Keith Milligan

Keith Wayne Milligan (born February 8, 1950 in Inverness) was the 29th premier of Prince Edward Island, serving for seven weeks in the autumn of 1996. He was educated at Inverness District School, O'Leary Regional High School and the University of PEI, where he obtained Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees. He is married to the former Deborah Foley and they reside in Tyne Valley. They have three children - Charles Christian (Jolene), Olivia (Shawn) and Dustin.

Keith Milligan
29th Premier of Prince Edward Island
In office October 9, 1996 – November 27, 1996
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Lieutenant Governor	Gilbert Clements
Preceded by	Catherine Callbeck
Succeeded by	Pat Binns
Leader of the Prince Edward Island Liberal Party
In office October 5, 1996 – March 5, 1999
Preceded by	Catherine Callbeck
Succeeded by	Wayne Carew
MLA (Assemblyman) for 2nd Prince
In office February 2, 1981 – November 18, 1996
Preceded by	George Henderson
Succeeded by	riding abolished
MLA for Cascumpec-Grand River
In office November 18, 1996 – April 17, 2000
Preceded by	first member
Succeeded by	Philip Brown
Personal details
Born	Keith Wayne Milligan February 8, 1950 Inverness, Prince Edward Island
Nationality	Canadian
Political party	Liberal
Spouse(s)	Deborah Foley ​ (m. 1978)​
Children	3
Residence	Tyne Valley, Prince Edward Island
Alma mater	University of PEI
Occupation	Teacher and farmer
Profession	Politician
Cabinet	Minister of Health and Social Services (1986–1989) Minister Responsible for the Hospital and Health Services Commission (1986–1989) Minister of Agriculture (1989–1993) Minister of Education and Human Resources (1993–1994) Minister of Transportation and Public Works (1994–1996)

Provincial politics

He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of PEI in a by-election on February 2, 1981, and was re-elected in the general elections of 1982, 1986, 1989, 1993 and 1996. He served as interim Leader of the Opposition and Critic for Education. In 1986 he was appointed Minister of Health and Social Services and Minister Responsible for the Hospital and Health Services Commission.[1] In 1989, Milligan was appointed Minister of Agriculture.[2] In 1993 he was appointed Minister of Education and Human Resources and in 1994 he was appointed Minister of Transportation and Public Works.

Brief tenure as Premier

In October 1996, he was chosen leader of the governing Liberal party and became Premier, following Catherine Callbeck's resignation.[3] Milligan's Liberals lost the following November provincial election to Pat Binns' Progressive Conservatives.[4]

Federal politics

Having announced he would be seeking the Liberal nomination in the federal riding of Egmont,[5] on November 3, 2007, at the nominating Liberal convention, he lost the nomination to Robert Morrissey.[6] When Morrissey stepped down, however, Milligan was acclaimed as the new candidate on September 5, 2008.[7] He lost to Conservative candidate, Gail Shea in the 2008 election, in one of the narrowest results in the country.[8] A requested recount did not affect the result, and Milligan conceded.[9]

Since 2008

Milligan is a former elk farmer and silver fox rancher. He has previously been employed as a teacher with the Unit 1 School board and Regional Director of the West Prince Services Centre. He has been vice-president of the Tyne Valley Community Oyster Festival, a member of the West Prince Community Advisory Board, the Canadian National Fur Breeders' Association, the PEI Fur Breeders' Association, the Tyne Valley Fireman's Club and the Tyne Valley Community Sports Centre.

References

1. "Oath taken, Ghiz names PEI Cabinet". The Globe and Mail. May 3, 1986.
2. "Ghiz drops three, ushers in four". The Globe and Mail. June 7, 1989.
3. "Milligan chosen leader of PEI Liberal Party". The Globe and Mail. October 7, 1996.
4. "Tories triumph in PEI election". The Globe and Mail. November 19, 1996.
5. "Milligan to seek Liberal nod in Egmont". CBC News. March 12, 2007. Retrieved 2015-06-05.
6. "Morrissey looking forward to the campaign". The Journal Pioneer. November 3, 2007. Retrieved 2015-06-05.
7. "Battle of Egmont looms". The Guardian. September 6, 2008. Retrieved 2015-06-05.
8. "Judicial recount to be held in P.E.I. riding of Egmont". CBC News. October 18, 2008. Retrieved 2015-06-05.
9. "Gail Shea finally free to go to Ottawa". The Guardian. October 24, 2008. Retrieved 2015-06-05.