
Stewiacke, Nova Scotia
DiedDecember 19, 1982(1982-12-19) (aged 73)
Truro, Nova Scotia
Political partyProgressive Conservative
Occupationlawyer

Biography

Born in Stewiacke, Nova Scotia on April 6, 1909, Smith practiced law in Truro.[1] He served overseas during World War II and was mentioned in dispatches.[2]

Smith was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in 1949[3] and served in Robert Stanfield's cabinet when the Tories formed government in 1956.[4] When Stanfield moved to federal politics, Smith became Premier of Nova Scotia.[5][6] Under his government the faltering Sydney Steel was nationalised.[7] Smith argued in favour of regional equalization payments which transferred funds from rich provinces to poorer provinces like Nova Scotia.

Smith's government was defeated by the Liberals in 1970[8] and Smith resigned as party leader the next year.[9] In 1975 he was summoned to the Senate of Canada and represented the senatorial division of Colchester, Nova Scotia.

Smith died in office in Truro, Nova Scotia on December 19, 1982.

See also

References
  1. George Isaac Smith – Parliament of Canada biography
  2. Now Lieutenant Colonel, Major George Isaac Smith, Newspaper clipping, The North Nova Scotia Highlanders
  3. "N.S. re-elects Liberals, PC's gain eight seats". The Globe and Mail. June 10, 1949.
  4. "N.S. Premier names cabinet of 8 men". The Globe and Mail. November 21, 1956.
  5. "G.I. Smith sworn in as N.S. Premier; Stanfield gets ready for Ottawa move". The Globe and Mail. September 14, 1967.
  6. "Premier named party leader by N.S. Tories". The Globe and Mail. November 4, 1967.
  7. "N.S. is likely to pay $10 million for mill". The Globe and Mail. November 21, 1967.
  8. "PCs rebuffed, Liberals surge to N.S. victory". The Globe and Mail. October 14, 1970.
  9. "N.S. Tories to pick leader at March rally". The Globe and Mail. January 11, 1971.
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