Omer Léger
Encyclopedia
Omer Léger is a merchant and Canadian politician
.
Léger served in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
having replaced former Premier
Louis J. Robichaud and having his final provincial election defeat at the hands of future Premier Camille Thériault
.
He was born in Gardner, Massachusetts
and studied at St. Joseph's College in Memramcook, New Brunswick
. He became an administrator for the Assomption Mutuelle insurance company.
Léger was first elected in a 1971 by-election
in the Kent riding to replace Robichaud who had accepted an appointment as chairman of the International Joint Commission
following his party's defeat in the 1970 provincial election
. He was the first Progressive Conservative to be elected in the traditionally Liberal Kent County in almost 60 years. Léger almost immediately joined the cabinet
of Richard Hatfield
. He served as provincial secretary
until the 1974 election
, where he was re-elected in the Kent South riding, when he added minister of Fisheries
to his portfolio. He was defeated in the 1978 election
by Liberal Bertin Leblanc, when the Progressive Conservatives barely squeaked by a victory at 30 seats against 28 for the Liberal Party.
He made a comeback in the 1982 election
, again in the Kent South riding and defeating Bertin Leblanc. The Progressive Conservatives won a resounding mandate that year, winning 39 of 58 seats. He rejoined the cabinet as minister of Tourism
and served in that role until his and his party's defeat in the 1987
when the Liberals
swept every seat in the province. In that election he was defeated by future Premier Camille Thériault.
Léger ran unsuccessfully as a Progressive Conservative in the 1988 federal election in the riding of Beauséjour. He took 27.24% of the vote and was defeated by sitting MP Fernand Robichaud, who took 58.61%. Léger ran again in the same riding in the 2006 federal election, and was defeated by Liberal Dominic Leblanc, taking 32.23% of the vote.
Léger is married to Dolores (Bourque) Léger and they have four children, Louis, Marcel, Anne and Nathalie.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Léger served in 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...
having replaced former Premier
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....
Louis J. Robichaud and having his final provincial election defeat at the hands of future Premier Camille Thériault
Camille Thériault
Camille Henri Thériault served as the 29th Premier of the Canadian province of New Brunswick.The son of Joséphine Martin and Norbert Thériault, a former provincial cabinet minister and Canadian Senator, Camille Thériault was born in Baie-Ste-Anne, New Brunswick, and graduated from Baie-Sainte-Anne...
.
He was born in Gardner, Massachusetts
Gardner, Massachusetts
Gardner, Massachusetts is a city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 20,228 as of the 2010 census. Gardner is home to Dunn State Park, Gardner Heritage State Park, Lake Wampanoag Wildlife Sanctuary, and Mount Wachusett Community College.-History:Named in honor of...
and studied at St. Joseph's College in Memramcook, New Brunswick
Memramcook, New Brunswick
Memramcook is a Canadian village in Westmorland County, New Brunswick. Located in south-eastern New Brunswick, the community is predominantly people of Acadian descent who speak the Chiac derivative of the French language....
. He became an administrator for the Assomption Mutuelle insurance company.
Léger was first elected in a 1971 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 the Kent riding to replace Robichaud who had accepted an appointment as chairman of the International Joint Commission
International Joint Commission
The International Joint Commission is an independent binational organization established by the United States and Canada under the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909.The Commission has responsibilities related to the following treaties and agreements:...
following his party's defeat in the 1970 provincial election
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...
. He was the first Progressive Conservative to be elected in the traditionally Liberal Kent County in almost 60 years. Léger almost immediately joined the cabinet
Executive Council of New Brunswick
The Executive Council of New Brunswick is the cabinet of that Canadian province....
of Richard Hatfield
Richard Hatfield
Richard Bennett Hatfield, PC, ONB was a New Brunswick politician and long time Premier of the province .- Early life :...
. He served as provincial secretary
Provincial Secretary
The Provincial Secretary was a senior position in the executive councils of British North America's colonial governments, and was retained by the Canadian provincial governments for at least a century after Canadian Confederation was proclaimed in 1867...
until the 1974 election
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...
, where he was re-elected in the Kent South riding, when he added minister of Fisheries
Department of Fisheries (New Brunswick)
The Department of Fisheries is a department in the Government of New Brunswick, Canada. It is responsible for management of the Province's fisheries....
to his portfolio. He was defeated in the 1978 election
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...
by Liberal Bertin Leblanc, when the Progressive Conservatives barely squeaked by a victory at 30 seats against 28 for the Liberal Party.
He made a comeback in the 1982 election
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...
, again in the Kent South riding and defeating Bertin Leblanc. The Progressive Conservatives won a resounding mandate that year, winning 39 of 58 seats. He rejoined the cabinet as minister of Tourism
Department of Tourism and Parks (New Brunswick)
The Department of Tourism and Parks is a department of the government of New Brunswick. It was created in 2001 from the Business New Brunswick and Department of Investment and Exports. Its mandate promote the province's tourism industry and maintain its official provincial parks.-Ministers:...
and served in that role until his and his party's defeat in the 1987
New Brunswick general election, 1987
The 31st New Brunswick general election was held on October 13, 1987, to elect 58 members to the 51st New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada...
when the Liberals
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...
swept every seat in the province. In that election he was defeated by future Premier Camille Thériault.
Léger ran unsuccessfully as a Progressive Conservative in the 1988 federal election in the riding of Beauséjour. He took 27.24% of the vote and was defeated by sitting MP Fernand Robichaud, who took 58.61%. Léger ran again in the same riding in the 2006 federal election, and was defeated by Liberal Dominic Leblanc, taking 32.23% of the vote.
Léger is married to Dolores (Bourque) Léger and they have four children, Louis, Marcel, Anne and Nathalie.