Lena Diab

Diab was born in Halifax, the daughter of first-generation Lebanese immigrants. She moved to Lebanon at age 2 but then moved back to Halifax at age 11, escaping the Lebanese Civil War.^[4][5][6][7]

Diab graduated from Saint Mary's University in 1985 with a Bachelor of Arts in economics and political science.^[8] She worked as a page at the Nova Scotia Legislature during this time.^{[citation needed]}

She then attended Dalhousie University where she obtained her Master of Public Administration in 1987 and Bachelor of Laws in 1990. Diab practiced law and operated a small business in Halifax.^{[citation needed]}

Diab is a noted community leader and volunteer. She is the recipient of the "Outstanding Professional of the Year" award (2010) from the Canadian Lebanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She has received the "Mainland North Champion Award" (2010). Diab was a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2013). She received the "Nova Scotia Provincial Volunteer Award" (2013). She was appointed one of Her Majesty's counsel, learned in the law (Queen's Counsel) in 2018. She has served many years as the President of the Canadian Lebanon Society of Halifax, and oversaw the celebration of the 75th Anniversary celebrations held throughout Halifax in 2013.^{[citation needed]} She has served as a volunteer in many other community organizations, including as a member of the parish council for Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church in Halifax.^[9]

Diab sought and was elected in the riding of Halifax Armdale in the 2013 Nova Scotia general election for the Nova Scotia Liberal Party. On October 22, 2013, Diab was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia as Minister of Justice, as well as Attorney General, Minister of Immigration and various other cabinet responsibilities.^[10] She was the first female to hold the position of Attorney General in Nova Scotia, as well as the first Lebanese Canadian to hold a cabinet position in Nova Scotia.^{[citation needed]}

On July 24, 2015, premier Stephen McNeil shuffled his cabinet with Diab being retained as Minister of Immigration, but being shuffled out as Minister of Justice.^[11][12]

On June 15, 2017, premier Stephen McNeil shuffled his cabinet, retaining Diab as Minister of Immigration, but giving her an additional role in cabinet as Minister of Acadian Affairs and Francophonie.^[13][14]

On October 13, 2020, premier Stephen McNeil shuffled his cabinet in response to the resignation of three Ministers who entered the leadership race to replace him. Diab was given an additional role in cabinet as Minister of Labour and Advanced Education.^[15]

On February 23, 2021, premier Iain Rankin was sworn in as Nova Scotia's 29th premier along with a new cabinet. Diab retained her roles as Minister of Labour and Advanced Education and Minister of Acadian Affairs and Francophonie, while also retaining the newly renamed role of Minister of Immigration and Population Growth.^[16]

In 2021, Diab did not seek re-election in the provincial legislature, instead being elected to succeed Geoff Regan in the House of Commons. After being re-elected in 2025, she was appointed to the 30th Canadian Ministry as Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. In this portfolio, Diab has faced criticism for her weak performances at committee hearings and Question Period, low visibility as minister, and for revealing details about a new policy to a YouTube channel that supports new immigrants.^[17]

Federal elections

More information Party, Candidate ...

v t e 2025 Canadian federal election: Halifax West
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Liberal	Lena Metlege Diab	36,200	65.60	+18.04	$60,341.76
	Conservative	Rob Batherson	15,020	27.22	+5.67	$76,728.19
	New Democratic	Rae Tench	3,083	5.59	-20.41	$17,705.93
	Green	Ron G. Parker	497	0.90	-1.55	$3,188.51
	People's	Adam LeRue	384	0.70	-1.61	$2,080.03
Total valid votes			55,184	99.23	–0.30	$125,733.18
Total rejected ballots			426	0.77	+0.30
Turnout			55,610	73.42	+9.12
Eligible voters[a]			75,745
	Liberal notional hold		Swing		+6.19
Source: Elections Canada[18][19]
[a] Number of eligible voters does not include election day registrations.

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More information Party, Candidate ...

v t e 2021 Canadian federal election: Halifax West
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Liberal	Lena Metlege Diab	24,744	48.49	-0.97	$83,716.15
	New Democratic	Jonathan Keith Roberts	12,331	24.16	+4.97	$15,101.47
	Conservative	Eleanor Humphries	11,243	22.03	+2.74	$51,584.17
	People's	Julie Scott	1,447	2.84	–	$4,571.34
	Green	Richard Zurawski	1,181	2.31	-9.75	$1,237.40
	Christian Heritage	Kevin Schulthies	85	0.17	–	$164.00
Total valid votes/expense limit			51,031	100.00	–	$110,211.79
Total rejected ballots			191
Turnout			51,222	64.97	-5.74
Registered voters			78,839
	Liberal hold		Swing		-2.99
Source: Elections Canada[20]

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Provincial elections

More information Party, Candidate ...

v t e 2017 Nova Scotia general election: Halifax Armdale
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Lena Diab	2,962	44.58	−4.76
	New Democratic	David C. Wheeler	2,098	31.58	−2.76
	Progressive Conservative	Sylvia Gillard	1,253	18.86	2.54
	Green	Marc-André Tremblay	246	3.70
	Atlantica	Michael McLeod	85	1.28
Total valid votes			6,644	100
Total rejected ballots			23	0.35
Turnout			6,667	53.50
Eligible voters			12,461
	Liberal hold		Swing		−1.00
Source: Elections Nova Scotia[21][22]

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More information Party, Candidate ...

2013 Nova Scotia general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Lena Diab	3,208	49.34
	New Democratic Party	Drew Moore	2,233	34.34
	Progressive Conservative	Irvine Carvery	1,061	16.32

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In January 2017, Diab's husband Maroun was charged with assault, uttering threats and choking his wife, as well as threatening two other people in relation to an incident that occurred at their home in Halifax on December 31, 2016.^[1] On March 23, 2017, her husband was found not criminally responsible for the incident after an assessment at the East Coast Forensic Hospital.^[23][24]