Home / Arts and Entertainment / Beloved P.E.I. Politician Gail Shea Leaves Lasting Impact Across Party Lines
Beloved P.E.I. Politician Gail Shea Leaves Lasting Impact Across Party Lines
22 Aug
Summary
- Gail Shea, former federal minister and Conservative MP, passed away at 66
- Remembered for kindness and fierceness by colleagues across political spectrum
- Served as P.E.I.'s first female transportation minister and federal fisheries minister
Gail Shea, a trailblazing politician from Prince Edward Island, passed away last Thursday at the age of 66. Shea is being remembered for her kindness, fierceness, and dedication to her community by those who worked with her, including politicians from across the political spectrum.
Shea spent seven years as a Progressive Conservative MLA in P.E.I. and served as the province's first female transportation minister. She later went on to become the Conservative MP for the Egmont riding, making history as the first P.E.I. woman to be named to federal cabinet under then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper. During her time in federal politics, Shea held the crucial role of Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, a position that was a highlight of her career.
Colleagues from both the Liberal and Conservative parties have praised Shea's legacy, with former Liberal Premier Robert Ghiz stating that "without a doubt, she made Prince Edward Island a better place." Former Liberal MP Wayne Easter, who often sat next to Shea on flights to and from Ottawa, recalled how she "never, ever forgot where she came from." Even Harper, Shea's former party leader, expressed his deep sadness at her passing, highlighting her "innate sense of duty and commitment to her community, province, and Canada."
