Not to be confused with Denis Peterson.
Denise Peterson-Rafuse
Honorific prefixThe Honourable
Honorific suffixECNS
Constituency amChester-St. Margaret's
AssemblyNova Scotia House of
Term startJune 9, 2009
Term endMay 30, 2017
PredecessorJudy Streatch
SuccessorHugh MacKay
Office 2Minister of Community Services
Term start 2June 19, 2009
Term end 2October 22, 2013
Predecessor 2Chris d'Entremont
Successor 2Joanne Bernard
Office 3Minister for Seniors
Term start 3June 19, 2009
Term end 3October 22, 2013
Predecessor 3Len Goucher
Successor 3Leo Glavine
PartyNew Democrat

Denise J. Peterson-Rafuse is a Canadian politician, who represented the electoral district of Chester-St. Margaret's in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 2009 to 2017 as a member of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party.[1]

Early life and education

Peterson-Rafuse earned a Bachelor of Public Relations from Mount Saint Vincent University in 1986.[2] She worked for the Canadian Cancer Society and the Heart and Stroke Foundation.[3]

Political career

In 2009, Peterson-Rafuse successfully ran for the New Democratic Party nomination in the riding of Chester-St. Margaret's. She was elected in the 2009 provincial election[4] and was re-elected in the 2013 provincial election.[5]

On June 19, 2009, Peterson-Rafuse was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia as Minister of Community Services, Minister responsible for Seniors and the Advisory Council on the Status of Women, and chair of the Senior Citizens' Secretariat.[6]

In March 2016, Peterson-Rafuse was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.[7] On April 6, 2016, Peterson-Rafuse announced that she would be taking a leave of absence to deal with her diagnosis.[8]

In the 2017 election, Peterson-Rafuse was defeated by Liberal Hugh MacKay.[9]

For the 2021 election, Peterson-Rafuse endorsed the Progressive Conservatives for their proposed health care plan, citing her prior diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and the difficulties in finding adequate support.[10][11]

Electoral record

|-

|New Democratic Party |Denise Peterson-Rafuse |align="right"|3341 |align="right"|35.25 |align="right"| |-

|Progressive Conservative |Janet Elizabeth Irwin |align="right"|3193 |align="right"|33.69 |align="right"| |-

|Liberal |Timothy Whitman Harris |align="right"|2943 |align="right"|31.06 |align="right"| |}

|-

|New Democratic Party |Denise Peterson-Rafuse |align="right"|4835 |align="right"|48.09 |align="right"| |-

|Progressive Conservative |Judy Streatch |align="right"|2762 |align="right"|27.47 |align="right"| |-

|Liberal |Jo-Ann Grant |align="right"|2122 |align="right"|21.11 |align="right"| |-

|}

References

  1. ^ "Nova Scotia Legislature". Nova Scotia Legislature. Retrieved 2021-03-11.
  2. ^ "Folia Montana". msvu.ca. Mount Saint Vincent University. p. 28. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  3. ^ Bower, Evan (May 17, 2017). "Chester–St. Margaret's candidates". lighthousenow.ca. Lighthouse Now. Archived March 20, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  4. ^ "'Perfect storm' boosts NDP support outside HRM". Metro. June 10, 2009. Archived October 19, 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  5. ^ "Rafuse one of few NDP to keep seat". The Chronicle Herald. October 9, 2013. Archived October 23, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  6. ^ "Atlantic Canada's 1st NDP government takes office in Nova Scotia". CBC News. June 19, 2009. Retrieved 2014-10-14.
  7. ^ "MLA Denise Peterson-Rafuse says MS diagnosis has provided insight". CBC News. July 11, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  8. ^ "N.S. MLA taking time off work after MS diagnosis". CTV News. April 6, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  9. ^ "Liberal Hugh MacKay defeats NDP Denise Peterson-Rafuse in Chester-St. Margaret's". Global News. May 31, 2017. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  10. ^ Edwards, Danielle (August 13, 2021). "N.S. Tory leader leans left with endorsement from former NDP cabinet minister". CTV News Atlantic. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  11. ^ Gorman, Michael. "Former NDP cabinet minister says Tories the best bet to defeat Liberals". CBC News. Retrieved August 14, 2021.