Brenda Robertson
Encyclopedia
Brenda Mary Robertson, CM
, ONB
(born May 23, 1929) is a Canadian politician and former Senator. She was the first woman elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
and the first woman to become a cabinet minister in the province.
Born in Sussex, New Brunswick
, she was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick representing the district of Albert
in 1967
and was re-elected four times (1970
, 1974
, 1978
, and 1982
) representing the district of Riverview. In 1970, she was appointed Youth Minister
. She was also Minister of Social Welfare, Minister of Social Services, Minister of Health
, and Minister for Social Program Reform. She remained a Member until her appointment to the Senate on December 21, 1984 representing the senatorial division of Riverview, New Brunswick. She sat as a Progressive Conservative
and a Conservative
until her retirement on her 75th birthday in 2004.
in honour of "her tremendous work ethic and commitment to serve New Brunswickers and her country." In 2008, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada
in recognition for being a "trailblazer and role model for women in politics".
She received an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Mount St. Vincent University in 1973 and an honorary degree of Doctor of Social Science from University of Moncton in 1983.
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...
, ONB
Order of New Brunswick
The Order of New Brunswick is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. Instituted in 2000 by Lieutenant Governor Marilyn Trenholme Counsell, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Bernard Lord, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended...
(born May 23, 1929) is a Canadian politician and former Senator. She was the first woman 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...
and the first woman to become a cabinet minister in the province.
Born in Sussex, New Brunswick
Sussex, New Brunswick
Sussex is a Canadian town in Kings County, New Brunswick.Sussex straddles the Kennebecasis River, 70 km northeast of Saint John, and is a major dairy products producer in the province...
, she was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick representing the district of Albert
Albert (provincial electoral district)
Albert is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, Canada. It was created in 1846 when Albert County was created and its boundaries were the same as the county...
in 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....
and was re-elected four times (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...
, 1974
New Brunswick general election, 1974
The 28th New Brunswick general election was held on November 18, 1974, to elect 58 members to the 48th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada...
, 1978
New Brunswick general election, 1978
The 29th New Brunswick general election was held on October 23, 1978, to elect 58 members to the 49th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada. Richard Hatfield's Progressive Conservative Party narrowly won its third term.In the lead up to...
, and 1982
New Brunswick general election, 1982
The 30th New Brunswick general election was held on October 12, 1982, to elect 58 members to the 50th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada. It saw Richard Hatfield's Progressive Conservative Party win its largest majority ever to that time...
) representing the district of Riverview. In 1970, she was appointed Youth Minister
Department of Youth (New Brunswick)
The Department of Youth was a part of the Government of New Brunswick. Originally named the Department of Youth and Welfare, it was charged with the planning and supervision of services for youth and administration of social welfare programs in New Brunswick...
. She was also Minister of Social Welfare, Minister of Social Services, Minister of Health
Department of Health (New Brunswick)
The Department of Health is a part of the Government of New Brunswick. It is charged with administration and delivery of public healthcare in New Brunswick.- History :...
, and Minister for Social Program Reform. She remained a Member until her appointment to the Senate on December 21, 1984 representing the senatorial division of Riverview, New Brunswick. She sat as a Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
and 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...
until her retirement on her 75th birthday in 2004.
Honours
In 2004, she was made a Member of the Order of New BrunswickOrder of New Brunswick
The Order of New Brunswick is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. Instituted in 2000 by Lieutenant Governor Marilyn Trenholme Counsell, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Bernard Lord, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended...
in honour of "her tremendous work ethic and commitment to serve New Brunswickers and her country." In 2008, she was made a Member 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...
in recognition for being a "trailblazer and role model for women in politics".
She received an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Mount St. Vincent University in 1973 and an honorary degree of Doctor of Social Science from University of Moncton in 1983.