Brenda Fowlie
Encyclopedia
Brenda Olive Fowlie is a journalist
and politician
in the Canadian
province
of New Brunswick
. She was formerly a member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
and a member of the cabinet
.
A resident of Quispamsis, New Brunswick
, Fowlie was first elected to the legislature in the 1999 election
and was re-elected in 2003
by a very narrow margin. She was originally declared the winner in 2003 by a margin of 16 votes and a recount delayed the swearing in of the cabinet
and the first session of the legislature. The results of the election were so close that Fowlie's uncertain victory meant the difference between a majority government
for her Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick
and a tie in seats with the PCs and the opposition New Brunswick Liberal Association
. The recount reaffirmed her victory increasing her margin to 18 votes.
Prior to her election to the legislature, Fowlie had been a member of her local school board and was elected to Quispamsis
town council
in 1995 and re-elected in 1998. She wrote a column for local newspapers and hosted several news and public affairs programs on public access television.
She was sworn in to cabinet as the Minister of Environment and Local Government
on June 27, 2003 and resigned from cabinet on July 21, 2005 after the provincial ombudsman
reported she had violated provincial privacy laws when she used personal information, from her department, on fellow MLA Stuart Jamieson to attack his character in the legislature and to reporters. She made a quick political recovery however when she was re-added to cabinet on February 14, 2006 as Minister of Energy
.
She was defeated in her bid for a third term in the 2006 election
and thus left the legislature and the cabinet.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in the Canadian
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...
province
Provinces and territories of Canada
The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories...
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...
. She was formerly a member of 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...
and a member of the cabinet
Executive Council of New Brunswick
The Executive Council of New Brunswick is the cabinet of that Canadian province....
.
A resident of Quispamsis, New Brunswick
Quispamsis, New Brunswick
Quispamsis is a Canadian town located in Kings County, New Brunswick. It is located 20 kilometres northeast of Saint John, in the lower Kennebecasis River valley.The name is traditionally pronounced with a weak stress on either the first or last syllable....
, Fowlie was first elected to the legislature in the 1999 election
New Brunswick general election, 1999
The 34th New Brunswick general election was held on June 7, 1999, to elect 55 members to the 54th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada. It marked the debut of both Camille Thériault and Bernard Lord as leaders of the Liberals and...
and was re-elected in 2003
New Brunswick general election, 2003
The 35th New Brunswick general election was held on June 9, 2003, to elect 55 members to the 55th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada...
by a very narrow margin. She was originally declared the winner in 2003 by a margin of 16 votes and a recount delayed the swearing in of the cabinet
Executive Council of New Brunswick
The Executive Council of New Brunswick is the cabinet of that Canadian province....
and the first session of the legislature. The results of the election were so close that Fowlie's uncertain victory meant the difference between a majority government
Majority government
A majority government is when the governing party has an absolute majority of seats in the legislature or parliament in a parliamentary system. This is as opposed to a minority government, where even the largest party wins only a plurality of seats and thus must constantly bargain for support from...
for her Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick
Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick
The Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick is a centre-right political party in New Brunswick, Canada. It has its origins in the pre-Canadian confederation Conservative Party that opposed the granting of responsible government to the colony...
and a tie in seats with the PCs and the opposition New Brunswick Liberal Association
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...
. The recount reaffirmed her victory increasing her margin to 18 votes.
Prior to her election to the legislature, Fowlie had been a member of her local school board and was elected to Quispamsis
Quispamsis, New Brunswick
Quispamsis is a Canadian town located in Kings County, New Brunswick. It is located 20 kilometres northeast of Saint John, in the lower Kennebecasis River valley.The name is traditionally pronounced with a weak stress on either the first or last syllable....
town council
Town council
A town council is a democratically elected form of government for small municipalities or civil parishes. A council may serve as both the representative and executive branch....
in 1995 and re-elected in 1998. She wrote a column for local newspapers and hosted several news and public affairs programs on public access television.
She was sworn in to cabinet as the Minister of Environment and Local Government
Department of Environment and Local Government (New Brunswick)
The Department of Environment and Local Government was a part of the Government of New Brunswick. It was charged with maintaining relationships with New Brunswick's municipalities, administering its unincorporated Local Service Districts and the administration of its environmental policy.The...
on June 27, 2003 and resigned from cabinet on July 21, 2005 after the provincial ombudsman
Ombudsman
An ombudsman is a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between an organization and some internal or external constituency while representing not only but mostly the broad scope of constituent interests...
reported she had violated provincial privacy laws when she used personal information, from her department, on fellow MLA Stuart Jamieson to attack his character in the legislature and to reporters. She made a quick political recovery however when she was re-added to cabinet on February 14, 2006 as Minister of Energy
Department of Energy (New Brunswick)
The Department of Energy is a part of the Government of New Brunswick. It is charged with the administration of New Brunswick's energy policy including electricity, natural gas and refined petroleum products....
.
She was defeated in her bid for a third term in the 2006 election
New Brunswick general election, 2006
The 36th New Brunswick general election was held on September 18, 2006, to elect 55 members to the 56th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada....
and thus left the legislature and the cabinet.