Tony Huntjens
Encyclopedia
Antoon J. "Tony" Huntjens (born January 1, 1939, in Limburg
, Netherlands
) is a former teacher
and New Brunswick
politician
. A resident of St. Stephen, New Brunswick
, where he taught High School
for thirty-three years, he is currently a member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
for the riding of Western Charlotte.
In the fall of 1961, Huntjens became a Canadian citizen. He studied at the University of New Brunswick
in Fredericton
, graduating with a Bachelor of Teaching and a Bachelor of Education
degree. He first became active in politics as a member of the Confederation of Regions Party of New Brunswick (CoR) and was the president of that organization and its candidate in Western Charlotte in the 1995 election
. He placed third with 23.7% of the vote, just 162 votes short of the second place Progressive Conservative
candidate but well behind the victorious Liberal
.
Following the 1995 election, which saw CoR slip from official opposition to zero seats in the legislature, Huntjens joined the Progressive Conservatives and eventually became their candidate for the 1999 election
again in Western Charlotte. This time he was successful, winning 51.0% of the vote to 44.9% for his Liberal opponent. Huntjens spent his first term as a backbencher
but was re-elected in the 2003 election
and joined the cabinet
as Minister of Family and Community Services
.
Huntjens was forced to resign from cabinet on October 31, 2005 after he accidentally revealed the identity of an autistic
man under the care of his department to a journalist on October 27. When Lord shuffled his cabinet
on February 14, 2006 Huntjens was not included, though it was widely expected he would be, but Lord did announce that he would support Huntjens for speaker
of the legislature as the position became vacant when Lord named the incumbent speaker to cabinet. Huntjens did not become speaker, however, when he withdrew his name from contention when it became apparent that independent
member Michael Malley
was interested in the post, Malley's election saved the government from losing a voting member and thus created a great deal more flexibility in the standings of the legislature.
Limburg (Netherlands)
Limburg is the southernmost of the twelve provinces of the Netherlands. It is located in the southeastern part of the country and bordered by the province of Gelderland to the north, Germany to the east, Belgium to the south and part of the west, andthe Dutch province of North Brabant partly to...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
) is a former teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
and 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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. A resident of St. Stephen, New Brunswick
St. Stephen, New Brunswick
St. Stephen is a Canadian town in Charlotte County, New Brunswick, situated on the east bank of the St. Croix River at .-Climate:...
, where he taught High School
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
for thirty-three years, he is currently 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...
for the riding of Western Charlotte.
In the fall of 1961, Huntjens became a Canadian citizen. He studied at 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
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Fredericton is the capital of the Canadian province of New Brunswick, by virtue of the provincial parliament which sits there. An important cultural, artistic, and educational centre for the province, Fredericton is home to two universities and cultural institutions such as the Beaverbrook Art...
, graduating with a Bachelor of Teaching and a Bachelor of Education
Bachelor of Education
A Bachelor of Education is an undergraduate academic degree which qualifies the graduate as a teacher in schools.-North America:...
degree. He first became active in politics as a member of the Confederation of Regions Party of New Brunswick (CoR) and was the president of that organization and its candidate in Western Charlotte in the 1995 election
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...
. He placed third with 23.7% of the vote, just 162 votes short of the second place 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...
candidate but well behind the victorious Liberal
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...
.
Following the 1995 election, which saw CoR slip from official opposition to zero seats in the legislature, Huntjens joined the Progressive Conservatives and eventually became their candidate for the 1999 election
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...
again in Western Charlotte. This time he was successful, winning 51.0% of the vote to 44.9% for his Liberal opponent. Huntjens spent his first term as a backbencher
Backbencher
In Westminster parliamentary systems, a backbencher is a Member of Parliament or a legislator who does not hold governmental office and is not a Front Bench spokesperson in the Opposition...
but was re-elected 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...
and joined the cabinet
Executive Council of New Brunswick
The Executive Council of New Brunswick is the cabinet of that Canadian province....
as Minister of Family and Community Services
Department of Family and Community Services (New Brunswick)
The Department of Family and Community Services is a part of the Government of New Brunswick, in Canada. It is charged with the administration of the province's social welfare and nursing home programs...
.
Huntjens was forced to resign from cabinet on October 31, 2005 after he accidentally revealed the identity of an autistic
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
man under the care of his department to a journalist on October 27. When Lord shuffled his cabinet
Cabinet shuffle
In the parliamentary system a cabinet shuffle or reshuffle is an informal term for an event that occurs when a head of government rotates or changes the composition of ministers in their cabinet....
on February 14, 2006 Huntjens was not included, though it was widely expected he would be, but Lord did announce that he would support Huntjens for speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the legislature as the position became vacant when Lord named the incumbent speaker to cabinet. Huntjens did not become speaker, however, when he withdrew his name from contention when it became apparent that independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
member Michael Malley
Michael Malley
Michael "Tanker" Malley is a former politician in the Canadian Province of New Brunswick. He represented the riding of Miramichi-Bay du Vin in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1999 to 2006 and served as Speaker of the Assembly for part of 2006.Malley, a former Miramichi city...
was interested in the post, Malley's election saved the government from losing a voting member and thus created a great deal more flexibility in the standings of the legislature.