Original Lebanese Lena Metlege Diab

Ms. Diab was first elected in 2013 to the Provincial Assembly representing Halifax Armdale, and appointed to Executive Council of Nova Scotia as the first female Attorney General and Minister of Justice as well as Minister of Immigration. In July 2015, the Immigration portfolio became her exclusive cabinet position. She was re-elected to the Legislature on May 30, 2017 and was appointed both Minister of Immigration, and Minister of Acadian Affairs and Francophonie.

Ms. Diab is passionate about making Nova Scotia more diverse. Under her leadership, the province has welcomed more immigrants, strengthened its immigration program, built global networks, and launched a new brand to help market Nova Scotia to the world.

Working to preserve, promote and protect the Acadian culture and the French language of Nova Scotia is a priority of Ms. Diab’s.  She proudly represents Nova Scotia’s francophone community at a variety of committees and has established a Ministerial Advisory Committee to keep in touch with Acadian and francophone priorities in the province. In 2019, she was selected to serve as the chargée de mission de la Région Amérique de l’Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF). Under her leadership, Nova Scotia also launched its first Francophone Immigration Action Plan.

She is the daughter of Lebanese immigrants to Canada and the eldest of six children. Born in Nova Scotia, she was raised in Lebanon, and returned to Halifax in the face of civil war at the age of 11.

Prior to entering politics, she led a successful legal career for over 20 years. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science, a Masters of Public Administration and a law degree. In 2018, she was appointed the Queen’s Counsel designation— the appointment is awarded to members of the legal profession to recognize exceptional merit and outstanding contributions to the legal community.

Ms. Diab has received numerous honours and accolades, including: the Lebanese Chamber of Commerce in NS Professional Award, the prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Progress Women of Excellence Award, and the Canadian Council of Ambassadors of the Arab League Award.

She is the proud mother of four children and has two grandchildren.