Department of Economic Development (New Brunswick)

Economic Development Department of Government of New Brunswick

The Department of Economic Development is a department in the Government of New Brunswick. It is charged with stimulating economic prosperity and global competitiveness in the province.

Created in 1944 during war time as the Department of Industry and Reconstruction, the Department has since had several name changes and has been known as the Department of Industry, Department of Economic Growth, and Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Culture.

The department was renamed Business New Brunswick on March 23, 2000 when Premier Bernard Lord restructured the New Brunswick Cabinet. It was created by subdividing the then Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Culture. It was enlarged on October 9, 2001 when it absorbed the Department of Investment and Exports which has also been originally created from Economic Development, Tourism and Culture.

On October 12, 2010, then premier David Alward named a Minister of Economic Development with responsibility for Business New Brunswick. The name of the department was officially changed to the Department of Economic Development on December 17, 2010.[1]

Since April 1, 2015, provincial Crown corporation Opportunities NB (ONB) has served as New Brunswick’s lead economic development agency mandated with fostering economic and business growth.

## Ministers

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Minister  | Term  | Administration

|
|

Minister of Industry and Reconstruction
J. André Doucet*  | September 27, 1944 - October 8, 1952  | under John B. McNair
Minister of Industry and Development
J. Roger Pichette | October 8, 1952 - July 12, 1960  | under Hugh John Flemming
J. Michel Fournier | July 12, 1960 - April 22, 1963  | under Louis Robichaud
Minister of Finance and Industry
see Minister of Finance | July 8, 1963 - April 1, 1968  | under Louis Robichaud
Minister of Economic Growth
Robert J. Higgins | April 1, 1968 - February 11, 1970  | under Louis Robichaud
H. H. Williamson | February 11, 1970 - November 12, 1970
A. Edison Stairs | November 12, 1970 - July 18, 1972  | under Richard Hatfield
Paul Creaghan | July 18, 1972 - December 3, 1974
Lawrence Garvie | December 3, 1974 - December 20, 1976
Minister of Commerce and Development
Gerald Merrithew | December 20, 1976 - October 30, 1982  | under Richard Hatfield
Paul Dawson | October 30, 1982 - October 3, 1985
Minister of Commerce and Technology
Fernand Dubé | October 3, 1985 - October 27, 1987  | under Richard Hatfield
A. W. Lacey | October 27, 1987 - December 19, 1990  | under Frank McKenna
Allan Maher (acting)  | January 21, 1991 - October 9, 1991
Minister of Economic Development and Tourism
Denis Losier | October 9, 1991 - August 3, 1994  | under Frank McKenna
Leo McAdam | August 11, 1994 - September 26, 1995
Camille Thériault | September 26, 1995 - February 6, 1998
James Lockyer (acting)  | February 6, 1998 - May 14, 1998  | under Ray Frenette
Minister of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism
Roly MacIntyre | May 14, 1998 - June 21, 1999  | under Camille Thériault
Peter Mesheau | June 21, 1999 - March 23, 2000  | under Bernard Lord
Minister of Business New Brunswick
Joan MacAlpine | March 23, 2000 - October 9, 2001  | under Bernard Lord
Norman Betts | October 9, 2001 - June 27, 2003
Peter Mesheau | June 27, 2003 - February 14, 2006
Kirk MacDonald | February 14, 2006 - October 3, 2006
Greg Byrne | October 3, 2006 - June 22, 2009  | under Shawn Graham |
Victor Boudreau | June 22, 2009 - October 12, 2010
Minister of Economic Development
Paul Robichaud | October 12, 2010 – September 23, 2013  | under David Alward
Bruce Fitch | September 23, 2013 - October 7, 2014
Rick Doucet | October 7, 2014 - June 6, 2016  | under Brian Gallant[2]
Francine Landry | June 6, 2016 - November 8, 2018
| Minister of Economic Development and Small Business, and minister responsible for Opportunities NB  |
Mary Wilson | November 9, 2018 - September 29, 2020  | under Blaine Higgs[3]
Arlene Dunn | September 29, 2020 - June 27, 2023  | under Blaine Higgs
Greg Turner | June 27, 2023 - November 2, 2024  | under Blaine Higgs
Luke Randall | November 2, 2024 - Present  | under Susan Holt

*Doucet was minister of industry and reconstruction until 1948 and was thereafter minister of industry and development.

## References

[edit]

* Opportunities NB
* Government of New Brunswick, list of Department Ministers 1944-2006 (PDF file)

1. ^ An Act to Amend the Executive Council Act
2. ^ Executive Council Office (7 October 2014). "Cabinet ministers announced". Province of New Brunswick. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
3. ^ "Here's a full list of Higgs's new cabinet CBC News". CBC. November 9, 2018.