Ray Frenette

Joseph Raymond Frenette
28th Premier of New Brunswick
In office
October 14, 1997  May 14, 1998
Monarch Elizabeth II
Lieutenant Governor Marilyn T. Counsell
Preceded by Frank McKenna
Succeeded by Camille Thériault
Personal details
Born April 16, 1935
Beresford, New Brunswick
Political party Liberal
Spouse(s) Armande Hachey

Joseph Raymond "Ray" Frenette (born April 16, 1935), is a former politician in New Brunswick, Canada. He was a Liberal representative for the riding of Moncton East in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1974 until 1998 when retired after a short term as the 28th Premier of New Brunswick.

He is the son of Berthilde Pitre and Samuel Frenette.

Before being elected to the legislature, he was a councillor for the village of Lewisville and, after Lewisville was amalgamated with the city of Moncton, he was a Moncton city councillor.

He twice ran for leader of the New Brunswick Liberals. He lost in 1982 to Doug Young and in 1985 to Frank McKenna. He served as interim Liberal leader from 1983–1985 and again from October, 1997 to May, 1998 also serving as Premier.

Frenette was Frank McKenna's right-hand man in the legislature, serving as his House Leader throughout his tenure as leader from 1985 to 1997. He resigned from the New Brunswick legislature in July 1998.

Following his political career, Frenette was appointed by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien to be a director of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) for a three-year term from 1998 to 2001 following which he served as chair from 2001 to 2005.

On May 11, 2006 it was announced that he would be New Brunswick chair of Gerard Kennedy's campaign for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada.

Provincial Government of Ray Frenette
Cabinet Posts (2)
Predecessor Office Successor
Frank McKenna Premier of New Brunswick
1997–1998
Camille Thériault
himself in
McKenna government
President of the Executive Council
1997–1998
Camille Thériault
Provincial Government of Frank McKenna
Cabinet Posts (4)
Predecessor Office Successor
Frank McKenna President of the Executive Council
1995–1997
himself in
Frenette government
Roland Beaulieu Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs
1995–1997
Bernard Thériault
Al Lacey Chairman of the New Brunswick Power Corporation
1991–1995
chairman no longer
a cabinet member
Nancy Teed Minister of Health and Community Services
1987–1991
Russ King
Special Cabinet Responsibilities
Predecessor
Title Successor
Marcelle Mersereau Deputy Premier of New Brunswick
1995–1997
Alan R. Graham
Malcolm MacLeod Government House Leader
1987–1997
Doug Tyler
Party political offices
Preceded by
Frank McKenna
Leader of the Liberal Party of New Brunswick
1997–1998 (interim)
Succeeded by
Camille Thériault
Preceded by
Doug Young
Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
1983–1985
Succeeded by
Shirley Dysart
Leader of the Liberal Party of New Brunswick
1983–1985 (interim)
Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
Preceded by
none, new district
Member of the New Brunswick Legislature for Moncton East
1974–1998
Succeeded by
Bernard Lord