Joel Bernard
Encyclopedia
Joel Bernard is a Canadian politician
.
He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
, representing Nepisiguit
, in the general election of 1999
and became deputy speaker
of the Legislature. He was defeated in his bid for a second term in the 2003 election
by former Member of the Legislative Assembly
(MLA) Frank Branch
. Branch had represented the area from 1970
to 1995
, when he retired and did not seek re-election.
Bernard was one of several defeated Progressive Conservative
MLAs who were appointed to government positions by Premier
Bernard Lord
following their defeat in the 2003 election. These appointments were widely criticized as excessive patronage
by the media and the opposition
Liberals
.
Bernard had been appointed to oversee and economic development fund for the Restigouche
-Baie des Chaleurs region. He was criticized for being clearly partisan when he took a leave of absence from his position in March 2004 to be a Conservative
candidate in the 2004 federal election
. He finished a distant third place with 10.9% of the vote.
On March 17, 2005, Bernard announced he was leaving his position because of criticism from Liberals. He said that his resignation would be effective May 31, but he would leave sooner should he secure a job he was pursuing in Ottawa
. He was successful, and moved to Ottawa shortly thereafter and, in late April, announced he would be a candidate for the Conservative
nomination for the riding of Ottawa—Orléans
for the next federal election. On May 16, he was defeated by Royal Galipeau
, a former member of the Liberal Party of Canada
, for the nomination by a margin of 174 to 126, who went on to win the seat in the election.
From 2006 to 2008, Bernard held the position of Senior Policy Advisor in the office of Stockwell Day
, Minister of Public Safety in the new Conservative government.
In the 2008 federal election
, the Conservative Party brought Bernard to Nova Scotia to run against Conservative-turned-Independent Bill Casey in the riding of Cumberland–Colchester–Musquodoboit Valley. On election night, Casey was re-elected by over 22,000 votes, with Bernard finishing third, polling just under 9%.
Bernard is now the Senior Policy Advisor for aerospace, procurements, industrial regional benefits and the auto file to Tony Clement, Minister of Industry Canada . He lives in Ottawa, Ontario with his two children Lilianne and Samuel.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
He was elected to 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...
, representing Nepisiguit
Nepisiguit (electoral district)
Nepisiguit is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, Canada. It was known as Nepisiguit-Chaleur from 1974 to 1995.-MLAs:*Frank Branch, Liberal *Alban Landry, Liberal...
, in the general election of 1999
New Brunswick general election, 1999
The 34th New Brunswick general election was held on June 7, 1999, to elect 55 members to the 54th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada. It marked the debut of both Camille Thériault and Bernard Lord as leaders of the Liberals and...
and became deputy speaker
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick is the presiding officer of the provincial legislature. Since 1994 the position has been elected by MLAs using a secret ballot. Previously, the Speaker had been appointed by motion of the house, in practice moved by the Premier of New...
of the Legislature. He was defeated in his bid for a second term in the 2003 election
New Brunswick general election, 2003
The 35th New Brunswick general election was held on June 9, 2003, to elect 55 members to the 55th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada...
by former Member of the Legislative Assembly
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
(MLA) Frank Branch
Frank Branch
Frank Richard Branch is a former Canadian politician.A Liberal, he was first elected to the New Brunswick Legislature to the multi-member riding for Gloucester County in the 1970 provincial election. He was re-elected to the legislature for the single member riding of Nepisiguit-Chaleur in 1974,...
. Branch had represented the area from 1970
New Brunswick general election, 1970
The 27th New Brunswick general election was held on November 18, 1974, to elect 58 members to the 47th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada...
to 1995
New Brunswick general election, 1995
The 33rd New Brunswick general election was held on September 11, 1995, to elect 55 members to the 53rd New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada. The election marked the debut of Bernard Valcourt as a provincial politician, and as leader of a...
, when he retired and did not seek re-election.
Bernard was one of several defeated Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick
The Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick is a centre-right political party in New Brunswick, Canada. It has its origins in the pre-Canadian confederation Conservative Party that opposed the granting of responsible government to the colony...
MLAs who were appointed to government positions by Premier
Premier of New Brunswick
The Premier of New Brunswick is the first minister for the Canadian province of New Brunswick. They are the province's head of government and de facto chief executive....
Bernard Lord
Bernard Lord
Bernard Lord, ONB, QC, is a Canadian politician and lobbyist. Lord served as the 30th Premier of New Brunswick from 1999 to 2006.-Early life:...
following their defeat in the 2003 election. These appointments were widely criticized as excessive patronage
Patronage
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings or popes have provided to musicians, painters, and sculptors...
by the media and the 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...
Liberals
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...
.
Bernard had been appointed to oversee and economic development fund for the Restigouche
Restigouche County, New Brunswick
Restigouche County is located in north-central New Brunswick, Canada. The county is named for the Restigouche River which flows through the county and is famous for its salmon pools, which have attracted wealthy American and Canadian tourists to the region's summer colonies for decades...
-Baie des Chaleurs region. He was criticized for being clearly partisan when he took a leave of absence from his position in March 2004 to be a Conservative
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
candidate in the 2004 federal election
Canadian federal election, 2004
The Canadian federal election, 2004 , was held on June 28, 2004 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 38th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal government of Prime Minister Paul Martin lost its majority, but was able to form a minority government after the elections...
. He finished a distant third place with 10.9% of the vote.
On March 17, 2005, Bernard announced he was leaving his position because of criticism from Liberals. He said that his resignation would be effective May 31, but he would leave sooner should he secure a job he was pursuing 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...
. He was successful, and moved to Ottawa shortly thereafter and, in late April, announced he would be a candidate for the Conservative
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
nomination for the riding of Ottawa—Orléans
Ottawa—Orléans
Ottawa—Orléans is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1988....
for the next federal election. On May 16, he was defeated by Royal Galipeau
Royal Galipeau
Royal Galipeau is a Member of Parliament for the Ottawa—Orléans federal constituency. He was the successful Conservative Party candidate in the Canadian federal elections of 2006 and 2008...
, a former member of the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
, for the nomination by a margin of 174 to 126, who went on to win the seat in the election.
From 2006 to 2008, Bernard held the position of Senior Policy Advisor in the office of Stockwell Day
Stockwell Day
Stockwell Burt Day, Jr., PC, MP is a former Canadian politician, and a member of the Conservative Party of Canada. He is a former cabinet minister in Alberta, and a former leader of the Canadian Alliance. Day was MP for the riding of Okanagan—Coquihalla in British Columbia and the president of...
, Minister of Public Safety in the new Conservative government.
In the 2008 federal election
Canadian federal election, 2008
The 2008 Canadian federal election was held on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 40th Canadian Parliament after the previous parliament had been dissolved by the Governor General on September 7, 2008...
, the Conservative Party brought Bernard to Nova Scotia to run against Conservative-turned-Independent Bill Casey in the riding of Cumberland–Colchester–Musquodoboit Valley. On election night, Casey was re-elected by over 22,000 votes, with Bernard finishing third, polling just under 9%.
Bernard is now the Senior Policy Advisor for aerospace, procurements, industrial regional benefits and the auto file to Tony Clement, Minister of Industry Canada . He lives in Ottawa, Ontario with his two children Lilianne and Samuel.