Roméo LeBlanc
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| The Rt. Hon. Roméo-Adrien LeBlanc | |
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| In office February 8, 1995 – October 7, 1999 |
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| Preceded by | Ray Hnatyshyn |
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| Succeeded by | Adrienne Clarkson |
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| Born | December 18, 1927 (age 79) Memramcook, New Brunswick |
| Spouse | Diana Fowler Leblanc |
| Profession | Politician, Journalist, Teacher |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Roméo-Adrien LeBlanc, PC, CC, CMM, ONB, CD (born December 18, 1927 in Memramcook, New Brunswick) is a former Governor General of Canada.
LeBlanc was appointed Governor General on February 8, 1995, the first Acadian and the first person from the Maritimes to hold that post. He resigned from the position in 1999, citing health reasons.
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[edit] Earlier career
He studied at the Collège St-Joseph in Memramcook, earning a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education there. He also studied French Civilization at the Université de Paris.
LeBlanc was a teacher for nine years before becoming a journalist. After working for Radio-Canada, he served as press secretary for two Prime Ministers: Lester B. Pearson and Pierre Trudeau.
He was first elected to the House of Commons as a Liberal Member of Parliament in 1972. He served as Minister of Fisheries and Oceans through most of the 1970s under Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. Trudeau appointed him to the Senate in 1984, and LeBlanc became its Speaker in 1993.
[edit] As Governor General
LeBlanc's term as The Queen's Vice-Regal Representative in Canada was considered to have been "low key", and largely uneventful, especially in comparison to that of his successor, Adrienne Clarkson.
His largest bout of publicity occurred immediately after the announcement of his appointment. The decision to appoint a prominent Liberal party politician and organizer as Governor General by Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chrétien was criticized by some as being little more than a patronage gift to a loyal party member.
In the 1993 federal election, LeBlanc had been one of the chief architects of the Liberal Party's election strategy, and was one of the party's most fierce partisans. His son, Dominic LeBlanc was likewise a member of the Liberal Party, and continued to work for the Prime Minister's office. In protest, Reform Party of Canada leader Preston Manning refused to attend LeBlanc's installation ceremony, as did Bloc Québécois leader Lucien Bouchard.
Another major criticism was his lack of travel throughout Canada (and therefore failing in his duty to bring Canadians together). Leblanc did travel extensively in Quebec following that 1995 Quebec Referendum as well as frequently visiting his home province of New Brunswick but set foot in Western Canada only once or twice, arguably exacerbating Western Alienation.
LeBlanc was the first Acadian Governor-General, which earned praise from the Acadian community.
LeBlanc is an honorary member of the Royal Military College of Canada club, H20123.
[edit] Spouse
He married Diana Fowler LeBlanc (b. 1940), who, as the spouse of the Governor-General, is made a Companion of the Order of Canada. They had four children. His son, Dominic LeBlanc, became a Liberal Member of Parliament in 2000.
[edit] Military positions
Categories: 1927 births | Living people | Acadians | Canadian Roman Catholics | Canadian senators from New Brunswick | Liberal Party of Canada MPs | Liberal Party of Canada senators | Governors General of Canada | Members of the 20th Ministry in Canada | Members of the 22nd Ministry in Canada | Members of the Canadian House of Commons from New Brunswick | Companions of the Order of Canada | Members of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada | Roman Catholic politicians | Speakers of the Canadian Senate | People from Moncton | Members of the Order of New Brunswick
