Richard Hatfield

Hon. Richard Bennett Hatfield, P.C.

File:Richardhatfield.jpg
Rank:	26th
Term of Office:	November 12, 1970 – October 26, 1987
Predecessor:	Louis Robichaud
Successor:	Frank McKenna
Date of Birth:	April 9, 1931
Place of Birth:	Woodstock, New Brunswick
Date of Death:	April 26, 1991
Profession:	Lawyer, Sales Manager
Political Party:	Progressive Conservative

Richard Bennett Hatfield, PC , ONB, BA , LL.B (April 9, 1931 – April 26, 1991) was a New Brunswick politician and long time Premier of the province (1970-1987).

Hatfield was first elected to the provincial legislature in 1961 and became leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick in 1969 leading the party to victory in the 1970 election. During Hatfield's long tenure he became prominent on the national stage allying with federal Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau during the constitutional negotiations that led to the 1982 patriation of the Canadian constitution and the creation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. He also took leadership in helping create equality between the province's Acadian minority and English Canadian majority.

His attempts at attracting investment to the province and developing the economy were less successful. In the 1970s the Hatfield government financed the manufacture of the Bricklin SV-1 in hopes of creating an auto industry in the province. Although a visionary project that produced an advanced quality sports car, huge cost overuns and poor management led to the company's demise.

Hatfield's last years in office were plagued by personal scandal. In October 1984 he was charged with criminal possession of marijuana after a small amount of the drug was found in his suitcase during a routine inspection of luggage during that year's royal visit by Queen Elizabeth II. He was acquitted on the charges.

Hatfield was a life-long bachelor, and lived alone in a house full of collector dolls. Many suspected him of being a homosexual, and even a Liberal opponent, Joe Daigle, responded to Hatfield's accusations of being unoriginal by saying, "I'd rather be a second hand rose then a faded pansy." Hatfield would spend lots of time in New York and Europe, once saying to a reporter that "[He was] elected to run New Brunswick, not live there."

The 1987 election saw Hatfield's Tories lose every seat in the legislature. Hatfield resigned as Premier and party leader immediately. In 1990 he was appointed to the Canadian Senate by Brian Mulroney but was soon stricken with an inoperable brain tumour and died in 1991. He was 60. His memorial service, which was held at the Christ Church Cathedral in Fredericton, New Brunswick, was attended by Premiers and Prime Ministers, friends and opponents.

Early Life

The youngest of 5 children of Heber Hatfield and Dora Robinson, Richard was brought up with politics in the household. His father, already a well know potato shipper, was Hartland's mayor when he was born. In 1938, at 7 years old, his father brought him to Winnipeg at the Conservative leadership convention where he met his namesake, R.B. Bennett. In 1940 Heber was elected Victoria-Carleton county Conservative Member of Parliament and served until his death due to cancer in 1952. Young Richard spent a lot of time in Ottawa even getting to know John Diefenbaker and his first wife Edna.

After graduating from high school in 1948 in his home town Hartland, Hatfield attended Acadia University for four years majoring in chemistry and English. He also got involved in drama, an experience that seemed to have the most lasting impact of any during his years at Acadia. "That was extremely valuable" he said. "It would benefit every politician to have a bit of theatre training...too many politicians get caught up using big words to impress, but don't know how to project feelings." After Acadia, he attended Dalhousie University to become a doctor but after a year he turned to law.

Career before becoming Premier

Hatfield left Halifax in 1957 and moved to Truro to take a job with the firm Patterson,Smith,Matthew and Grant so he could do his six months probationary period. After successfully doing his time, he left Truro to join Gordon Churchill who was at the time Minister of Industry in Ottawa. He decline a job offer at the firm and he never practised law again. He stayed in Ottawa for nine months until he called his brother for a job back home. Fred Hatfield, who was managing the potato shipping and processing operation since Heber died, said yes and made Richard vice-president of sales. He worked with his brother until 1965.

In 1961 Hugh John Flemming left his Carleton county seat to run successfully in the federal seat of Royal. Fred, who was at the time president of Carleton County PC Association, offered the nomination to Richard which he accepted. He ran against his brother-in-law Gerald Clark and won easily with a majority of 1736 votes. Years later he recalled "[Heber] reputation had helped me to be elected, and now I was on my own."

External links

• Political biography from the Library of Parliament