George Isaac Smith | |
|---|---|
| 18th Premier of Nova Scotia | |
| In office September 13, 1967 – October 28, 1970 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Lieutenant Governor | Henry P. MacKeen Victor deB. Oland |
| Preceded by | Robert Stanfield |
| Succeeded by | Gerald Regan |
| MLA for Colchester | |
| In office June 9, 1949 – April 2, 1974 Serving with Robert Stanfield, Gerald Ritcey | |
| Preceded by | Gordon Purdy Robert F. McLellan |
| Succeeded by | Melinda MacLean Floyd Tucker |
| Senator for Colchester | |
| In office August 7, 1975 – December 19, 1982 | |
| Appointed by | Pierre Trudeau |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 6, 1909 Stewiacke, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Died | December 19, 1982 (aged 73) Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Political party | Progressive Conservative |
| Occupation | lawyer |
George Isaac Smith MBE (April 6, 1909 – December 19, 1982) was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the 18th premier of Nova Scotia from 1967 to 1970. He was a Canadian senator from 1975 until his death. G.I. Smith is noted for having recruited Robert Stanfield to help rebuild and lead the Progressive Conservatives in Nova Scotia. While premier he brought Michelin Tire, still Nova Scotia's biggest employer, to the province. He established the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission, and had the government take over Sydney Steel Corporation when its corporate owners quit the industry. His government also established the affordable housing community of Lower Sackville.
Earlier in his ministerial years, as highways minister (1956–62) he built the Bicentennial Highway and paved many miles of roads throughout the province. As finance and economics minister (1962–67) He was most noted for creating the Voluntary Economic Planning organization through which, business labour and community and academic leaders worked to develop economic plans for the province.
Smith also worked with Premier Stanfield and cabinet colleagues to create Industrial Estates Limited, a body designed to attract industry to Nova Scotia.