Peter Veniot
Encyclopedia
Peter John Veniot, PC
(October 4, 1863 – July 6, 1936) was a businessman and newspaper owner and a politician
in New Brunswick
, Canada
. He was the first Acadian
premier
of the province of New Brunswick
.
He was born in Richibucto, New Brunswick
but later moved to Pictou, Nova Scotia
with his family. Veniot worked as a journalist and typographer for the Pictou Standard and then the Moncton Transcript
. He then moved to Bathurst
, where he became editor and later owner of the Courier des Provinces Maritimes.
Veniot was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
in 1894, but left politics in 1900 for a customs job. In 1912, he was hired to reorganize the Liberal Party of New Brunswick
, and became a Member of the Legislative Assembly
(MLA) again in 1917.
He served in the cabinet
of Premier
Walter Foster
as Minister of Public Works
. As Minister, Veniot was responsible for the creation of the New Brunswick Electric Power Commission
and the modernization of the province's highway system.
Veniot became Premier in 1923 following Foster's resignation. He was a supporter of the Maritime Rights Movement
, which advocated more power for the Maritime provinces
in Canadian confederation
. His government was defeated in the 1925 provincial election
.
Veniot resigned as provincial Liberal leader in 1926 in order to enter federal politics in the 1926 federal election
. He served as Postmaster General
in the cabinet of William Lyon Mackenzie King
. In cabinet, Veniot advocated implementation of the Duncan Commission recommendations on alleviating Maritime alienation. Recommendations of freight-rate reductions and subsidy increases were implemented, but suggestions for subsidies based on fiscal need and transportation use to encourage regional development were ignored.
Veniot remained a Member of Parliament until his death at his home in Bathurst in 1936.
Married in 1885 to Catherine Melanson, their son Clarence Joseph
was elected in the by-election held in the federal riding of Gloucester after his death and later served in the Canadian Senate.
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,...
(October 4, 1863 – July 6, 1936) was a businessman and newspaper owner and a politician
Politics of Canada
The politics of Canada function within a framework of parliamentary democracy and a federal system of parliamentary government with strong democratic traditions. Canada is a constitutional monarchy, in which the Monarch is head of state...
in 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...
. He was the first Acadian
Acadian
The Acadians are the descendants of the 17th-century French colonists who settled in Acadia . Acadia was a colony of New France...
premier
Premier (Canada)
In Canada, a premier is the head of government of a province or territory. There are currently ten provincial premiers and three territorial premiers in Canada....
of the province of 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...
.
He was born in Richibucto, New Brunswick
Richibucto, New Brunswick
Richibucto is a Canadian town in Kent County, New Brunswick.The town is situated on the Richibucto River where it discharges into the Northumberland Strait. The town takes its name from a Mi'kmaq term meaning "river of fire"....
but later moved to Pictou, Nova Scotia
Pictou, Nova Scotia
Pictou is a town in Pictou County, in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Located on the north shore of Pictou Harbour, the town is approximately 10 km north of the larger town of New Glasgow....
with his family. Veniot worked as a journalist and typographer for the Pictou Standard and then the Moncton Transcript
Times & Transcript
The “Times & Transcript” is New Brunswick's largest newspaper circulation daily newspaper with an average paid daily circulation of approximately 40,000, and readership of approximately 110,000. It serves Metro Moncton and eastern New Brunswick. Its offices and printing facilities are located on...
. He then moved to Bathurst
Bathurst, New Brunswick
Bathurst is a Canadian city in Gloucester County, New Brunswick.Bathurst is situated on Bathurst Harbour, an estuary at the mouth of the Nepisiguit River at the southernmost part of Chaleur Bay....
, where he became editor and later owner of the Courier des Provinces Maritimes.
Veniot was first 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...
in 1894, but left politics in 1900 for a customs job. In 1912, he was hired to reorganize the Liberal Party of New Brunswick
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...
, and became a Member of the Legislative Assembly
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
(MLA) again in 1917.
He served in the cabinet
Executive Council of New Brunswick
The Executive Council of New Brunswick is the cabinet of that Canadian province....
of 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....
Walter Foster
Walter Edward Foster
Walter Edward Foster, PC was a politician and businessman in New Brunswick, Canada.Foster was born in St. Martins, New Brunswick. He began work as a clerk with the Bank of New Brunswick at Saint John...
as Minister of Public Works
Department of Public Works and Highways (New Brunswick)
The Department of Public Works and Highways was a part of the Government of New Brunswick. It was charged with maintenance of government facilities and the province's highway network. From 1855 to 1912, it was known as the Board of Public Works...
. As Minister, Veniot was responsible for the creation of the New Brunswick Electric Power Commission
NB Power
NB Power , formerly known as New Brunswick Power Corporation and New Brunswick Electric Power Commission is the primary and former monopoly electrical utility in the Canadian province of New Brunswick...
and the modernization of the province's highway system.
Veniot became Premier in 1923 following Foster's resignation. He was a supporter of the Maritime Rights Movement
Maritime Rights Movement
The Maritime Rights Movement arose in the 1920s in response to perceived unfair economic policies in Canada that were affecting the economies of the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. At a time of rural protest in Canada from Ontario to the Prairies, the Movement was...
, which advocated more power for the Maritime provinces
Maritimes
The Maritime provinces, also called the Maritimes or the Canadian Maritimes, is a region of Eastern Canada consisting of three provinces, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. On the Atlantic coast, the Maritimes are a subregion of Atlantic Canada, which also includes the...
in Canadian confederation
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
. His government was defeated in the 1925 provincial election
New Brunswick general election, 1925
The 16th New Brunswick general election was held on 10 August 1925, to elect 48 members to the 36th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada. Although political parties had no standing in law, thirty-seven MLAs declared themselves to be...
.
Veniot resigned as provincial Liberal leader in 1926 in order to enter federal politics in the 1926 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1926
The Canadian federal election of 1926 was held on September 14 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 16th Parliament of Canada. The election was called following an event known as the King-Byng Affair...
. He served as Postmaster General
Postmaster General of Canada
The Postmaster General of Canada was the Canadian cabinet minister responsible for the Post Office Department . In 1851, management of the post office was transferred from Britain to the provincial governments of the Province of Canada, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward...
in the cabinet of William Lyon Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King, PC, OM, CMG was the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930; and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948...
. In cabinet, Veniot advocated implementation of the Duncan Commission recommendations on alleviating Maritime alienation. Recommendations of freight-rate reductions and subsidy increases were implemented, but suggestions for subsidies based on fiscal need and transportation use to encourage regional development were ignored.
Veniot remained a Member of Parliament until his death at his home in Bathurst in 1936.
Married in 1885 to Catherine Melanson, their son Clarence Joseph
Clarence Joseph Veniot
Clarence Joseph Veniot was a physician, surgeon and political figure in New Brunswick, Canada. He represented Gloucester in the Canadian House of Commons from 1936 to 1945 as a Liberal member and then served in the Senate of Canada representing Gloucester division from 1945 to 1966.He was born in...
was elected in the by-election held in the federal riding of Gloucester after his death and later served in the Canadian Senate.
Further reading
- Arthur T. Doyle, Front Benches and Back Rooms: A story of corruption, muckraking, raw partisanship and political intrigue in New Brunswick, Toronto: Green Tree Publishing, 1976.