Fernand Robichaud

The Honourable
Fernand Robichaud
PC
Senator for New Brunswick
In office
September 22, 1997  December 2, 2014
Appointed by Jean Chrétien
Personal details
Born (1939-12-02) December 2, 1939
Shippagan, New Brunswick
Political party Liberal

Fernand Robichaud, PC (born December 2, 1939) is a Canadian politician.

He was born in Shippagan, New Brunswick and received a teaching certificate from the Moncton Technical Institute. Before entering politics, Robichaud was a teacher and businessman. He served on the municipal council for Saint-Louis-de-Kent from 1971 to 1974.

Robichaud was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1984 election representing the riding of Westmorland—Kent, New Brunswick.

In the 1988 election, he was re-elected representing Beauséjour.

In 1990, he resigned his seat in order to allow newly elected Liberal leader Jean Chrétien to enter the House of Commons through a by-election.

Robichaud served as Special Assistant to the Leader of the Opposition until returning to the House in the 1993 election. With the election of Chrétien as Prime Minister, Robichaud became Secretary of State for Parliamentary Affairs. In 1994, he was appointed Secretary of State for Agriculture and Agri-Food, Fisheries, and Oceans.

Robichaud did not run in the 1997 election and was appointed on Chrétien's recommendation to the Canadian Senate on September 23, 1997.

From 2001 to 2004, he was deputy government leader in the Senate. He later served as vice-chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry.

On January 29, 2014, Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau announced all Liberal Senators, including Robichaud, were removed from the Liberal caucus, and would continue sitting as Independents.[1] According to Senate Opposition leader James Cowan, the Senators will still refer to themselves as Liberals even if they are no longer members of the parliamentary Liberal caucus.[2]

He retired from the Senate on December 2, 2014 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75.

References

  1. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/justin-trudeau-removes-senators-from-liberal-caucus-1.2515273
  2. "Trudeau's expulsion catches Liberal senators by surprise". Globe and Mail. January 29, 2014. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
26th Ministry – Cabinet of Jean Chrétien
Sub-Cabinet Posts (2)
Predecessor Title Successor
Secretary of State (Agriculture and Agri-Food) (Fisheries and Oceans)
(19941997)
Gilbert Normand
Secretary of State (Parliamentary Affairs)
(19931994)
Alfonso Gagliano
Special Parliamentary Responsibilities
Predecessor Title Successor
vacant, previously Pierre Cadieux Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
(19931994)
Alfonso Gagliano
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