Keith Ashfield
Encyclopedia
Keith Ashfield, PC
, MP (born March 28, 1952 in Fredericton, New Brunswick
) is a Canadian politician. He is the MP
for the electoral district of Fredericton
, and was appointed Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency) in the Cabinet of Canada
afterwards. In a cabinet shuffle on January 19, 2010, while retaining that portfolio, he was also appointed Minister of National Revenue
and Minister of the Atlantic Gateway. He was appointed Minister of Fisheries and Oceans on May 18, 2011.
The son of Jack Ashfield and Nora Locke, he was educated at the University of New Brunswick
. Ashfield was a school trustee for a number of years and was first a candidate for the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
in the 1991 election
. A Progressive Conservative
, Ashfield placed third with Confederation of Regions
candidate Max White being victorious.
Ashfield was again a candidate in 1999
and was successful, defeating cabinet minister
Joan Kingston
in the riding of New Maryland. He was named deputy speaker of the Legislature.
Ashfield faced Kingston again in 2003
and won again though by a closer margin. He was sworn in as Minister of Natural Resources & Energy
on June 27, 2003.
He was elected to a third term in 2006
in the redistributed district of New Maryland-Sunbury West
, however he left the cabinet as his party formed the opposition following the election. On November 7, 2007, he won the nomination to be the candidate of the Conservative Party of Canada
in Fredericton
for the next federal election
. When the election was called, he resigned his provincial seat.
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,...
, MP (born March 28, 1952 in Fredericton, 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...
) is a Canadian politician. He is the MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for the electoral district of Fredericton
Fredericton (electoral district)
Fredericton is a federal electoral district in New Brunswick, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1988. Its population in 2001 was 82,782...
, and was appointed Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency) in the Cabinet of Canada
Cabinet of Canada
The Cabinet of Canada is a body of ministers of the Crown that, along with the Canadian monarch, and within the tenets of the Westminster system, forms the government of Canada...
afterwards. In a cabinet shuffle on January 19, 2010, while retaining that portfolio, he was also appointed Minister of National Revenue
Minister of National Revenue (Canada)
The Minister of National Revenue is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for the Canada Revenue Agency and the administration of taxation law and collection....
and Minister of the Atlantic Gateway. He was appointed Minister of Fisheries and Oceans on May 18, 2011.
The son of Jack Ashfield and Nora Locke, he was educated at the University of New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
. Ashfield was a school trustee for a number of years and was first a candidate for 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 the 1991 election
New Brunswick general election, 1991
The 32nd New Brunswick general election was held on September 23, 1991, to elect 58 members to the 52nd New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada....
. A Progressive Conservative
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...
, Ashfield placed third with Confederation of Regions
New Brunswick Confederation of Regions Party
The New Brunswick Confederation of Regions Party was a political party in the Province of New Brunswick, Canada.It was the only branch of the Confederation of Regions Party to win any seats...
candidate Max White being victorious.
Ashfield was again a candidate in 1999
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 successful, defeating cabinet minister
Executive Council of New Brunswick
The Executive Council of New Brunswick is the cabinet of that Canadian province....
Joan Kingston
Joan Kingston
Joan Margaret Kingston is a nurse, teacher and former political figure in New Brunswick, Canada. She represented New Maryland in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick as a Liberal member from 1995 to 1999....
in the riding of New Maryland. He was named deputy speaker of the Legislature.
Ashfield faced Kingston again 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...
and won again though by a closer margin. He was sworn in as Minister of Natural Resources & Energy
Department of Natural Resources (New Brunswick)
The Department of Natural Resources is a department in the Government of New Brunswick, Canada. It is responsible for management of the Province's forests including timber utilization, trail management, insect and disease protection including spruce budworm and gypsy moth, fire protection,...
on June 27, 2003.
He was elected to a third term in 2006
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....
in the redistributed district of New Maryland-Sunbury West
New Maryland-Sunbury West
New Maryland-Sunbury West is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, Canada. It is currently held by Jack Carr.-History:...
, however he left the cabinet as his party formed the opposition following the election. On November 7, 2007, he won the nomination to be the candidate of the Conservative Party of Canada
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
in Fredericton
Fredericton (electoral district)
Fredericton is a federal electoral district in New Brunswick, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1988. Its population in 2001 was 82,782...
for the next federal election
40th Canadian federal election
The 2008 Canadian federal election was held on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 40th Canadian Parliament after the previous parliament had been dissolved by the Governor General on September 7, 2008...
. When the election was called, he resigned his provincial seat.