Louis Robichaud
Encyclopedia
Louis Joseph Robichaud, PC
, CC
, QC
(October 21, 1925 - January 6, 2005), popularly known as "Little Louis" or "P'tit-Louis" (due both for his short height and his sharing a name with "Uncle Louis" St. Laurent
), was a Canadian lawyer and politician. He served as the 25th Premier of New Brunswick
from 1960 to 1970.
At the age of 15, Robichaud left home to enter the Juvénat Saint-Jean-Eudes in Bathurst to study for a career in the Church. After his third year at the school, he decided instead to pursue a political career. He attended the Collège du Sacré-Cœur (now part of the Université de Moncton
) and graduated in 1947 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then went on to study economics and political science at Laval University. He articled with a law firm in Bathurst for three years and, upon being admitted to the bar, practised law for a short period of time in Richibucto
.
Elected to the New Brunswick legislature
in 1952, he became provincial Liberal leader in 1958 and led his party to victory in 1960
, 1963
and 1967
before its defeat by Richard Hatfield's Conservatives
in the 1970 election
.
The first Acadian
premier of New Brunswick since Peter J. Veniot and the first to win an election, Robichaud modernized the province's hospitals and public schools and introduced a wide range of social reforms. The Liberals also passed an act in 1969 making New Brunswick officially bilingual
. “Language rights," he said when he introduced the legislation, "are more than legal rights. They are precious cultural rights, going deep into the revered past and touching the historic traditions of all our people.”
Robichaud also restructured the municipal tax regime, ending the ability of business of playing one municipality against another in order to extract the lowest tax rates. He also expanded the government and sought to ensure that the quality of health care, education and social services was the same across the province—a programme he called Equal Opportunity
, which is still a political buzz phrase
in New Brunswick. "When I first realized that there was absolutely no equal opportunity, no equality, in New Brunswick," he recalled in the 1980s, "well, I had to come to the conclusion that something had to be done immediately."
A desk made for Robichaud by the Saint John Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company and given to him in 1966, which he used during his last years as premier and which was used by his successor Richard Hatfield
was returned to the Premier's Office by Shawn Graham
in 2006.
He was instrumental in the creation of the Université de Moncton
in 1963, while in 1969, a high school was named in his honour in Shediac, New Brunswick.
In 1971, upon resigning from the legislature, he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada
and Canadian chairman of the International Joint Commission
, a post he held until being called to the Senate of Canada on December 21, 1973. He sat in the Senate until his mandatory retirement from the Upper House
on October 21, 2000 upon reaching his seventy-fifth birthday.
He was a resident of New Brunswick at the time of his death of cancer
at the Hôpital Stella-Maris-de-Kent in Sainte-Anne-de-Kent, near his birth place of Saint-Antoine, New Brunswick
. The cancer had been discovered only a few weeks before his death.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
, CC
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(October 21, 1925 - January 6, 2005), popularly known as "Little Louis" or "P'tit-Louis" (due both for his short height and his sharing a name with "Uncle Louis" St. Laurent
Louis St. Laurent
Louis Stephen St. Laurent, PC, CC, QC , was the 12th Prime Minister of Canada from 15 November 1948, to 21 June 1957....
), was a Canadian lawyer and politician. He served as the 25th Premier of New Brunswick
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....
from 1960 to 1970.
At the age of 15, Robichaud left home to enter the Juvénat Saint-Jean-Eudes in Bathurst to study for a career in the Church. After his third year at the school, he decided instead to pursue a political career. He attended the Collège du Sacré-Cœur (now part of the Université de Moncton
Université de Moncton
The Université de Moncton is a French language university located in Moncton, New Brunswick serving the Acadian community of Atlantic Canada...
) and graduated in 1947 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then went on to study economics and political science at Laval University. He articled with a law firm in Bathurst for three years and, upon being admitted to the bar, practised law for a short period of time in Richibucto
Richibucto, New Brunswick
Richibucto is a Canadian town in Kent County, New Brunswick.The town is situated on the Richibucto River where it discharges into the Northumberland Strait. The town takes its name from a Mi'kmaq term meaning "river of fire"....
.
Elected to the New Brunswick legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
in 1952, he became provincial Liberal leader in 1958 and led his party to victory in 1960
New Brunswick general election, 1960
The 24th New Brunswick general election was held on June 27, 1960, to elect 52 members to the 44th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada. New Brunswick general election, 1960 Name Seats...
, 1963
New Brunswick general election, 1963
The 25th New Brunswick general election was held on April 22, 1963, to elect 52 members to the 45th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada....
and 1967
New Brunswick general election, 1967
The 26th New Brunswick general election was held on October 23, 1967, to elect 58 members to the 46th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada....
before its defeat by Richard Hatfield's Conservatives
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...
in the 1970 election
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...
.
Acadian
The Acadians are the descendants of the 17th-century French colonists who settled in Acadia . Acadia was a colony of New France...
premier of New Brunswick since Peter J. Veniot and the first to win an election, Robichaud modernized the province's hospitals and public schools and introduced a wide range of social reforms. The Liberals also passed an act in 1969 making New Brunswick officially bilingual
Bilingualism in Canada
The official languages of Canada are English and French, which "have equality of status and equal rights and privileges as to their use in all institutions of the Parliament and Government of Canada" according to Canada's constitution...
. “Language rights," he said when he introduced the legislation, "are more than legal rights. They are precious cultural rights, going deep into the revered past and touching the historic traditions of all our people.”
Robichaud also restructured the municipal tax regime, ending the ability of business of playing one municipality against another in order to extract the lowest tax rates. He also expanded the government and sought to ensure that the quality of health care, education and social services was the same across the province—a programme he called Equal Opportunity
New Brunswick Equal Opportunity program
The Equal Opportunity program in the Canadian province of New Brunswick was created to ensure equal services would be provided to citizens in all parts of the province regardless of the wealth in the area....
, which is still a political buzz phrase
Buzzword
A buzzword is a term of art, salesmanship, politics, or technical jargon that is used in the media and wider society outside of its originally narrow technical context....
in New Brunswick. "When I first realized that there was absolutely no equal opportunity, no equality, in New Brunswick," he recalled in the 1980s, "well, I had to come to the conclusion that something had to be done immediately."
A desk made for Robichaud by the Saint John Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company and given to him in 1966, which he used during his last years as premier and which was used by his successor Richard Hatfield
Richard Hatfield
Richard Bennett Hatfield, PC, ONB was a New Brunswick politician and long time Premier of the province .- Early life :...
was returned to the Premier's Office by Shawn Graham
Shawn Graham
Shawn Michael Graham, MLA is a New Brunswick politician, who served as the 31st Premier of New Brunswick. He received a Bachelor of Physical Education Degree in 1991 and a Bachelor of Education Degree in 1993, he worked for New Brunswick's civil service before being elected to the Legislative...
in 2006.
He was instrumental in the creation of the Université de Moncton
Université de Moncton
The Université de Moncton is a French language university located in Moncton, New Brunswick serving the Acadian community of Atlantic Canada...
in 1963, while in 1969, a high school was named in his honour in Shediac, New Brunswick.
In 1971, upon resigning from the legislature, he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
and Canadian chairman of the International Joint Commission
International Joint Commission
The International Joint Commission is an independent binational organization established by the United States and Canada under the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909.The Commission has responsibilities related to the following treaties and agreements:...
, a post he held until being called to the Senate of Canada on December 21, 1973. He sat in the Senate until his mandatory retirement from the Upper House
Upper house
An upper house, often called a senate, is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house; a legislature composed of only one house is described as unicameral.- Possible specific characteristics :...
on October 21, 2000 upon reaching his seventy-fifth birthday.
He was a resident of New Brunswick at the time of his death of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
at the Hôpital Stella-Maris-de-Kent in Sainte-Anne-de-Kent, near his birth place of Saint-Antoine, New Brunswick
Saint-Antoine, New Brunswick
Saint-Antoine is a village in Kent County, New Brunswick, Canada. It is 35 km north of Moncton and 18km Southwest of Bouctouche. Saint-Antoine's residents are Acadian; most speak French in its local variant, Chiac....
. The cancer had been discovered only a few weeks before his death.