Richard Bennett Hatfield

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Richard Bennett Hatfield , PC , ONB (born April 9, 1931 in Woodstock , New Brunswick , † April 26, 1991 ) was a Canadian politician and Prime Minister of New Brunswick from 1970 to 1987 .

Hatfield was elected to the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly in 1961 . There he was from 1969 chairman of the opposition Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick , which he led to victory in the 1970 election. Hatfield became known beyond the borders of New Brunswick for his involvement in the negotiations to reform the Canadian constitution, which were concluded in the Canada Act of 1982 . He was also involved in the drafting of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and campaigned for equality for academics .

In contrast, he was less successful with his economic policy. In the hope of being able to establish a center of the auto industry in New Brunswick, Hatfield campaigned for the financing of the Bricklin SV-1 , which however never prevailed.

The last years of his tenure were marked by a drug scandal. In October 1984 he was charged with drug possession, but was acquitted a little later.

Hatfield was never married and spent much time in New York and Europe .

After a catastrophic election defeat for his party, he resigned as Prime Minister of New Brunswick and party chairman in 1987. In 1990 he was appointed to the Senate of Canada by the Governor General of Canada . A short time later, however, Hatfield was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, of which he died in 1991. His grave is in Greenwood Cemetery in Hartland .

literature

  • Richard Starr, Richard Hatfield, The Seventeen Year Saga, 1987, ISBN 0887801536

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Hatfield, Richard Bennett
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Hatfield, Richard B.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Canadian politician
DATE OF BIRTH April 9, 1931
PLACE OF BIRTH Woodstock (New Brunswick)
DATE OF DEATH April 26, 1991