Honourable James A. Smith, MD   Attorney General and Minister of Justice   Minister of Health   Minister responsible of the administration of   the Human Rights Act   Minister in charge of the Regulations Act

He is a recipient of the Family Physician  of the Year Award, awarded by the College of Family Physicians of Canada, Nova Scotia Chapter (1985).  Dr. Smith has held a number of executive positions with the Nova Scotia Medical Society and the College of Family Physicians of Canada.  He was a physician at the Woodlawn Medical Clinic in Dartmouth. 

Dr. Smith has been very active in his community.  In 1985, he received the Silver Keystone Award from the National Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada.  He has served on the board of directors of Atlantic Child Guidance and Dartmouth Community Services.  He is also the past President of the Nova Scotia Chapter of the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine and was a Team Canada physician at the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1974. 

Dr. Smith was sworn in once again as Minister iof Health on July 18, 1997, as part of the new Cabinet under Nova Scotia's new Premier Russell MacLellan. 

Following the 1998 election, Dr. Smith was sworn in on April 8, 1998, as Minister of Health, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Minister responsible for the administration of the Human Rights Act, Minister responsible for the Disabled Persons' Commission Act, and the Minister in charge of the Regulations Act.