Percy Paris
{{Short description|Canadian politician}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=September 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{for|the New Zealand Methodist minister|Percy Paris (minister)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = The Honorable
| honorific-suffix = ECNS
| name = Percy Paris
| image = Percy Paris MLA.jpg
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth based on age as of date|65|2013|7|4}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.saltwire.com/halifax/|title=Saltwire | Halifax|website=www.saltwire.com}}
| birth_place = Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
| residence = Windsor Junction, Nova Scotia, Canada
| constituency_AM = Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank
| assembly = Nova Scotia House of
| term_start = June 13, 2006
| term_end = October 8, 2013
| predecessor = Gary Hines
| successor = Bill Horne
| party = NDP
| office2 = Minister of Economic and Rural Development
| term_start2 = June 19, 2009
| term_end2 = May 9, 2013
| predecessor2 = Angus MacIsaac
| successor2 = Graham Steele
| office3 = Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Heritage
| term_start3 = June 19, 2009
| term_end3 = May 9, 2013
| predecessor3 = Bill Dooks
| successor3 = Graham Steele
| office4 = Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs
| term_start4 = June 19, 2009
| term_end4 = May 9, 2013
| predecessor4 = Barry Barnet
| successor4 = Maureen MacDonald{{Cite web|url=https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20130510001|title=Premier Announces Cabinet Changes|first=Communications Nova|last=Scotia|date=11 May 2018|website=News Releases}}
| religion =
| occupation = small business owner, university administrator
}}
Percy Alonzo Paris is a former Canadian politician from Nova Scotia. He represented the constituency of Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party from 2006 to 2013.
A native of Windsor, Paris has worked in a variety of jobs. He was a small business owner, having owned and operated a bar in Lower Sackville, as well as the Jet Journal, a local publication. Paris also worked as a municipal employee for the City of Halifax and as a hockey scout with the International Hockey League and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Paris worked for Dalhousie University as director of the Diversity Initiative, Black Student Advisor and an instructor in Black History. He was involved with the Transition Year Program.
Paris has been an active community volunteer and received a human rights award from the Human Rights Commission of Nova Scotia for his work bringing communities together through sport. Paris has held positions on a number of boards of directors including the Riverlake Residents' Association, the Black Business Initiative, National Access Awareness Week, Network for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities, the King's-Edgehill School Alumni Association, Team Work Co-operative, Halifax Black Community Workshop, Dartmouth East Black Learning Centre and the Metro Committee for Persons with Disabilities.
Political career
In 2006, Paris successfully ran for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party nomination in the riding of Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank. He was elected in the 2006 provincial election, defeating the incumbent Progressive Conservative Gary Hines with 46.39 per cent of the vote.{{cite web|url=http://electionsnovascotia.ca/sites/default/files/dist51_0.pdf|title=Returns of General Election for the House of Assembly 2006 (Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank)|publisher=Elections Nova Scotia|year=2006|accessdate=October 15, 2014}} Paris was re-elected in the 2009 provincial election with 54.47 per cent of the vote.CBC.ca, Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank, 2009 results [http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nsvotes2009/ridings/051/] Retrieved on June 11, 2009 During this period Paris was the only African-Nova Scotian elected to the provincial legislature.
While serving as a member of the official opposition from 2006 to 2009, Paris was the NDP's critic for Education and Early Childhood Development, as well as African Nova Scotian Affairs.
On June 19, 2009, Paris was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia where he served as Minister of Economic and Rural Development, as well as Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, and as Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs.Premier Dexter Unveils 12-member Cabinet, Government of Nova Scotia website, [http://www.gov.ns.ca/news/details.asp?id=20090619005] Retrieved June 19, 2009
On May 9, 2013, Paris resigned from cabinet following an incident at the House of Assembly earlier in the day.[https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20130509008 "Premier accepts Percy Paris's resignation from Cabinet"]. Government of Nova Scotia, May 9, 2013. Retrieved May 10, 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/n-s-cabinet-minister-resigns-after-bathroom-fight-1.1344073|title=N.S. cabinet minister resigns after bathroom fight|publisher=CBC News|date=May 10, 2013|accessdate=May 11, 2018}} Paris revealed that he "lost his composure" in the hallway outside the legislature chamber involving a fellow member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. Later that same day, a spokesman for Halifax Regional Police confirmed they were investigating an alleged assault at the legislature building, issuing a statement saying that they had charged a 65-year-old man from Windsor Junction with uttering threats and assault after receiving a complaint.{{cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/nova-scotia-cabinet-minister-resigns-after-police-called-to-investigate-alleged-assault-at-legislature|title=Nova Scotia cabinet minister resigns after police called to investigate alleged assault at legislature|work=National Post|date=May 10, 2013|access-date=October 25, 2023}}
On May 10, 2013, Liberal member of the Nova Scotia legislature Keith Colwell stated "Yesterday in the House of Assembly, I was assaulted and threatened by the Minister of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism", adding that he did not know what prompted the attack. According to Paris, the pair had a "heated exchange" near the doorway of a washroom for members of the legislative assembly, admitting that he momentarily lost his temper and stating "I regret I lost my cool for a few seconds". Colwell has been a member of the legislature since 1993. Paris's lawyer appeared in court on June 18, 2013, on his behalf where the case was adjourned to July 4, 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local/2013-05-10/article-3243147/UPDATE:-Paris-to-appear-in-court-June-18/1|title=Paris to appear in court June 18|work=Cape Breton Post|date=May 10, 2013|access-date=January 24, 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023055454/http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local/2013-05-10/article-3243147/UPDATE:-Paris-to-appear-in-court-June-18/1|archivedate=October 23, 2013}} Paris's lawyer appeared in court July 4, 2013, on his behalf and stated that he was accepting responsibility for a minor assault and making threats against Colwell, and by doing so, could end up with no criminal record. The Crown prosecutor recommended that Paris enter the adult diversion program.{{cite news|last=Jackson|first=David|title=Paris to accept responsibility in legislature assault|url=http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1139761-paris-to-accept-responsibility-in-legislature-assault|accessdate=24 January 2024|newspaper=The Chronicle-Herald|date=4 July 2013|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807122935/http://thechronicleherald.ca:80/novascotia/1139761-paris-to-accept-responsibility-in-legislature-assault|archivedate=7 August 2013}}{{cite news|title=N.S. MLA Percy Paris' assault case sent to adult diversion program|url=http://globalnews.ca/news/691928/assault-case-against-former-nova-scotia-cabinet-minister-returns-to-court/|accessdate=24 October 2013|newspaper=Global News|date=4 July 2013}} Paris completed the adult diversion program and it was announced on October 24, 2013, that the charges were being dropped.{{cite news|title=Percy Paris assault charges dismissed|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/percy-paris-assault-charges-dismissed-1.2223713|accessdate=24 October 2013|newspaper=CBC|date=24 October 2013}}
Paris was not re-elected in the 2013 provincial election, placing third behind candidates for the Progressive Conservative Party and the winning Liberal Party.{{cite news |url=http://metronews.ca/news/halifax/818290/nova-scotia-votes-riding-by-riding-results-for-halifax-region/ |title=Nova Scotia votes: Riding-by-riding results for Halifax region |date=October 8, 2013 |publisher=Metro |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228045416/http://metronews.ca/news/halifax/818290/nova-scotia-votes-riding-by-riding-results-for-halifax-region/ |archive-date=February 28, 2014}}
References
{{reflist}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20050510021039/http://www.bbi.ca/documents/B2B24.pdf Black Business Initiative Newsletter]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071027044639/http://www.ndpcaucus.ns.ca/profiles.asp?ID=15 NDP Caucus Website Bio]
{{Dexter Ministry}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Paris, Percy}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:21st-century members of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
Category:Black Canadian businesspeople
Category:Black Canadian politicians
Category:Members of the Executive Council of Nova Scotia