Gail Shea

Anne Marie Gail Shea ( Doucette; April 6, 1959 – August 21, 2025) was a Canadian politician who served as the Member of Parliament for Egmont from 2008 to 2015. She had previously been a member of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island from 2000 to 2007, representing the electoral district of Tignish-DeBlois as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party.

Shea served as the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans in the federal cabinet.

Provincial politics Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs Shea served as Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs from 2000 to 2003, under the second administration of Premier Pat Binns. During this period Shea's responsibilities included the Status of Women in the province, as well as providing oversight on the Workers Compensation Board and the Island Waste Management Corporation.

Minister of Transportation and Public Works From 2003 to 2007 Shea served as Minister of Transportation and Public Works. In this position, Shea oversaw the implementation of a graduated licensing system in her home province.

Federal politics Shea stood as the Conservative Party of Canada candidate in the riding of Egmont for the 2008 federal election. On October 14, 2008, she became the first non-Liberal MP from Prince Edward Island in 24 years. On October 30, 2008, Shea was appointed the federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. She is only the third female MP from Prince Edward Island, following Margaret Mary Macdonald and Catherine Callbeck.

In the 2011 federal election, Shea was re-elected by a margin of 4500 votes. On May 18, 2011, she was appointed Minister of National Revenue. In July 2013, Shea was moved back into the fisheries position. In the 2015 election, Shea was defeated by Liberal Bobby Morrissey.

Pie incident On January 25, 2010, Shea was pied while giving a speech at the Canada Centre for Inland Waters. An American PETA activist, Emily McCoy, was arrested in Burlington in connection with the incident, and charged with assault. PETA took public responsibility for the incident, saying that it was part of a broader campaign against the Canadian Government's support of the seal hunt.

When commenting on the event later, Shea remarked, "I can tell you that this incident actually strengthens my resolve to support the seal hunt. If this is what it takes to stand up for Canadian sealing families and this industry I'm certainly very proud to do it."

Personal life and death She was born at Skinners Pond, Prince Edward Island on April 6, 1959, the daughter of Roy Ernest and Elva Mary ( Perry) Doucette. She married Russell Shea and had five children. Outside of politics, she worked as a bookkeeper and worked for the Canada Revenue Agency and a tax centre in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. Hundreds of mourners attended her funeral on August 27, 2025, at St. Simon & St. Jude Church in Tignish.

Electoral record Federal

Provincial