Carmel Robichaud Bios - 56th Legislature

Carmel Robichaud is the daughter of the late Dorine and Côme Robichaud, of Neguac, where she was raised in a large family.

She was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick on June 9, 2003. As the Liberal member for Miramichi Bay, she was the official opposition critic for areas of interest relating to education and the status of women. She was a member of the Select Committee on Education.

She was re-elected in the provincial election held September 18, 2006, as the MLA for the new electoral district of Miramichi Bay-Neguac. On October 3, 2006, she was sworn in as Minister of Family and Community Services and Minister Responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women. From October 31, 2007, until November 12, 2008, she served as Minister of Local Government and Minister Responsible for Community Non-Profit Organizations.

She is currently a member of the following Standing Committees: Crown Corporations, Legislative Administration, and Procedure. She serves on the Select Committee on Life Long Learning. On December 2, 2008, she was appointed Deputy Speaker and, in that capacity, she chairs the Committees of the Whole House.

Ms. Robichaud attended primary and secondary schools in Neguac. In 1959, she received her teacher’s licence from the New Brunswick Teachers’ College in Fredericton. She holds a teaching diploma from Université de Montréal (1989), a Bachelor of Education from St. Thomas University, and a Bachelor of Arts from the Université de Moncton. In 1990, she completed the principal’s in-service program in Fredericton and, in 1995, the leadership program at the Centre de leadership en éducation at the University of Ottawa. In 1997, she received her Master of Education in school administration from the Université de Moncton.

During her 35-year teaching career, she taught students from kindergarten to high school in both official languages. She has been a teacher, a coordinator of the French as a second language and immersion program, a French department head, and a vice-principal. She also taught at Memorial University of Newfoundland and at UNB. She has worked in the school systems in the provinces of New Brunswick, Ontario, and Quebec.

Professionally, Ms. Robichaud has participated in a school evaluation committee and represented elementary teachers on various education committees. She was founding president of a free breakfast program and a founding member of a school library.

As a member of a consortium in the Acadian Peninsula, she organized the Festival de la famille and served on the board of the Centre Beausoleil for adults with special needs. She was the founding administrative officer of the air cadet squadron in Neguac and she is a member of the Royal Canadian Legion.

Ms. Robichaud has long been active in the Liberal Party, and has served as president of the Miramichi Bay Women’s Liberal Association and as secretary for the Miramichi Bay Association.

Carmel Robichaud has two children and four grandchildren.

Website Link(s)

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Constituency Office