Ralph F. Fiske

Ralph Ferguson Fiske (July 1, 1931 – January 19, 2017) was a Canadian politician. He represented the electoral district of Pictou Centre in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1970 to 1974. He is a member of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party.[1]

Ralph F. Fiske
MLA for Pictou Centre
In office
1970–1974
Preceded byDonald R. MacLeod
Succeeded byFraser MacLean
Personal details
Born(1931-07-01)July 1, 1931
Clarence, Nova Scotia
DiedJanuary 19, 2017(2017-01-19) (aged 85)
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Political partyLiberal
ResidenceHalifax, Nova Scotia
OccupationBusiness executive

Early life

Fiske was born in Clarence, Nova Scotia, and graduated from high school in Annapolis, Nova Scotia. Growing up on a wood mill run by his father, he began his business career working in the bank. Later to become an entrepreneur, businessman, restaurateur, and motel/hotel owner/operator.

Political career

Fiske entered provincial politics in the 1970 election, defeating Progressive Conservative incumbent Donald R. MacLeod by 434 votes in Pictou Centre.[2] On October 28, 1970, Fiske was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia as Provincial Secretary and Minister of Trade and Industry.[3] On July 15, 1971, Gerald Regan shuffled his cabinet, moving Fiske to Minister of Development.[4] He remained as Provincial Secretary until another shuffle in November 1971.[5] Fiske resigned from cabinet prior to an August 1973 cabinet shuffle,[6] and did not seek re-election in 1974.[7]

After politics

He later served as Chairman of the Nova Scotia Gaming Commission. Although forced to resign due to indiscretions between the Halifax Casino and the government at the time,[8] his claims were found to be truthful. "When Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation's former chairman Ralph Fiske's wrongful dismissal suit went to trial last May, one canny Halifax lawyer voiced surprise that Fiske planned to call only two witnesses: himself and former finance minister Bill Gillis. Arrayed against him were seventeen members of Nova Scotia's political, bureaucratic, and legal establishment: former premiers, cabinet ministers, and deputy ministers from the premier's office; officials of the gaming corporation; and a clutch of Liberal lawyers from the province's best-connected law firms. Yesterday, Fiske touched home plate in near total victory. Gruchy found that political interference in the gaming corporation's administration of the Sheraton Casino project rendered Fiske's position untenable and forced him to resign. Nova Scotian's should celebrate this moment, rare in our recent history, when a lone civil servant proved that courage and integrity can overcome the mediocrity that corrupts governance in this province. When future civil servants are forced to choose between doing the right thing and the politically easy thing, Fiske's example will beckon them toward duty"[9][10]

Personal life

One of 5 boys, Brothers - Don, was a pilot and shot down in WWII, John Fiske,[11] Fred Fiske,[12][13] Leon Fiske,[14] (and 2 sisters who died at birth). He married Claire Longley of Bridgetown, Nova Scotia, and has three children, Heather, Alan and Shari.[4][15] He died on January 19, 2017, at the age of 85.[16]

References
  1. "Electoral History for Pictou Centre" (PDF). Nova Scotia Legislative Library. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
  2. "Returns of General Election for the House of Assembly 1970" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. 1970. p. 70. Retrieved 2014-11-18.
  3. "Regan takes office; divides Cabinet jobs among nine Liberals". The Globe and Mail. October 29, 1970.
  4. Elliott, Shirley B. (1984). The Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia, 1758–1983 : a biographical directory. Public Archives of Nova Scotia. p. 71. ISBN 0-88871-050-X. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
  5. "Regan adds four ministers to N.S. Cabinet". The Globe and Mail. November 25, 1971.
  6. "Regan again shuffles Nova Scotia Cabinet". The Globe and Mail. August 21, 1973.
  7. "N.S. election called, Regan seeks mandate to fight energy costs". The Globe and Mail. February 25, 1974.
  8. A gamble worth taking?: Even though Ralph Fiske resigned in disgust as chairman of the Nova Scotia Gaming Commission, he still holds a hot hand in his crusade to expose the province's scandal-plagued rush into the casino business. Critics question his credibility and even his sanity, but Mr. Fiske refuses to fold: [National Edition] Hutchinson, BrianView Profile. National Post [Don Mills, Ont] 26 Dec 1998: B6.
  9. Donham, Parker Barss (9 October 2008). "Gambling Integrity". rabble.ca. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  10. "Province Settles Case with Former Gaming Chair". Nova Scotia News. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  11. "Dal Donors - John Fiske". Dal Alumni. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  12. "In Memory of Frederick Fiske". Kaulbach Funeral. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  13. "Fred Fiske". Middleton ednet. Archived from the original on 2015-02-11. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  14. "Our History". fiskes.ca. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  15. "Guide Parlementaire Canadien". 1971.
  16. Ralph Fiske Obituary - JA Snow Funeral Home
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