# Robert Gauvin

Robert Gauvin is a Canadian politician who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick in the 2018 New Brunswick general election. He currently represents the riding of Shediac Bay-Dieppe as a member of the New Brunswick Liberal Association.

## Political career

Gauvin was first elected in the 2018 election as the Progressive Conservative MLA for Shippagan-Lamèque-Miscou. The Progressive Conservatives formed a minority government after the election, at which point Blaine Higgs appointed Gauvin to the Executive Council of New Brunswick as Deputy Premier, Minister of Tourism, Heritage, and Culture, and Minister responsible for La Francophonie.
On February 14, 2020, he resigned from cabinet and the Progressive Conservative caucus to sit as an Independent MLA, citing Higgs' health reforms, including the nighttime closure of six hospital emergency rooms; in announcing his resignation, Gauvin called those reforms "an attack on rural New Brunswick."
On August 18, 2020, ahead of the 2020 election, he announced he was joining the Liberal Party and would run as their in Shediac Bay-Dieppe, a riding previously represented by former Liberal Premier Brian Gallant. He was re-elected in 2020, in which Higgs' Progressive Conservatives won a majority government.
On January 30, 2022, Gauvin announced his campaign for leader of the New Brunswick Liberal Association following Kevin Vickers' 2020 resignation. The election took place on August 6, 2022, and Gauvin was eliminated on the second round of balloting, finishing third in the contest.
As of September 8, 2024, he serves as the Official Opposition critic for Social Development, Rural Affairs, and Seniors and Long-Term Care.
Gauvin was re-elected in the 2024 general election. On November 1, 2024, it was announced that he was placed on the cabinet as Minister of Public Safety and Minister responsible for la Francophonie.

## Personal life

Gauvin is the son of former New Brunswick MLA Jean Gauvin.

## Electoral history

vte2024 New Brunswick general election: Shediac Bay-Dieppe :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Robert Gauvin | 6,530 | 68.1% |
| | Progressive Conservative | René Ephestion | 1,803 | 18.8% |
| | Green | Chantal Landry | 1,254 | 13.1% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 9,587 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing |
| Source: Elections New Brunswick |||||||
2020 New Brunswick general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Robert Gauvin | 5,839 | 60.14 | -6.95 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Mathieu Gérald Caissie | 2,971 | 30.60 | +15.87 |
| | New Democratic | Delphine Daigle | 528 | 5.44 | -2.88 |
| | People's Alliance | Phillip Coombes | 371 | 3.82 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 9,709 | 100.00 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 54 | 0.55 | +0.02 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,763 | 71.49 | +3.42 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 13,657 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | -11.41 |
| Source: Elections New Brunswick |||||||
2018 New Brunswick general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Robert Gauvin | 4,048 | 46.25 | +0.65 |
| | Liberal | Wilfred Roussel | 3,949 | 45.12 | -0.98 |
| | New Democratic | Albert Rousselle | 578 | 6.60 | +0.90 |
| | Independent | Philippe Tisseuil | 178 | 2.03 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 8,753 | 98.76 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 110 | 1.24 | +0.90 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,863 | 79.64 | +2.91 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 11,129 |
| | Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal | Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | Swing | +0.82 |