The Minister

The Honourable Bernard Valcourt
Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development

Madawaska-Restigouche (New Brunswick)

Bernard Valcourt was first elected to the House of Commons in 1984 and re-elected in 1988. In 1984, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue and to the Minister of State (Science and Technology). From 1984 to 1993, Mr. Valcourt subsequently served as Minister of State (Small Businesses and Tourism), Minister of State (Indian Affairs and Northern Development), Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Minister of Employment and Immigration and Minister of Labour.

In 1995, Mr. Valcourt was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick as the member for Edmundston, and he served until 1999. He was Leader of the Opposition party for the province from 1995 to 1997.

He was re-elected to the House of Commons in 2011 as the Member of Parliament for Madawaska-Restigouche. In May 2011, he was appointed Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency) (La Francophonie). He was appointed Associate Minister of National Defence in July 2012. In February 2013, Mr. Valcourt was appointed Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.

Mr. Valcourt is a barrister and solicitor who practised law in Edmundston, New Brunswick, where he lives today.