Dominic LeBlanc

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The Honourable
Dominic LeBlanc
PC QC MP
Dominic LeBlanc in 2017.jpg
LeBlanc in 2017
President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada
In office
July 18, 2018 – October 26, 2021
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byKarina Gould
Succeeded byBill Blair
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities[a]
Assumed office
August 18, 2020
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byChrystia Freeland (Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs)
Catherine McKenna (Minister of Infrastructure and Communities)
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Northern Affairs and Internal Trade
In office
July 18, 2018 – November 20, 2019
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byJustin Trudeau
Succeeded byChrystia Freeland (Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs)
Dan Vandal (Minister of Northern Affairs)
Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
In office
May 31, 2016 – July 18, 2018
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byHunter Tootoo
Succeeded byJonathan Wilkinson
Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
In office
November 4, 2015 – August 19, 2016
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byPeter Van Loan
Succeeded byBardish Chagger
Minister of Northern Affairs and Internal Trade
In office
July 18, 2018 – November 20, 2019
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byCarolyn Bennett
Succeeded byDan Vandal
Member of Parliament
for Beauséjour
Assumed office
November 27, 2000
Preceded byAngela Vautour
Personal details
Born (1967-12-14) December 14, 1967 (age 53)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Political partyLiberal
Spouse(s)Jolène Richard
ParentsRoméo LeBlanc[1]
ResidenceMoncton, New Brunswick
EducationLisgar Collegiate Institute
Alma materTrinity College, Toronto (BA)
University of New Brunswick (LLB)
Harvard University (LLM)
ProfessionLawyer
WebsiteDominic LeBlanc

Dominic A. LeBlanc PC QC MP (born December 14, 1967) is a Canadian lawyer and politician who has served as the president of the Privy Council since 2018 and the minister of intergovernmental affairs since 2020. A member of the Liberal Party, LeBlanc sits as the member of Parliament (MP) for Beauséjour, representing the New Brunswick riding in the House of Commons since 2000. He has held a number of Cabinet portfolios throughout his tenure in government.

LeBlanc ran for the leadership of the Liberal Party in 2008 but dropped out of the race to endorse Michael Ignatieff, who was later acclaimed leader. With the resignation of Ignatieff after the 2011 federal election LeBlanc was considered a likely candidate in the race to succeed him as party leader, but did not run.[2][3]

LeBlanc served as the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau from 2015 to 2016.[4] He served as Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard from 2016 to 2018 and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Northern Affairs and Internal Trade from 2018 to 2019. He has served as President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada since 2018 and began a second stint as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs in 2020.

Early life and education[edit]

LeBlanc was born in 1967 in Ottawa, Ontario, to Joslyn "Lyn" Carter and Roméo LeBlanc, a former MP, senator and 25th governor general of Canada. LeBlanc is an Acadian.[citation needed] As a child, he baby-sat Justin Trudeau, Alexandre Trudeau, and Michel Trudeau, the children of then-prime minister Pierre Trudeau. He remained friends with Justin Trudeau and endorsed Trudeau's candidacy for Liberal leader in 2012.

LeBlanc attended Lisgar Collegiate Institute for high school.[5] He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Toronto (Trinity College), a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of New Brunswick, and then attended Harvard Law School, where he obtained his Master of Laws degree. LeBlanc worked as a barrister and solicitor with Clark Drummie in Shediac and Moncton. From 1993 to 1996, LeBlanc was a Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Jean Chrétien.

Political career[edit]

LeBlanc is member of the Liberal Party of Canada in the House of Commons of Canada, representing the riding of Beauséjour in New Brunswick.

LeBlanc first ran in that riding in 1997,[6] losing to New Democratic Party candidate, Angela Vautour.[7] During that race there were accusations of political patronage as LeBlanc's father was the sitting viceroy, and there was criticism that the governor general had a series of events planned in New Brunswick the very week that the election writs dropped.[8][9][10][11]

In 2000 LeBlanc once again ran against Vautour, who had crossed the floor and was a Progressive Conservative, and was elected.[12] LeBlanc has been re-elected in the 2004 (where he faced Vautour for the third time), 2006, 2008, 2011 and 2015 federal elections.

Chrétien and Martin governments[edit]

During the Liberal Party's time in power LeBlanc served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, from January 13, 2003, to December 11, 2003, and was the chair of the Atlantic Caucus.

On July 10, 2004, he was sworn-in as a Member of the Privy Council for Canada and appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the leader of the Government in the House of Commons and deputy chief government whip. He has served on the Special Committee on Non-Medical Use of Drugs, and the Standing Committees on Fisheries and Oceans, Transport and Government Operations, National Defence and Veterans Affairs, and Public Accounts, Procedures and House Affairs, and International Trade.

In opposition[edit]

In January 2006, he was named Official Opposition critic for international trade and later that year he was co-chair of the 2006 Liberal Party leadership convention in Montreal. In January 2007, he was named by the Honourable Stéphane Dion, Vice Chair – Liberal Party of Canada Policy and Platform Committee and In October of that year, he was named Official Opposition critic for intergovernmental affairs. In January 2009, he was named by Michael Ignatieff as the critic for justice and attorney general. Before the return of Parliament in September 2010, Ignatieff shuffled his Shadow Cabinet and appointed LeBlanc as the Liberal critic for national defence.[13] Following LeBlanc's re-election in the 2011 federal election, interim Liberal leader Bob Rae appointed LeBlanc as the Liberal Party's foreign affairs critic.

2008 leadership bid[edit]

LeBlanc in 2009

On October 27, 2008, LeBlanc was the first candidate to officially announce his intention to seek the leadership of the Liberal party to replace Stéphane Dion. Former leadership candidates Michael Ignatieff and Bob Rae came forward shortly after LeBlanc's announcement.[14] His supporters included top staffers in the prime minister's office under Jean Chrétien, such as his former chief of staff Percy Downe, and Tim Murphy, chief of staff under Paul Martin. Some senior organizers in Gerard Kennedy's 2006 leadership bid were also with LeBlanc.[15]

On December 8, 2008, LeBlanc announced he was dropping out of the leadership race because he felt a leader needed to be put in place as soon as possible and that he was throwing his support behind Ignatieff. The next day Rae dropped out of the race and Ignatieff was acclaimed leader when Dion stepped down.[16][17]

2011–2015[edit]

LeBlanc retained his seat in the 2011 election, while the Liberals dropped down to third place in the House of Commons.

Regarding the race for the leadership of the Liberal Party, LeBlanc, a prospective leadership candidate, puts it, the next leader needs to commit 10 to 15 years of his or her life "occupied exclusively" with rebuilding the Liberal party and winning elections.[18]

Trudeau government[edit]

On November 4, 2015, he was appointed the leader of the Government in the House of Commons in the present Cabinet, headed by Justin Trudeau.[19] On May 31, 2016, upon the resignation of Hunter Tootoo from the Ministry, LeBlanc also became the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard. His father had previously held the equivalent position under Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.[20]

On August 19, 2016, Leblanc was replaced as leader of the Government in the House of Commons by Bardish Chagger. He retained the post of Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.[4]

On July 18, 2018, Leblanc was shuffled from Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard to Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Northern Affairs and Internal Trade, a combination of two positions, Intergovernmental Affairs and Youth, and Northern Affairs.[21]

On September 12, 2018, the ethics commissioner, Mario Dion found LeBlanc broke conflict of interest rules when he awarded a lucrative Arctic surf clam licence to a company linked to his wife's cousin in February 2018.[22]

On April 26, 2019, Leblanc announced he would be stepping back from cabinet as he sought treatment for cancer.[23]

On November 20, 2019, Leblanc returned to Cabinet as President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, a position with reduced responsibilities. His former role as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Northern Affairs and Internal Trade, was split between the Minister of Northern Affairs, and the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.[24]

After the resignation of Bill Morneau as Minister of Finance, Leblanc again became Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs after his successor, Chrystia Freeland, took the role of Minister of Finance in a cabinet shuffle on August 18, 2020. He would retain his position as President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada.[25]

Cabinet positions[edit]

29th Ministry – Cabinet of Justin Trudeau
Cabinet posts (4)
Predecessor Office Successor
Chrystia Freeland Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
2020- 		Incumbent
Justin Trudeau Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Northern Affairs and Internal Trade
2018–2019 		Chrystia Freeland (Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs)

Dan Vandal (Minister of Northern Affairs)

Hunter Tootoo Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
2016–2018 		Jonathan Wilkinson
Peter Van Loan Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
2015–2016 		Bardish Chagger

Electoral record[edit]

2021 Canadian federal election: Beauséjour
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Dominic LeBlanc 27,313 55.6 +9.1
Conservative Shelly Mitchell 9,526 19.4 +1.8
New Democratic Evelyne Godfrey 5,394 11.0 +3.7
Green Stella Anna Girouard 2,798 5.7 -21.0
People's Jack Minor 3,723 7.6 +5.6
Free Isabelle Sauriol Chiasson 391 0.8 N/A
Total valid votes 49,145 99.4
Total rejected ballots 294 0.6
Turnout 49,439 68.0 -10.0
Registered voters 72,726
Liberal hold Swing +5.5
Source: Elections Canada[26]
2019 Canadian federal election: Beauséjour
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Dominic LeBlanc 24,948 46.47 −22.54 $83,393.36
Green Laura Reinsborough 14,305 26.65 +22.16 $74,321.26
Conservative Vincent Cormier 9,438 17.58 +6.21 $39,043.98
New Democratic Jean-Marc Bélanger 3,940 7.34 −7.79 none listed
People's Nancy Mercier 1,054 1.96 New $6,338.64
Total valid votes/expense limit 53,685 100.0     $101,392.80
Total rejected ballots 475 0.88 +0.28
Turnout 54,160 77.99 −2.49
Eligible voters 69,444
Liberal hold Swing −22.35
Source: Elections Canada[27][28]
2015 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Dominic LeBlanc 36,534 69.02 +28.33 $77,614.48
New Democratic Hélène Boudreau 8,009 15.13 –8.30 $24,161.02
Conservative Ann Bastarache 6,017 11.37 –20.35 –
Green Kevin King 2,376 4.49 +0.32 $1,009.07
Total valid votes/Expense limit 52,936 100.00   $200,494.19
Total rejected ballots 320 0.60
Turnout 53,256 80.48
Eligible voters 66,170
Liberal notional hold Swing +18.31
Source: Elections Canada[29][30]
2011 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Dominic LeBlanc 17,399 39.08 -7.68
Conservative Evelyn Chapman 14,814 33.27 +4.12
New Democratic Susan Levi-Peters 10,397 23.35 +6.47
Green Natalie Arsenault 1,913 4.3 -2.89
Total valid votes/Expense limit – 100.00
Liberal hold Swing +5.90
2008 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Dominic LeBlanc 19,972 46.6 -0.95
Conservative Omer Léger 12,512 29.2 -3.03
New Democratic Chris Durrant 7,219 16.8 +0.13
Green Mike Milligan 3,187 7.4 +4.61
Total valid votes 42,890
Liberal hold Swing -2.08
2006 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Dominic LeBlanc 22,012 47.55 -5.73
Conservative Omer Léger 14,919 32.23 +4.04
New Democratic Neil Gardner 7,717 16.67 +1.96
Green Anna Girouard 1,290 2.79 -1.03
Independent Frank Comeau 357 0.77 Ø
Total valid votes 46,295
Liberal hold Swing +4.89
2004 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Dominic LeBlanc 21,934 53.28 +6.18
Conservative Angela Vautour 11,604 28.19 -17.65
New Democratic Omer Bourque 6,056 14.71 +7.65
Green Anna Girouard 1,574 3.82 Ø
Total valid votes 41,168
Liberal hold Swing +11.92
2000 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Dominic LeBlanc 21,465 47.10 +12.27
Progressive Conservative Angela Vautour 14,631 32.11 +16.11
Alliance Tom Taylor 6256 13.73 +3.55
New Democratic Inka Milewski 3217 7.06 -31.93
Total valid votes 45,569
Liberal gain from New Democratic Swing +22.10
1997 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Angela Vautour 18,504 38.99 +33.25
Liberal Dominic LeBlanc 16,529 34.83 -41.20
Progressive Conservative Ian Hamilton 7592 16.00 +0.78
Reform Raymond Braun 4833 10.18 Ø
Total valid votes 47,458
New Democratic gain from Liberal Swing +37.23

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Office became known as "Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs" from 2019 to 2021.

Personal life[edit]

In 2003, he married Jolène Richard, a former Moncton lawyer who became a judge on the Provincial Court of New Brunswick in 2008, and eventually became a chief judge.[31] She is the daughter of Guy A. Richard, who served as Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick.[32][33] He has an adult stepson.[33]

In December 2017, he announced that he had been diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and would begin chemotherapy immediately while continuing to serve in his parliamentary roles.[33]

Arms[edit]

Coat of arms of Dominic LeBlanc
Roméo LeBlanc escutcheon.svg
Notes
inherited his arms from his father
Adopted
January 1, 1995 (granted to his father), June 24, 2009 (inherited)
Crest
Four eagle feathers within a circlet of Micmac quill decration Gules
Torse
Argent and Gules
Escutcheon
Argent on a pile Gules the Star of Acadia ensigned by a representation of the Royal Crown Or;
Supporters
Two dolphins Argent each gorged with a collar of maple leaves Gules and fleurs de lys Or, pendand therefrom a plate Azure, dexter surmounted by a steam locomotive wheel Or, sinister surmounted by a book Or
Compartment
Issuant from a mound set with maple leaves all Gules flanked by waves proper
Motto
SEMPER AMISSOS MEMINISSE DECET
(It is right to remember the forgotten)
Symbolism
The use of white recalls the LeBlanc family name, while the pile refers to the Memramcook Valley, where Roméo LeBlanc was born, and the dolphins evoke the Rivière Dauphin (now Annapolis River), where LeBlanc's ancestors settled in the mid 17th century, as well as Roméo LeBlanc's maritime heritage and his service as the minister of fisheries. The star is a symbol long used by the Acadians, as are the fleurs de lys representative of LeBlanc's roots in that community, and the royal crown represents Roméo LeBlanc's appointment as the representative of the Canadian sovereign. The eagle feathers, a symbols of peace, honour the Canadian First Nations, and the number represents Roméo LeBlanc's four children. More family links are depicted in the steam locomotive wheel – representing LeBlanc's father's service on the Canadian railways – and the book evoking Roméo LeBlanc's training and work as a teacher. The compartment symbolises a multi-ethnic Canada between two seas, and recalls the Micmac origin of the word Memramcook, meaning multi-coloured landscape.[34]

References[edit]

  1. ^ LeBlanc, Dominic. "The Hon. Dominic LeBlanc". Parlinfo. Parliament of Canada. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  2. ^ "LeBlanc eyes Liberal leadership". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. May 3, 2011. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  3. ^ "Justin Trudeau's leadership bid backed by LeBlanc". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. October 5, 2012. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Bardish Chagger adds government House leader to small business, tourism duties". CBC News. August 19, 2016.
  5. ^ Kennedy, Mark (December 1, 2015). "Dominic LeBlanc is Trudeau's go-to guy. Here's why". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
  6. ^ "Governor General's son wins Liberal nomination". Southam Newspapers. April 19, 1997. Archived from the original on February 25, 1999. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  7. ^ "Beausejour, not Bay Street". The Chronicle Herald. June 4, 1997. Archived from the original on July 27, 2001. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  8. ^ Fidelis (1999), "The LeBlanc Years: A Frank Assessment", Canadian Monarchist News, Toronto: Monarchist League of Canada, Autumn 1999, archived from the original on July 8, 2009, retrieved March 2, 2009
  9. ^ Martin, Don (May 28, 2009), "Jean is now least boring G-Gever", National Post, archived from the original on October 23, 2014, retrieved October 23, 2014
  10. ^ Smith, David E. (1999), written at Toronto-Buffalo-London, Jackson, Michael D. (ed.), "The Republican Option in Canada: Past and Present" (PDF), Canadian Monarchist News, Toronto: Monarchist League of Canada (published 2007), Autumn-Winter 2007 (27), p. 12, archived from the original (PDF) on July 8, 2009, retrieved July 26, 2009
  11. ^ Boyce, Peter (2008), written at Sydney, Jackson, Michael D. (ed.), "The Senior Realms of the Queen" (PDF), Canadian Monarchist News, Toronto: Monarchist League of Canada (published October 2009), Autumn 2009 (30), p. 10, archived from the original (PDF) on December 29, 2009, retrieved October 22, 2009
  12. ^ "Liberals gain three seats in NB". CBC News. November 28, 2000. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  13. ^ JUN. "Ignatieff shuffles shadow cabinet". Archived from the original on September 18, 2010 – via National Post.
  14. ^ Brian Laghi and Omar El Akkad (October 27, 2008). "LeBlanc seeks, Manley tests Liberal support". Globe and Mail. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  15. ^ Beausejour MP to run for federal Liberal leadership, wants to be a voice for middle-class, younger generation Archived August 28, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ "Dion to step aside; LeBlanc supports Ignatieff". CTV. December 8, 2008. Archived from the original on December 9, 2008. Retrieved December 8, 2008.
  17. ^ "Rae bows out, offers 'unqualified' support for Ignatieff as Liberal leader". CBC News. December 9, 2008. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  18. ^ "The Ottawa Citizen – Liberals set to lay out latest leadership race rules". The Ottawa Citizen. The Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved September 12, 2012.[permanent dead link]
  19. ^ "Full list of Justin Trudeau's cabinet 31-member cabinet includes 15 women, attempt at regional balance". CBC News. November 4, 2015.
  20. ^ "Hunter Tootoo resigns as fisheries minister, leaves Liberal caucus". CBC News. May 31, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  21. ^ Kathleen Harris. "Trudeau adds 5 new ministers in cabinet shakeup that puts focus on seniors, border security – CBC News". CBC.
  22. ^ "Dominic LeBlanc found in conflict of interest over lucrative fishing licence". CBC. May 18, 2018. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  23. ^ "Dominic LeBlanc steps away from cabinet to seek treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma". CBC News. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  24. ^ "Trudeau expands cabinet, promotes seven rookies and shakes up existing ministers". CTVNews. November 20, 2019. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  25. ^ "Freeland replaces Morneau as Trudeau's finance minister". CBC News. August 18, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  26. ^ "Confirmed candidates — Beauséjour". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  27. ^ "Results Validated by the Returning Officer". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  28. ^ "Final Election Expense Limits for Candidates: 43rd General Election - October 21, 2019". Elections Canada. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  29. ^ "October 19, 2015 Election Results — Beauséjour (Validated results)". Elections Canada. October 21, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  30. ^ "Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates". Archived from the original on August 15, 2015. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  31. ^ McHardie, Dominic (November 14, 2008). "Province names new judge, wife of MP Dominic LeBlanc". CBC News. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  32. ^ "Province names new judge, wife of MP Dominic LeBlanc". CBC News. November 14, 2008. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  33. ^ a b c Stone, Laura (December 6, 2017). "Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc won't feel sorry for himself as he battles leukemia". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  34. ^ Office of the Governor General of Canada (October 1, 1999), Heraldry> Emblems of Canada and of Government House> Symbols of Past Governors General> The Coat of Arms of The Right Honourable Roméo LeBlanc, Queen's Printer for Canada, retrieved March 4, 2009

External links[edit]

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