# 55th New Brunswick Legislature

The 55th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly was created following a general election in 2003 and was dissolved on August 18, 2006.

## Leadership

The speaker from its first meeting until February 14, 2006 was Bev Harrison who had served as speaker in the 54th Assembly as well. Harrison resigned from the post to join the cabinet.
Michael Malley was elected speaker by acclamation on March 28, 2006 and served in that role until the assembly was dissolved.
Premier Bernard Lord led the government for the whole of the life of the assembly.
Shawn Graham led the opposition for the whole of the life of the assembly.
From its forming to her resignation on October 13, 2005, Elizabeth Weir led the third party New Democrats. Following her resignation, the New Democrats were no longer represented in the assembly.

## Members

All were elected in the 35th general election held on June 9, 2003 except for Victor Boudreau who was elected in a by-election on October 4, 2004 and Ed Doherty who was elected in a by-election on November 14, 2005.
The standings were changed further on January 13, 2006, when Frank Branch left the Liberal caucus to sit as an independent; and on February 17, 2006, when then Progressive Conservative MLA Michael Malley crossed the floor to sit as an independent thus putting Bernard Lord's government into a minority situation. Malley, while serving as speaker, changed his affiliation back to Progressive Conservative on April 13, 2006. Some controversy arose following this as following the 2003 election, the House unanimously passed a motion requiring the Opposition Liberals to pair a member with the speaker during meetings of committees of the whole in order to maintain the government majority in such situations. The Opposition argued that there was no precedent for a speaker to cross the floor and therefore, they did not recognize that a majority government existed and would not honour this motion under the circumstances. The House voted on May 30, 2006 to express confidence in the Speaker and therefore, implicitly, approve of his change of affiliation. From that date forward, the Liberals accepted Malley as a Progressive Conservative.

### Members at dissolution

| Name | Party | Electoral District | First elected / previously elected |
| Hédard Albert | Liberal | Caraquet | 2003 |
| Eric Allaby | Liberal | Fundy Isles | 1987 |
| David Alward | Progressive Conservative | Woodstock | 1999 |
| LeRoy Armstrong | Liberal | Kings East | 1995, 2003 |
| Donald Arseneault | Liberal | Dalhousie-Restigouche East | 2003 |
| Keith Ashfield | Progressive Conservative | New Maryland | 1999 |
| John Betts | Progressive Conservative | Moncton Crescent | 1999 |
| Margaret-Ann Blaney | Progressive Conservative | Saint John-Kings | 1999 |
| Roy Boudreau | Liberal | Campbellton | 2003 |
| Bernard Richard | Liberal | Shediac-Cap-Pélé | 1991 |
| Victor Boudreau | Liberal | Shediac-Cap-Pélé | 2004 |
| Frank Branch | Liberal | Nepisiguit | 1970, 2003 |
| Frank Branch | Independent | Nepisiguit | 1970, 2003 |
| Rick Brewer | Liberal | Southwest Miramichi | 2003 |
| Thomas J. Burke | Liberal | Fredericton North | 2003 |
| Jody Carr | Progressive Conservative | Oromocto-Gagetown | 1999 |
| Elizabeth Weir | New Democratic | Saint John Harbour | 1991 |
| Ed Doherty | Liberal | Saint John Harbour | 2005 |
| Rick Doucet | Liberal | Charlotte | 2003 |
| Madeleine Dubé | Progressive Conservative | Edmundston | 1999 |
| Bruce Fitch | Progressive Conservative | Riverview | 2003 |
| John Winston Foran | Liberal | Miramichi Centre | 2003 |
| Brenda Fowlie | Progressive Conservative | Kennebecasis | 1999 |
| Dale Graham | Progressive Conservative | Carleton | 1993 |
| Shawn Graham | Liberal | Kent | 1998 |
| Brad Green | Progressive Conservative | Fredericton South | 1998 |
| Roland Haché | Liberal | Nigadoo-Chaleur | 1999 |
| Bev Harrison | Progressive Conservative | Hampton-Belleisle | 1978, 1999 |
| Trevor Holder | Progressive Conservative | Saint John Portland | 1999 |
| Tony Huntjens | Progressive Conservative | Western Charlotte | 1999 |
| Stuart Jamieson | Liberal | Saint John-Fundy | 1987, 2003 |
| Larry Kennedy | Liberal | Victoria-Tobique | 1987 |
| Brian Kenny | Liberal | Bathurst | 2003 |
| Kelly Lamrock | Liberal | Fredericton-Fort Nashwaak | 2003 |
| Denis Landry | Liberal | Centre-Péninsule | 1995, 2003 |
| Abel LeBlanc | Liberal | Saint John Lancaster | 2003 |
| Cy LeBlanc | Progressive Conservative | Dieppe-Memramcook | 1999 |
| Bernard Lord | Progressive Conservative | Moncton East | 1998 |
| Joan MacAlpine-Stiles | Progressive Conservative | Moncton South | 1999 |
| Kirk MacDonald | Progressive Conservative | Mactaquac | 1999 |
| Roly MacIntyre | Liberal | Saint John Champlain | 1995, 2003 |
| Michael Malley† | Progressive Conservative | Miramichi-Bay du Vin | 1999 |
| Michael Malley† | Independent | Miramichi-Bay du Vin | 1999 |
| Michael Malley† | Progressive Conservative | Miramichi-Bay du Vin | 1999 |
| Eugene McGinley | Liberal | Grand Lake | 1972, 2003 |
| Peter Mesheau | Progressive Conservative | Tantramar | 1997 |
| Percy Mockler | Progressive Conservative | Madawaska-la-Vallée | 1982, 1993 |
| Mike Murphy | Liberal | Moncton North | 2003 |
| Ronald Ouellette | Liberal | Grand Falls Region | 2003 |
| Burt Paulin | Liberal | Restigouche West | 2003 |
| Rose-May Poirier | Progressive Conservative | Rogersville-Kouchibouguac | 1999 |
| Carmel Robichaud | Liberal | Miramichi Bay | 2003 |
| Elvy Robichaud | Progressive Conservative | Tracadie-Sheila | 1994 |
| Paul Robichaud | Progressive Conservative | Lamèque-Shippagan-Miscou | 1999 |
| Milt Sherwood | Progressive Conservative | Grand Bay-Westfield | 1995 |
| Wayne Steeves | Progressive Conservative | Albert | 1999 |
| Wally Stiles | Progressive Conservative | Petitcodiac | 1999 |
| Scott Targett | Liberal | York | 2003 |
| Jeannot Volpé | Progressive Conservative | Madawaska-les-Lacs | 1995 |
| Claude Williams | Progressive Conservative | Kent South | 2001 |
Bold denotes a member of the cabinet. Italics denotes a party leader † denotes the Speaker

### Former members

* Bernard Richard, a Liberal first elected in the 1991 election, represented Shediac-Cap-Pelé from the formation of the assembly until his resignation on November 26, 2003.
* Elizabeth Weir, a New Democrat first elected in the 1991 election, represented Saint John Harbour from the formation of the assembly until her resignation on October 13, 2005.