55th New Brunswick Legislature

Rendition of party representation in the 55th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, at its first session after the 2003 election.
  Progressive Conservatives (28)
  Liberals (26)
  New Democrats (1)

The 55th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly was created following a general election in 2003 and was dissolved on August 18, 2006.

Leadership

The speaker from its first meeting until February 14, 2006 was Bev Harrison who had served as speaker in the 54th Assembly as well. Harrison resigned from the post to join the cabinet.

Michael Malley was elected speaker by acclamation on March 28, 2006 and served in that role until the assembly was dissolved.

Premier Bernard Lord led the government for the whole of the life of the assembly.

Shawn Graham led the opposition for the whole of the life of the assembly.

From its forming to her resignation on October 13, 2005, Elizabeth Weir led the third party New Democrats. Following her resignation, the New Democrats were no longer represented in the assembly.

Members

All were elected in the 35th general election held on June 9, 2003 except for Victor Boudreau who was elected in a by-election on October 4, 2004 and Ed Doherty who was elected in a by-election on November 14, 2005.

The standings were changed further on January 13, 2006, when Frank Branch left the Liberal caucus to sit as an independent; and on February 17, 2006, when then Progressive Conservative MLA Michael Malley crossed the floor to sit as an independent thus putting Bernard Lord's government into a minority situation. Malley, while serving as speaker, changed his affiliation back to Progressive Conservative on April 13, 2006. Some controversy arose following this as following the 2003 election, the House unanimously passed a motion requiring the Opposition Liberals to pair a member with the speaker during meetings of committees of the whole in order to maintain the government majority in such situations. The Opposition argued that there was no precedent for a speaker to cross the floor and therefore, they did not recognize that a majority government existed and would not honour this motion under the circumstances. The House voted on May 30, 2006 to express confidence in the Speaker and therefore, implicitly, approve of his change of affiliation. From that date forward, the Liberals accepted Malley as a Progressive Conservative.

Members at dissolution

     Hédard Albert Liberal Caraquet
     Eric Allaby Liberal Fundy Isles
     David Alward Progressive Conservative Woodstock
     LeRoy Armstrong Liberal Kings East
     Donald Arseneault Liberal Dalhousie-Restigouche East
     Keith Ashfield Progressive Conservative New Maryland
     John Betts Progressive Conservative Moncton Crescent
     Margaret-Ann Blaney Progressive Conservative Saint John-Kings
     Roy Boudreau Liberal Campbellton
     Victor Boudreau Liberal Shediac-Cap-Pélé
     Frank Branch Independent Nepisiguit
     Rick Brewer Liberal Southwest Miramichi
     Thomas J. Burke Liberal Fredericton North
     Jody Carr Progressive Conservative Oromocto-Gagetown
     Ed Doherty Liberal Saint John Harbour
     Rick Doucet Liberal Charlotte
     Madeleine Dubé Progressive Conservative Edmundston
     Ralph Bruce Fitch Progressive Conservative Riverview
     John Winston Foran Liberal Miramichi Centre
     Brenda Fowlie Progressive Conservative Kennebecasis
     Dale Graham Progressive Conservative Carleton
     Shawn Graham Liberal Kent
     Brad Green Progressive Conservative Fredericton South
     Roland Haché Liberal Nigadoo-Chaleur
     Bev Harrison Progressive Conservative Hampton-Belleisle
     Trevor Holder Progressive Conservative Saint John Portland
     Tony Huntjens Progressive Conservative Western Charlotte
     Stuart Jamieson Liberal Saint John-Fundy
     Larry Kennedy Liberal Victoria-Tobique
     Brian Kenny Liberal Bathurst
     Kelly Lamrock Liberal Fredericton-Fort Nashwaak
     Denis Landry Liberal Centre-Péninsule
     Abel LeBlanc Liberal Saint John Lancaster
     Cy LeBlanc Progressive Conservative Dieppe-Memramcook
     Bernard Lord Progressive Conservative Moncton East
     Joan MacAlpine-Stiles Progressive Conservative Moncton South
     Kirk MacDonald Progressive Conservative Mactaquac
     Roly MacIntyre Liberal Saint John Champlain
     Michael Malley Progressive Conservative Miramichi-Bay du Vin
     Eugene McGinley Liberal Grand Lake
     Peter Mesheau Progressive Conservative Tantramar
     Percy Mockler Progressive Conservative Madawaska-la-Vallée
     Mike Murphy Liberal Moncton North
     Ronald Ouellette Liberal Grand Falls Region
     Burt Paulin Liberal Restigouche West
     Rose-May Poirier Progressive Conservative Rogersville-Kouchibouguac
     Carmel Robichaud Liberal Miramichi Bay
     Elvy Robichaud Progressive Conservative Tracadie-Sheila
     Paul Robichaud Progressive Conservative Lamèque-Shippagan-Miscou
     Milt Sherwood Progressive Conservative Grand Bay-Westfield
     Wayne Steeves Progressive Conservative Albert
     Wally Stiles Progressive Conservative Petitcodiac
     Scott Targett Liberal York
     Jeannot Volpé Progressive Conservative Madawaska-les-Lacs
     Claude Williams Progressive Conservative Kent South

Bold denotes a member of the cabinet.
Italics denotes a party leader
† denotes the Speaker

Former members

See also

References

Preceded by
54th Assembly
New Brunswick Legislative Assemblies
2003-2006
Succeeded by
56th Assembly
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