{{Short description|Canadian politician}} {{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = The Honourable | image = <!-- only free-content images are allowed for depicting living people - see WP:NONFREE --> | name = Brendan Maguire | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|8|29}} | birth_place = Weymouth, Dorset, England | honorific_suffix = ECNS MLA | assembly = Nova Scotia House of | constituency_AM = Halifax Atlantic | term_start = October 8, 2013 | term_end = | predecessor = Michèle Raymond | successor = | party = PC (2024–) | other_party = Liberal (until 2024) | occupation = }}

'''Brendan Oliver Maguire''' (born August 29, 1975) is a Canadian politician who was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 2013 provincial election. Elected as a member of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party, he joined the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia in February 2024. He represents the electoral district of Halifax Atlantic.<ref>{{cite web|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|work=Metro|location=Halifax|date=October 8, 2013 |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|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Early life== Born in Weymouth, England to parents from Northern Ireland, Maguire and his family emigrated to Canada at four years old. He and his four siblings were abandoned by their parents at the Halifax Shopping Centre shortly after that. As a result, he grew up in foster care in the Halifax area and became a Canadian citizen when he was 16.<ref name="Demont">[https://www.saltwire.com/news/local/john-demont-brendan-maguires-amazing-journey-from-homelessness-to-ns-cabinet-557516/ John DeMont: Brendan Maguire’s amazing journey from homelessness to N.S. cabinet] Halifax Chronicle Herald</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://brendanmaguire.ca/index.php/78-brendan/72-meet-brendan |title=Meet Brendan |date=October 24, 2016 |publisher=NS Liberal Party |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024184107/http://brendanmaguire.ca/index.php/78-brendan/72-meet-brendan |archive-date=October 24, 2016}}</ref>

Maguire graduated from college with a diploma in computer studies. He worked in telecommunications and later became a sales representative and technician at the Halifax Water Commission.<ref name="Demont"/>

==Political career== Maguire serves on the Public Accounts Committee, the Health Committee, the Law Amendments Committee and is Vice Chair of the Community Services Committee. In 2014, 2015, and 2016, Maguire was named the Best Member of the Provincial Legislature by ''The Coast'' magazine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thecoast.ca/halifax/best-member-of-the-provincial-legislature/BestOf?oid=4452626|title=Best Member of the Provincial Legislature 2014|work=The Coast|accessdate=August 7, 2015}}</ref> Maguire was also named the 2015 Ambassador of the year by Family SOS.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.familysos.ca/events/2015-courage-awards-old/|title=2015 Courage to Give Back Awards|publisher=Family SOS |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208141638/http://www.familysos.ca/events/2015-courage-awards-old/ |archive-date=December 8, 2015 }}</ref>

On February 23, 2021, Maguire was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia as Minister of Municipal Affairs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/iain-rankin-sworn-in-as-premier-1.5924157|title=Iain Rankin sworn in as Nova Scotia premier, along with 16 cabinet ministers|publisher=CBC News|date=February 23, 2021|access-date=February 28, 2021}}</ref>

Maguire was re-elected in the 2021 election, however the Rankin Liberals lost government becoming the Official Opposition.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/article/bad-campaign-leader-who-didnt-connect-with-voters-led-to-ns-liberal-loss-experts/ | title=Bad campaign, leader who didn't connect with voters led to N.S. Liberal loss: Experts | date=August 18, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/election-campaign-liberals-ndp-pc-1.6144162| title = Progressive Conservatives surge to surprise majority win in Nova Scotia election |publisher=CBC News}}</ref>

On February 22, 2024, Progressive Conservative premier Tim Houston announced that Maguire had crossed the floor to the Progressive Conservatives, and that Maguire was being appointed Community Services Minister.<ref>{{Cite tweet|number=1760696457173070072|user=TimHoustonNS|date=22 February 2024|title=I’m proud of the team of Nova Scotians in the PC Caucus who work hard to support their constituents and keep building up Nova Scotia. With the gap that appeared in our Cabinet in Community Services, I knew we had an incredible team who could step in to help. One person in the Legislature, though, came to mind as someone who has a unique lived experience with this department, having grown up through the system. He’s been offering productive solutions to the challenges facing Nova Scotians over the past few months. I’m happy to welcome Halifax Atlantic MLA Brendan Maguire to the PC Caucus as the province’s new Minister of Community Services. I’m proud to have Brendan join our hard-working team of Nova Scotians focused on getting things done.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/n-s-liberal-mla-brendan-maguire-joining-pcs-named-minister-of-community-services-1.7122287|title=N.S. Liberal MLA Brendan Maguire joining PCs, named minister of community services|publisher=CBC News|date=February 22, 2024|access-date=February 22, 2024}}</ref>

On December 12, 2024, Maguire was appointed Minister of Education and Early Childhood development, Minister of Advanced Education and Government House Leader.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/cabinet-politics-tim-houston-1.7408891|title=Nova Scotia's new Member cabinet sworn in at Halifax ceremony|publisher=CBC News|date=December 12, 2024|access-date=December 18, 2025}}</ref>

==Electoral record== {{2024 Nova Scotia general election/Halifax Atlantic}} {{2021 Nova Scotia general election/Halifax Atlantic}}

{{Canadian election result/top|NS|2017|percent=yes|change=yes}} {{CANelec|NS|Liberal|Brendan Maguire|4,219|55.48|+12.94%}} {{CANelec|NS|NDP|Trish Keeping|1,728|22.72|-10.91%}} {{CANelec|NS|PC|Bruce Holland|1,300|17.10|-6.73%}} {{CANelec|NS|Green|Chelsey Carter|357|4.69|}} {{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|7,604|100.0 &nbsp;}}<!-- {{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|25|0.33|}} {{Canadian election result/total|Turnout|7,629|50.03|}} {{Canadian election result/total|Eligible voters|15,250}}--> {{end}}

{{Election box begin | title=2013 Nova Scotia general election}} |- {{Canadian party colour|NS|Liberal|row}} |Liberal |Brendan Maguire |align="right"| 3,244 |align="right"|42.54 |align="right"| |- {{Canadian party colour|NS|NDP|row}} |New Democratic Party |Tanis Crosby |align="right"|2,564 |align="right"| 33.63 |align="right"| |- {{Canadian party colour|NS|PC|row}} |Progressive Conservative |Ryan Brennan |align="right"|1,817 |align="right"|23.83 |align="right"| |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{official website|http://brendanmaguire.ca/}}

{{Nova Scotia MLAs}} {{Houston Ministry}} {{Rankin Ministry}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maguire, Brendan}} Category:Living people Category:Nova Scotia Liberal Party MLAs Category:Members of the Executive Council of Nova Scotia Category:People from the Halifax Regional Municipality Category:1975 births Category:English emigrants to Canada Category:Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia MLAs Category:21st-century members of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly Category:Canadian politicians who switched parties