Iain Rankin

Iain Thomas Rankin (born April 9, 1983) is a Canadian politician who served as the 29th premier of Nova Scotia from February 23, 2021, to August 31, 2021.

He serves in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly for the Nova Scotia Liberal Party, representing the electoral district of Timberlea-Prospect.

Rankin graduated from Sir John A. Macdonald High School in 2001.

He received a diploma in Professional Golf Management from Holland College, a Bachelor of Business Administration from Mount Saint Vincent University in 2006 and a Masters of Arts in International Politics at CERIS-ULB Diplomatic School of Brussels.

Before entering politics, Iain was employed as an operations manager and as a project manager.

He was the Director of Operations for Dymon Storage Corporation, in Ottawa, Ontario.

After returning to Nova Scotia in 2011, Iain successfully managed the launch, as an operating partner, of Premiere Self Storage, in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

He went on to work as a project manager in the commercial division of Armco Capital, focusing on redevelopment assignments in Nova Scotia and Quebec.

Rankin, a rescue dog owner, supported the Nova Scotia government's plan to outlaw tying pets up for longer than 12 hours.

Rankin was first elected in the 2013 Nova Scotia general election and was re-elected in the 2017 general election.

On February 6, 2021, Rankin was announced the Leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party.

On February 23, 2021, Rankin became the 29th premier of Nova Scotia.

Rankin called an election for August 17, 2021, which his Liberal Party lost to the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia.

Rankin left office as Premier on August 31, 2021, when Houston took the oath.

At that time, Rankin became the Leader of the Opposition in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.

On January 5, 2022, Rankin announced that he will resign as leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party once a new leader is chosen.

Ian Thomas Rankin was born in Inverness, Nova Scotia, and grew up in Timberlea.

He is the son of long-term Halifax city councillor Reg Rankin.

Rankin first ran for public office in the 2013 Nova Scotia general election and was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.

During his first term, he served as the Liberal caucus chair.

He was vice-chair of the public accounts committee, and a member of the assembly matters and the private and local bills committees.

He was also a member of the House of Assembly Management Commission.

In 2014 with the support of local residents, Rankin participated in a campaign with lawn signs targeting speeders with a message to slow down.

Through a private member's bill and was passed by the legislature, Rankin submitted Bill 176 which will restrict Otter Lake Waste Facility to its current height and size.

In 2015, Rankin chaired an all-Party working group established by the Committee on Assembly Matters.

He introduced a motion to approve the Nova Scotia House of Assembly policy on prevention and resolution of harassment in the workplace, drafted by the all-Party working group established by this committee on September 28, 2015.

In April 2016, Rankin participated at the Community Services Standing Committee and introduced a motion asking that full funding for the Nova Scotia Association for Community Living (NSACL) be reinstated.

In November 2016, after the submissions were heard at Law Amendments Committee, Rankin proposed a motion to stand The Accessibility Act for further consultation, quoted as saying "We have a moral obligation to get this bill right."

During Rankin's time at Law Amendments Committee, Bill 59 (the Accessibility Act) was amended after witnesses appeared and staff consulted with representatives of persons with disabilities.

It was moved to the Department of Justice and passed, in April 2017, with the intent of making the province accessible by 2030.

Rankin participated in a virtual event commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children in June 2021, speaking alongside MLA Tony Ince, Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard, Judge Corrine Sparks and Rev. Rhonda Britton.

On June 15, 2017, Rankin was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia as Minister of Environment.

Rankin hired the first dedicated crown prosecutor to handle cases related to the Environment Act, food safety, public health, meat inspection, fisheries and aquaculture, animal welfare, natural resources and the fur industry.

Rankin passed legislation to introduce a cap and trade system in Nova Scotia.

As Minister of Environment, Rankin joined other leaders across the continent agreeing to regional cooperation on carbon pricing in the Americas.

On July 5, 2018, Rankin was moved to Minister of Lands and Forestry in a cabinet shuffle.

Rankin resigned from cabinet in October 2020 and announced his candidacy for the leadership of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party.

On October 5, 2020, Rankin launched his campaign for Leadership of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party, following Premier Stephen McNeil's announcement that he would be stepping down from his office.

The other candidates in this contest were fellow former cabinet ministers Randy Delorey and Labi Kousoulis.

On February 6, 2021, Rankin was announced the Leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party, and premier-designate of Nova Scotia.