Bernard Paul Richard, C.M. (born April 11, 1951) is a Canadian social worker, lawyer, and politician in the Province of New Brunswick.

Bernard Richard
Member of the House of Assembly
In office
1991–2003[1]
Preceded byAzor LeBlanc
Succeeded byVictor Boudreau
ConstituencyShediac-Cap-Pelé
Personal details
Born (1951-04-11) April 11, 1951 (age 73)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Political partyLiberal
OccupationSocial worker, lawyer, politician

Early life and education

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Raised and educated in Cap-Pelé, New Brunswick, Richard earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Moncton and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of New Brunswick.

Political career

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He first entered politics as a young man, running unsuccessfully in Shediac for the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick as a Parti Acadien candidate in the 1974 election. He became involved in municipal politics in the village of Cap-Pélé. His second entry into provincial politics was in the 1991 election, this time as a Liberal. He won. He was re-elected in 1995, 1999 and 2003.

He was named to cabinet in 1995 and left in 1998 to contest the leadership of the Liberal Party. He was unsuccessful in his leadership bid and was returned to the cabinet position by Camille Thériault who was the victor in the contest. Richard managed to be re-election by the largest margin of any candidate in the 1999 election, despite the fact that his party suffering a massive defeat.

When Thériault resigned as leader in 2001, Richard briefly considered another run but instead became interim leader. When Shawn Graham became leader in 2002, Richard was made House Leader and finance critic, two key roles in the opposition. Richard maintained these roles after the 2003 election.

The Progressive Conservative government of Bernard Lord had won a bare majority in 2003, winning 28 of 55 seats and were anxious to strengthen their position. After first attempting to convince a Liberal to sit as speaker and then offering cabinet positions and other appointments to several Liberals, Richard accepted the post of provincial ombudsman, thus resigning his seat and increasing the Tory majority to 28/54 for the ensuing year before a by-election was held.

On November 6, 2007, New Brunswick news outlets reported that the Progressive Conservatives were encouraging Richard to leave his post as ombudsman and return to politics as leader of their party.[2]

In 2024, he was appointed as a member of the Order of Canada. He lives in Cap-Pelé, New Brunswick.[3]

Notes

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  1. ^ "Bio on Bernard Richard, volunteer-assistant to former Justice Michel Bastarache in the Moncton Archdiocese "conciliation" process | Sylvia's Site".
  2. ^ Daniel McHardie. "To Run or not to run", Telegraph-Journal, November 6, 2007, page A1. [1]
  3. ^ "Appointments to the Order of Canada – December 18, 2024".

References

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New Brunswick provincial government of Camille Thériault
Cabinet post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Bernard Thériault Minister of Education
1998–1999
Elvy Robichaud
New Brunswick provincial government of Ray Frenette
Cabinet post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
himself in
McKenna government
Minister of Education
1997–1998
Bernard Thériault
New Brunswick provincial government of Frank McKenna
Cabinet posts (2)
Predecessor Office Successor
James E. Lockyer Minister of Education
1997
himself in
Frenette government
Paul Duffie Minister of Justice and Attorney General
1997 (acting)
James E. Lockyer
Special Cabinet Responsibilities
Predecessor Title Successor
none Minister of State for
Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs

1995–1997
designation only used once
none
Party political offices
Preceded by Opposition Leader in the New Brunswick Legislature
2001–2002
Succeeded by
Leader of the New Brunswick Liberal Party
2001–2002 (interim)
Preceded by Chair of the Liberal caucus
2002–2003
Succeeded by