Hugh John Flemming
Encyclopedia
Hugh John Flemming, PC
(January 5, 1899, in Peel
, New Brunswick
, Canada
– October 16, 1982, in Fredericton, New Brunswick) was a politician
and the 24th Premier of New Brunswick
.
He is always known as "Hugh John". The son of James Kidd Flemming
, Premier of New Brunswick from 1911 to 1914, Hugh John Flemming was first elected to the province's Legislative Assembly
in 1944 after more than twenty years as a municipal councillor
. In 1951 he became leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick
leading the party to victory in 1952. As Premier, Flemming modernized the province's hydro
system, built the Beechwood Dam
, the then largest project of its kind, and presented a balanced budget every year in office. In 1960 his government was defeated over the issue of hospital taxes.
Follow the defeat of his provincial government, he was named Minister of Forestry in the cabinet of Prime Minister
John George Diefenbaker and later became Minister of National Revenue
in 1962. He sought a seat in a by-election
in southern New Brunswick in 1960 and was re-elected to his home district four times before he retired from the Canadian House of Commons
in 1972. His son, Hugh John Flemming, Jr. ran for a seat in the New Brunswick Legislature in 1974 but lost to Shirley Dysart
by 73 votes.
Throughout his years as a public servant, Hugh John Flemming distinguished himself as a man of honesty and integrity. His family-run lumber mill in the village of Juniper, New Brunswick
ran into financial difficulties in the late 1970s, but his impeccable reputation was such that his friend, but staunch Liberal Party
supporter, Harrison McCain
, organized an investment campaign that raised sufficient capital from businessmen to allow the mill to make a financial recovery. The company today is now owned by Nexfor Inc. of Toronto, Ontario.
Hugh John Flemming and his wife Aida are buried in the Methodist Church Cemetery in Woodstock, New Brunswick
.
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,...
(January 5, 1899, in Peel
Peel, New Brunswick
Peel is a Canadian rural community in Carleton County, New Brunswick. It is located on the east side of the Saint John River, 5.71 km NNW of Hartland, on the road to Stickney. It is part of Peel Parish.A post office was first established here in 1862...
, 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...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
– October 16, 1982, in Fredericton, New Brunswick) was a politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and the 24th 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....
.
He is always known as "Hugh John". The son of James Kidd Flemming
James Kidd Flemming
James Kidd Flemming was a businessman and politician in New Brunswick, Canada.Flemming was a school teacher and lumberman before entering politics and serving as Provincial Secretary-Treasurer from 1908 to 1911 and Minister of Lands and Mines from 1911-1914. He succeeded Douglas Hazen as the...
, Premier of New Brunswick from 1911 to 1914, Hugh John Flemming was first elected to the province's Legislative Assembly
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...
in 1944 after more than twenty years as a municipal councillor
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
. In 1951 he became leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick
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...
leading the party to victory in 1952. As Premier, Flemming modernized the province's hydro
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
system, built the Beechwood Dam
Beechwood Dam
The Beechwood Dam is a hydroelectric dam built on the Saint John River in the Canadian province of New Brunswick and operated by NB Power corporation. Its power house has a capacity of 113 megawatts....
, the then largest project of its kind, and presented a balanced budget every year in office. In 1960 his government was defeated over the issue of hospital taxes.
Follow the defeat of his provincial government, he was named Minister of Forestry in the cabinet of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
John George Diefenbaker and later became Minister of National Revenue
Minister of National Revenue (Canada)
The Minister of National Revenue is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for the Canada Revenue Agency and the administration of taxation law and collection....
in 1962. He sought a seat in a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
in southern New Brunswick in 1960 and was re-elected to his home district four times before he retired from the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
in 1972. His son, Hugh John Flemming, Jr. ran for a seat in the New Brunswick Legislature in 1974 but lost to Shirley Dysart
Shirley Dysart
Shirley Theresa Dysart, CM is a former teacher and New Brunswick politician.Dysart was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick in 1974 to represent Saint John North. She was the first female Liberal, and second female of any party, to serve therein...
by 73 votes.
Throughout his years as a public servant, Hugh John Flemming distinguished himself as a man of honesty and integrity. His family-run lumber mill in the village of Juniper, New Brunswick
Juniper, New Brunswick
Juniper is a Canadian hamlet in Carleton County, New Brunswick. Juniper is located in Aberdeen Parish. It is situated on Route 107, which runs from Route 105 at Bristol, northeast to Juniper, and then bends southeast towards Napadogan and Deersdale...
ran into financial difficulties in the late 1970s, but his impeccable reputation was such that his friend, but staunch Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
supporter, Harrison McCain
Harrison McCain
Harrison McCain, CC, ONB was a Canadian businessman, co-founder of McCain Foods Limited.Born in Florenceville, New Brunswick, he was the co-founder, along with his brothers Andrew, Robert and Wallace, of McCain Foods. Harrison was the 4th son and Wallace the 5th son of the family. Their father was...
, organized an investment campaign that raised sufficient capital from businessmen to allow the mill to make a financial recovery. The company today is now owned by Nexfor Inc. of Toronto, Ontario.
Hugh John Flemming and his wife Aida are buried in the Methodist Church Cemetery in Woodstock, New Brunswick
Woodstock, New Brunswick
Woodstock is a Canadian town in Carleton County, New Brunswick located on the west bank of the Saint John River at the mouth of the Meduxnekeag River, 92 km west of Fredericton and close to the Canada – United States border and Houlton, Maine.- History :Woodstock was settled by Loyalists...
.