J. André Doucet
Encyclopedia
Joseph André Doucet was a Canadian
politician who was a member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
from 1923-1956 and who served on the Executive Council of New Brunswick
from 1940-1952.
Born on Anticosti Island
, Quebec
, André Doucet studied at the Roman Catholic Seminary of Quebec in Quebec City
. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts
degree from Laval University in 1902, he moved to the village of Paquetville
, Gloucester County
, in northeastern New Brunswick
.
In 1910, André Doucet married Joséphine Trudel with whom he had two daughters. In 1940, he married a second time to Alexandrine Lanouette with whom he had another daughter.
Active in community affairs, in 1909 he was elected to the Municipal Council for Gloucester County, a position he held until 1911 and then again in 1922-23. From 1910 to 1918, Doucet worked as a surveyor in forestry
for the Interior Ministry
of the Government of Canada
in Ottawa
, Ontario
. In 1919 he returned to his home in Paquetville where he worked as a consultant.
In 1923, André Doucet successfully ran as the Liberal party's
candidate in a Gloucester by-election for a seat in the 35th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly
. His constituency reelected him for another seven consecutive terms in 1925, 1930, 1935, 1939, 1944, 1948, and in 1952. Following his party winning power in the 1939 election
, the new Liberal Premier, John McNair
appointed Doucet the Minister responsible for NB Power
and then on March 13, 1940 to Minister of Health and Community Services
, a position he would hold until September 27, 1944 when he was appointed to the newly created Ministry of Industry and Reconstruction
. Doucet served as the Minister until October 8, 1952 when his party lost the 1952 general election
. Reelected, Doucet remained in opposition
until he left politics following the 1956 New Brunswick general election
.
Retired from politics at age seventy-six, André Doucet received an Honorary Doctorate
of Social Sciences from Sacred Heart University
in Bathurst
and was a member of the Board of Governors of the University of New Brunswick
in Fredericton.
André Doucet died in 1963.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician who was a member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
The Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick is located in Fredericton. It was established de jure when the colony was created in 1784, but only came in to session in 1786 following the first elections in late 1785. Until 1891, it was the lower house in a bicameral legislature when its upper house...
from 1923-1956 and who served on the Executive Council of New Brunswick
Executive Council of New Brunswick
The Executive Council of New Brunswick is the cabinet of that Canadian province....
from 1940-1952.
Born on Anticosti Island
Anticosti Island
Anticosti Island is an island at the outlet of the Saint Lawrence River into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, in Quebec, Canada, between 49° and 50° N., and between 61° 40' and 64° 30' W. At in size, it is the 90th largest island in the world and 20th largest island in Canada...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, André Doucet studied at the Roman Catholic Seminary of Quebec in Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from Laval University in 1902, he moved to the village of Paquetville
Paquetville, New Brunswick
Paquetville is a Canadian village in Gloucester County, New Brunswick.It is located on the Acadian Peninsula and was founded by Monseigneur Paquet in 1873, who brought several parishioners with him from Shippagan....
, Gloucester County
Gloucester County, New Brunswick
Gloucester County is located in the northeastern corner of New Brunswick, Canada. Fishing, mining and forestry are the major industries in the county...
, in northeastern New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
.
In 1910, André Doucet married Joséphine Trudel with whom he had two daughters. In 1940, he married a second time to Alexandrine Lanouette with whom he had another daughter.
Active in community affairs, in 1909 he was elected to the Municipal Council for Gloucester County, a position he held until 1911 and then again in 1922-23. From 1910 to 1918, Doucet worked as a surveyor in forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
for the Interior Ministry
Minister of the Interior (Canada)
The Minister of the Interior was a cabinet post responsible for federal land management, Indian affairs and natural resources extraction...
of the Government of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. In 1919 he returned to his home in Paquetville where he worked as a consultant.
In 1923, André Doucet successfully ran as the Liberal party's
New Brunswick Liberal Association
The New Brunswick Liberal Association , more popularly known as the New Brunswick Liberal Party or Liberal Party of New Brunswick, is one of the two major political parties in the Canadian province of New Brunswick...
candidate in a Gloucester by-election for a seat in the 35th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly
35th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly
The 35th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly represented New Brunswick between March 17, 1921 and July 17, 1925.William Pugsley served as Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick in 1921...
. His constituency reelected him for another seven consecutive terms in 1925, 1930, 1935, 1939, 1944, 1948, and in 1952. Following his party winning power in the 1939 election
New Brunswick general election, 1939
The 19th New Brunswick general election was held on November 20, 1939, to elect 48 members to the 39th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada. New Brunswick general election, 1939 Name Seats...
, the new Liberal Premier, John McNair
John Babbitt McNair
John Babbitt McNair, CC was the 23rd premier of the Province of New Brunswick, Canada from 1940 to 1952. He worked as a lawyer, politician and judge....
appointed Doucet the Minister responsible for NB Power
NB Power
NB Power , formerly known as New Brunswick Power Corporation and New Brunswick Electric Power Commission is the primary and former monopoly electrical utility in the Canadian province of New Brunswick...
and then on March 13, 1940 to Minister of Health and Community Services
Department of Health (New Brunswick)
The Department of Health is a part of the Government of New Brunswick. It is charged with administration and delivery of public healthcare in New Brunswick.- History :...
, a position he would hold until September 27, 1944 when he was appointed to the newly created Ministry of Industry and Reconstruction
Business New Brunswick
Business New Brunswick is a department in the Government of New Brunswick. It is charged with stimulating economic prosperity and global competitiveness in the province....
. Doucet served as the Minister until October 8, 1952 when his party lost the 1952 general election
New Brunswick general election, 1952
The 22nd New Brunswick general election was held on September 22, 1952, to elect 52 members to the 42nd New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada. New Brunswick general election, 1952 Name Seats...
. Reelected, Doucet remained in opposition
Opposition (politics)
In politics, the opposition comprises one or more political parties or other organized groups that are opposed to the government , party or group in political control of a city, region, state or country...
until he left politics following the 1956 New Brunswick general election
New Brunswick general election, 1956
The 23rd New Brunswick general election was held on June 18, 1956, to elect 52 members to the 43rd New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada. New Brunswick general election, 1956 Name Seats...
.
Retired from politics at age seventy-six, André Doucet received an Honorary Doctorate
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
of Social Sciences from Sacred Heart University
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
in Bathurst
Bathurst, New Brunswick
Bathurst is a Canadian city in Gloucester County, New Brunswick.Bathurst is situated on Bathurst Harbour, an estuary at the mouth of the Nepisiguit River at the southernmost part of Chaleur Bay....
and was a member of the Board of Governors of the University of New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
in Fredericton.
André Doucet died in 1963.