Lena Metlege Diab (born 1965)
is a
Canadian
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
politician, who was elected to the
Nova Scotia House of Assembly
The Nova Scotia House of Assembly (french: Assemblée législative de la Nouvelle-Écosse; gd, Taigh Seanaidh Alba Nuadh), or Legislative Assembly, is the deliberative assembly of the General Assembly of Nova Scotia of the province of Nova Scotia ...
in the
2013 provincial election. A member of the
Nova Scotia Liberal Party
The Nova Scotia Liberal Party is a centrist provincial political party in Nova Scotia, Canada and the provincial section of the Liberal Party of Canada. The party currently forms the Official Opposition in Nova Scotia, under the leadership of Zach ...
, she represented the electoral district of
Halifax Armdale
Halifax Armdale is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. This Halifax district covers the growing population of the Fairmount, Armdale and Cowie Hill areas. The northe ...
until 2021.
She did not run for another term in the provincial legislature in the
2021 Nova Scotia general election, opting instead to run as the
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada (french: Parti libéral du Canada, region=CA) is a federal political party in Canada. The party espouses the principles of liberalism,McCall, Christina; Stephen Clarkson"Liberal Party". ''The Canadian Encyclopedia'' ...
candidate for the riding of
Halifax West
Halifax West (french: Halifax-Ouest) is a federal electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 1979. Its population in 2021 was 111,944.
Demographics
''From the 2016 census''
E ...
in the
2021 Canadian federal election
The 2021 Canadian federal election was held on September 20, 2021, to elect members of the House of Commons to the 44th Canadian Parliament. The writs of election were issued by Governor General Mary Simon on August 15, 2021, when Prime Minist ...
.
Early life and career
Diab was born in Halifax, the daughter of first-generation
Lebanese immigrants. She moved to Lebanon at age 2 but then moved back to Halifax at age 11, escaping the
Lebanese Civil War
The Lebanese Civil War ( ar, الحرب الأهلية اللبنانية, translit=Al-Ḥarb al-Ahliyyah al-Libnāniyyah) was a multifaceted armed conflict that took place from 1975 to 1990. It resulted in an estimated 120,000 fatalities a ...
.
Diab graduated from
Saint Mary's University in 1985 with a Bachelor of Arts in economics and political science. She worked as a page at the Nova Scotia Legislature during this time.
She then attended
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University (commonly known as Dal) is a large public research university in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the fou ...
where she obtained her
Master of Public Administration
The Master of Public Administration (M.P.Adm., M.P.A., or MPA) is a specialized higher professional post graduate degree in public administration, similar/ equivalent to the Master of Business Administration but with an emphasis on the issues of ...
in 1987 and
Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws ( la, Legum Baccalaureus; LL.B.) is an undergraduate law degree in the United Kingdom and most common law jurisdictions. Bachelor of Laws is also the name of the law degree awarded by universities in the People's Republic of Chi ...
in 1990. Diab practiced law and operated a small business in Halifax. She is the mother of four children who are active in local sports and community organizations in Nova Scotia.
Diab is a noted community leader and volunteer. She is the recipient of the "Outstanding Professional of the Year" award (2010) from the Canadian Lebanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She has received the "Mainland North Champion Award" (2010). Diab was a recipient of the
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (french: Médaille du jubilé de diamant de la reine Elizabeth II) or The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 2012 to mark the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's ...
(2013). She received the "Nova Scotia Provincial Volunteer Award" (2013). She has served many years as the President of the Canadian Lebanon Society of Halifax, and oversaw the celebration of the 75th Anniversary celebrations held throughout Halifax in 2013.
Political career
Diab sought and was elected in the riding of
Halifax Armdale
Halifax Armdale is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. This Halifax district covers the growing population of the Fairmount, Armdale and Cowie Hill areas. The northe ...
in the
2013 Nova Scotia general election for the
Nova Scotia Liberal Party
The Nova Scotia Liberal Party is a centrist provincial political party in Nova Scotia, Canada and the provincial section of the Liberal Party of Canada. The party currently forms the Official Opposition in Nova Scotia, under the leadership of Zach ...
. On October 22, 2013, Diab was appointed to the
Executive Council of Nova Scotia
The Executive Council of Nova Scotia (informally and more commonly, the Cabinet of Nova Scotia) is the cabinet of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.
Almost always made up of members of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, the Cabinet is sim ...
as Minister of Justice, as well as Attorney General, Minister of Immigration and various other cabinet responsibilities. She was the first female to hold the position of Attorney General in Nova Scotia, as well as the first
Lebanese Canadian
Lebanese Canadians are Canadians of Lebanon, Lebanese origin. According to the Canada 2016 Census, 2016 Census there were 219,555 Canadians who claimed Lebanese people, Lebanese ancestry, showing an increase compared to the 2006 Census, making th ...
to hold a cabinet position in Nova Scotia.
On July 24, 2015, premier Stephen McNeil shuffled his cabinet with Diab being retained as Minister of Immigration, but being shuffled out as Minister of Justice.
On June 15, 2017, premier Stephen McNeil shuffled his cabinet, retaining Diab as Minister of Immigration, but giving her an additional role in cabinet as Minister of Acadian Affairs and Francophonie.
On October 13, 2020, premier Stephen McNeil shuffled his cabinet in response to the resignation of three Ministers who entered the leadership race to replace him. Diab was given an additional role in cabinet as Minister of Labour and Advanced Education.
On February 23, 2021, premier Iain Rankin was sworn in as Nova Scotia's 29th premier along with a new cabinet. Diab retained her roles as Minister of Labour and Advanced Education and Minister of Acadian Affairs and Francophonie, while also retaining the newly renamed role of Minister of Immigration and Population Growth.
Electoral record
, -
,
Liberal
Liberal or liberalism may refer to:
Politics
* a supporter of liberalism
** Liberalism by country
* an adherent of a Liberal Party
* Liberalism (international relations)
* Sexually liberal feminism
* Social liberalism
Arts, entertainment and m ...
, Lena Diab
, align="right", 3,208
, align="right", 49.34
, align="right",
, -
,
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party (NDP; french: Nouveau Parti démocratique, NPD) is a federal political party in Canada. Widely described as social democratic,The party is widely described as social democratic:
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
* t ...
, Drew Moore
, align="right", 2,233
, align="right", 34.34
, align="right",
, -
,
Progressive Conservative
, Irvine Carvery
, align="right", 1,061
, align="right", 16.32
, align="right",
Personal life
In January 2017, Diab's husband Maroun was charged with assault, uttering threats and choking his wife, as well as threatening two other people in relation to an incident that occurred at their home in Halifax on December 31, 2016.
[Cabinet minister Lena Diab's husband charged with assaulting her](_blank)
CBC News On March 23, 2017, her husband was found not criminally responsible for the incident after an assessment at the East Coast Forensic Hospital.
DIAB, Maroun - June 2017
Government of Nova Scotia
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Diab, Lena
Living people
Nova Scotia Liberal Party MLAs
People from Halifax, Nova Scotia
Women MLAs in Nova Scotia
Lawyers in Nova Scotia
Members of the Executive Council of Nova Scotia
Women government ministers of Canada
Schulich School of Law alumni
Saint Mary's University (Halifax) alumni
Attorneys General of Nova Scotia
Canadian politicians of Lebanese descent
21st-century Canadian women politicians
1965 births
Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Nova Scotia
Women members of the House of Commons of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada MPs