Shawn Graham

Shawn Michael Graham ( born February 22, 1968 in Rexton, New Brunswick ) is a Canadian politician and, since October 3, 2006 Prime Minister of the Province of New Brunswick. The trained teachers increased in 1998 in politics, when he took over the seat previously held by his father in a by-election. He was elected chairman of the New Brunswick Liberal Association in 2002 and led for four years at the opposition in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick.

Biography

Father Alan Graham belonged to the Legislative Assembly for 31 years and has the longest tenure of all MPs in the province's history. His son Shawn was trained at the University of New Brunswick and the St. Thomas University as a teacher. He was active only helping out in this profession and worked mainly in the public administration. After the resignation of Father Shawn Graham ran for the vacant parliamentary seat in the electoral district of Kent, and was elected in March 1998 by a large margin to his successor.

Camille Thériault, the leader of the Liberals, announced in March 2001, announced his retirement, his successor should be determined at a party congress in May 2002. Since there was a lack of candidates, Graham was persuaded also to run. Contrary to predictions, he was able to prevail in the third ballot and became the new chairman. Although Graham was little known to the public, the Liberals were able to increase their share of the vote in June 2003 by more than seven percent and missed the majority of only two seats. In the fall of 2004, Graham was in the opinion polls for the first time in front of the progressive- conservative Prime Minister Bernard Lord. In February 2006, a stalemate, as a member of the government resigned and his mandate was exercised as an Independent.

In early elections in September 2006, the Liberals have increased their share of the vote and win a slim majority of seats. Vice Governor Herménégilde Chiasson sworn Graham on October 3, as new prime minister. He also took over the leadership of the Ministry of Culture and Sports, he is also responsible for relations with the federal government and the other provinces.