'A principled and caring man': Remembering former N.S. premier John Hamm

Former family physician, Pictou Centre MLA, and Premier remembered for his contributions to public education and securing provincial resources

Stellarton – An inspiration, a principled and caring man, and someone who treated others with respect are how people are remembering John Hamm. The former premier died on July 12. He was 88.

Hamm served the people of Pictou County for over 30 years as a family physician. His long involvement in the medical field included being the president of medical staff at Aberdeen Hospital in New Glasgow and chairing the Aberdeen Hospital Foundation. In 1993, he began his political career as MLA for Pictou Centre before becoming leader of the Progressive Conservative Party in 1995.

He was elected as the 25th premier of Nova Scotia in 1999 and re-elected in 1993. “I have been left with so many great memories of John,” said Danny MacGillivray, MLA for Pictou Centre. “For the first 16 years of my life, he served as my family doctor until he entered politics.

He was an inspiration to me, someone I knew becoming the MLA, and eventually premier. I volunteered at his campaign office in the early days, and he always took the time to thank us and provide food for the staff despite how busy he was.” When MacGillivray entered politics, he went to Hamm for advice.

“His words of encouragement went a long way towards helping me to follow my passions. My sincere condolences to Genesta, John, Jeff, Jennifer, and their families. May the good doctor rest easy.”

Hamm’s time as premier is widely remembered for his success with the 2005 Atlantic Accord, which he aggressively lobbied for over multiple years through his Campaign for Fairness. By negotiating a deal with then-prime minister Paul Martin, Hamm ensured Nova Scotians would be the primary beneficiaries of the province’s resources. The resulting agreement protected the sector’s revenue from equalization clawbacks, allowing the province to properly benefit from the resource and earning him a reputation as a tireless champion of the province.

“He was the epitome of a fiscal conservative and social progressive,” said Rob Batherson, who was appointed Hamm’s director of communications in 2004. “I worked alongside John from 1996 to 2005. When he first entered politics, he did so as a way to serve and give back to the people of Nova Scotia.

He was always proud of his role as Pictou Centre MLA and premier, being extremely dedicated to continuing to serve the people, however he could. He was a principled and caring man that we will all deeply miss.” Hamm’s time as premier is also remembered for his landmark investment in Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC), calling it at the time an “investment in the province’s future.”

Due to his contributions, each NSCC campus in the province saw expansion and modernization that students and staff benefit from to this day. Hamm’s government was also able to table the province’s first balanced budget in 40 years in 2002. That legacy of fiscal responsibility and emphasis on improving quality of life is what many people across the political spectrum have chosen to remember the former premier for.

“Pictou County was extremely fortunate to have a man like him,” said Robert Parker. The warden of the Municipality of Pictou County was the chairman of the Chignecto-Central Regional School Board during Hamm’s tenure in office. “I always followed politics very closely, so I first got to know John through his political actions.

He wouldn’t spend taxpayer money as if it were free money; he was very careful with expenditures and wanted very much to balance the budget, as he did,” Parker said. “He was always able to catch the political wind wherever it was turning, and he always treated people with respect and a desire to hear them out. “I truly believe that John’s wonderful treatment of others should be what is remembered above all.”