GAIL SHEA

Gail Shea was elected to the House of Commons on October 14, 2008. On October 30, Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed her Minister of Fisheries and Oceans as well as the federal Minister Responsible for Prince Edward Island. 

She currently serves on the cabinet committees of Foreign Affairs and National Security; Economic Growth and Long-term Prosperity and has led Canadian delegations to Norway and the European Parliament in the Czech Republic. 

First elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island in April of 2000 she served as Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs and the first female Minister of Transportation and Public Works.

Her responsibilities also included Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, the Worker’s Compensation Board and the Island Waste Management Corporation. 

During her tenure as Transportation Minister, she was successful in expanding the national highway system for the province of Prince Edward Island and also introduced the graduated licensing system for new drivers. 

Before entering public life Minister Shea served as Special Assistant to the Premier of Prince Edward Island from 1997-2000 and previous to that she was an employee of the Canada Revenue Agency.

Always active in her community she served as vice-president and treasurer of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 6. She was a member of the Unit One School Board and was president of the Tignish Home and School Association. 

Her volunteer activities also include involvement with the Irish Moss Festival, various sporting organizations, assisting seniors and her local church. 

Minister Shea resides in Anglo-Tignish with her husband Russell, has five grown children and eight grandchildren.