Karla MacFarlane
Honorific prefixThe Honourable
Birth dateApril 29, 1969 (age 57)
Birth placeThree Brooks, Nova Scotia
Honorific suffixECNS
Office 1Speaker of the House of Assembly of Nova Scotia
Term start 1October 12, 2023
Term end 1April 5, 2024
Predecessor 1Keith Bain
Successor 1Danielle Barkhouse
Office 2Leader of the Opposition (Nova Scotia)
Term start 2January 24, 2018
Term end 2October 27, 2018
Predecessor 2Jamie Baillie
Successor 2Tim Houston
Assembly 3Nova Scotia House of
Constituency am 3Pictou West
Term start 3October 8, 2013
Term end 3April 12, 2024
Predecessor 3Charlie Parker
Successor 3Marco MacLeod
PartyProgressive Conservative

Karla Michelle MacFarlane (born April 29, 1969)[1] is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 2013 provincial election. A member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia, she represented the electoral district of Pictou West.[2] MacFarlane is a graduate of Husson University in Maine with an associate degree in Business Communications.[3] In 2016, MacFarlane was named "Legislator of the Year" at the non-profit Springtide Collective's Better Politics Awards.[4] She was re-elected in the 2017 provincial election.

MacFarlane was appointed interim leader of the Progressive Conservative party and Leader of the Opposition on January 24, 2018, when her predecessor, Jamie Baillie, was forced to resign due to allegations of inappropriate behaviour.[5] She was succeeded by Tim Houston on October 27, 2018.

On August 31, 2021, MacFarlane was made Minister of Community Services as well as Minister Responsible for the Status of Women and the Office of L'nu Affairs.[6] The latter appointment caused backlash among some Nova Scotians as MacFarlane is white as well as the fact that the riding she represents has no First Nations communities.[7] She resigned from cabinet on September 14, 2023,[8] and was elected Nova Scotia's first female Speaker of the House on October 12, 2023.[9]

MacFarlane announced her resignation as Speaker the House of Assembly on April 5, 2024.[10] She resigned as an MLA one week later on April 12.[11][12] The provincial by-election to replace her was scheduled for May 21, 2024.[13]

MacFarlane has two children.[3]

Electoral record

|-

|Progressive Conservative |Karla MacFarlane |align="right"|3,026 |align="right"|40.10 |align="right"| |-

|New Democratic Party |Charlie Parker |align="right"|2,588 |align="right"|34.29 |align="right"| |-

|Liberal |Glennie Langille |align="right"|1,933 |align="right"|25.61 |align="right"| |}

References

  1. ^ 62nd General Assembly archived bio Nova Scotia Legislature
  2. ^ "Tories take Pictou County ridings back from NDP". The Chronicle Herald. October 8, 2013. Archived October 14, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  3. ^ "Karla MacFarlane - MLA for Pictou West - PC Party of NS". PC Party NS. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
  4. ^ "Local MLA, community group recognized for contributions | The News". www.ngnews.ca. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
  5. ^ "PC Leader Jamie Baillie forced out after allegations of 'inappropriate behaviour'". CBC News. January 24, 2018. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
  6. ^ "New Cabinet to Deliver Solutions for Nova Scotians". 31 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Online petition calling for replacement of new Minister of l'Nu Affairs | SaltWire". Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  8. ^ "N.S. premier shuffles cabinet, appoints first Black woman". CBC News. September 14, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  9. ^ "Twila Grosse, Karla MacFarlane make history at Province House". CBC News. October 12, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  10. ^ "Karla MacFarlane announces retirement from Nova Scotia politics". CBC News. April 5, 2024. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  11. ^ Musick, Sueann (12 April 2024). "Province commits funding to Salem Wastewater Project". Pictou County. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  12. ^ "By-election Pending in Pictou West". Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Byelection called for May 21 in Nova Scotia's Pictou West riding". 650 CKOM. Retrieved 2024-04-24.