Birth

June 13, 1961 in Halifax.

Education

Graduate of Sackville High School; Local Government Management at the Banff Institute

Employment History

Real estate agent

Political Career

Elected Halifax County councillor in 1993; elected councillor for new Halifax Regional Municipality in 1995. First elected to Legislative Assembly in July 1999, re-elected in August 2003 and June 2006. Cabinet duties have included: Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations; Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs and Minister responsible for the Residential Tenancies Act.

Community Involvement

Served on the Sackville Planning Advisory Committee, the Cobequid Multi-Service Centre Foundation and the Halifax County Board of Health. Founding member of the Sackville Rivers Association and served as chair of the Landfill Compensation Implementation Committee and Halifax County Planning Committee. A former scout leader, hockey and baseball coach. Member of the board of directors for Sackville Blazers Junior Hockey Club. Life member of Springfield Lake Association.

Family

Married to Edna Barnet; two sons