Sarah Jean "Jeannie" Lea is a former

Canadian Canadians () are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their being ''C ...

politician. She was elected to the

Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island The Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island () together with the Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island, lieutenant governor of Prince Edward Island form the General Assembly of Prince Edward Island. The Legislative Assembly meets at ...

in the 1993 provincial election. She represented the electoral district of 6th Queens and was a member of the

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. For example, while the political systems ...

. She was born Sarah Jean Robidoux, the daughter of Maurice D. Robidoux and Dorther E. Fraser, and was educated in Moncton, at

Mount Allison University Mount Allison University (also Mount A or MtA) is a Canadian primarily undergraduate liberal arts university located in Sackville, New Brunswick, founded in 1839. Mount Allison was the first university in the British Empire to award a baccal ...

and

Holland College Holland College is the provincial community college for the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island (PEI). It is named after the British Army engineer and surveyor Captain Samuel Holland. In 2024, about 30% of the college's enrolled student ...

. She worked as a substitute teacher in

Charlottetown Charlottetown is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County, Prince Edward Island, Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, Charlott ...

and also as a craftsperson. She has served as a member of the Unit Three school board and was also president of the Prince Edward Island Spinners and Weavers Guild. Lea was president of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of PEI and a director of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. She served only a single term in office and resigned a few months before the 1996 election. Lea was a member of the province's Executive Council, serving as a

minister without portfolio A minister without portfolio is a government minister without specific responsibility as head of a government department. The sinecure is particularly common in countries ruled by coalition governments and a cabinet with decision-making authorit ...

, Minister Responsible for Government Reform and the Status of Women and Minister Responsible for Higher Education, Adult Training and Literacy. Since her retirement from office, she has been actively involved in the electoral reform movement in Canada and has been promoting the involvement of women in politics. She is married to James Lea, the grandson of Walter Maxfield Lea, who was Premier of Prince Edward Island from 1930 to 1936.

References

* 1950 births Living people Members of the Executive Council of Prince Edward Island Mount Allison University alumni Politicians from Moncton Prince Edward Island Liberal Party MLAs Women MLAs in Prince Edward Island Women government ministers of Canada 20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island 20th-century Canadian women politicians {{PrinceEdwardIsland-politician-stub