Edmond Blanchard

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Edmond P. Blanchard
Born May 31, 1954 (1954-05-31) (age 54)
Atholville, New Brunswick
Canada Flag of Canada
Residence Campbellton, New Brunswick
Education Dalhousie University
Occupation Lawyer, Judge, Politician
Political party Liberal
Religious beliefs Roman Catholic
Parents John E. Blanchard &
Mary Rita Hugues

Edmond P. Blanchard (Q.C.) (born May 31, 1954 in Atholville, New Brunswick) is a Canadian jurist and former politician.

Blanchard studied at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia where he earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1975 and a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1978. He practised law in Campbellton, New Brunswick until 1987 whenh he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick in the 1987 general election as a member of the Liberal Party, which won every seat in the legislature. He joined cabinet as the Minister of State for Mines in 1989 and, following his re-election in 1991 was appointed Minister of Justice and carried several other ministerial responsibilities. He was elected to a third term in 1995 and given the senior portfolio of finance minister.

His good looks, fluent bilingualism, and success as Minister of Finance made him a strong candidate to succeed Frank McKenna for the Liberal leadership in 1998. After announcing he was considering the possibility, he opted not to contest the leadership.

Edmond Blanchard continued in the finance ministry after Thériault became Premier of New Brunswick and was re-elected to his Campbellton riding in 1999. He served briefly in opposition before being appointed to the Federal Court of Canada in 2000, shortly thereafter he also took a seat on the Court Martial Appeal Court of Canada. When the Federal Court of Canada was split into the Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal in 2003, he took a seat on the Federal Court while maintaining his post on the Court Martial court.

In 2004, he became Chief Justice of the Court Martial appeals court.


Provincial Government of Camille Thériault
Cabinet Posts (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
himself in
Frenette government
Minister of Finance
(1998-1999)
Norman Betts
Special Cabinet Responsibilities
Predecessor Title Successor
himself in
Frenette government
Minister of State for Quality
(1998-1999)
designation discontinued
none
Provincial Government of Ray Frenette
Cabinet Posts (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
himself in
McKenna government
Minister of Finance
(1997-1998)
himself in
Thériault government
Special Cabinet Responsibilities
Predecessor Title Successor
himself in
McKenna government
Minister of State for Quality
(1997-1998)
himself in
Thériault government
Provincial Government of Frank McKenna
Cabinet Posts (3)
Predecessor Office Successor
Allan Maher Minister of Finance
(1995-1997)
himself in
Frenette government
James E. Lockyer Minister of Justice and Attorney General
(1991-1995)
Paul Duffie
Aldea Landry Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
(1991-1994)
Roland Beaulieu
Special Cabinet Responsibilities
Predecessor Title Successor
none Minister of State for Quality
(1995-1997)
new designation
himself in
Frenette government
? Minister of State for Mines & Energy
(1989-1991)
Doug Tyler
Preceded by
Barry L. Strayer
Chief Justice of the Court Martial Appeal Court of Canada
2004-present
Incumbent

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