SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — The Late Honourable Louis J. Robichaud, P.C., Q.C., C.C., O.N.B.
One Hundredth Anniversary of His Birth
October 21, 2025
Honourable senators, it is a great honour for me to speak today to commemorate an important event. Today, we mark the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of a great Canadian, New Brunswicker, and Acadian, the Honourable Louis J. Robichaud.
“P’tit Louis,” as he is still affectionately known in New Brunswick, profoundly transformed our province during his 10 years as premier from 1960 to 1970. He was also the first Acadian to be elected premier. Through bold policy changes, he modernized nearly every aspect of public life in New Brunswick, from education and health care to social services and fiscal policy. He passed away in 2005, but many of his policies are still in effect today.
Louis Robichaud is best remembered for his equal opportunity program. His reforms lifted thousands of anglophone and francophone New Brunswickers out of poverty and ensured a more equitable distribution of services and programs across all parts of the province. To this day, New Brunswickers who live and work outside of the province’s three largest cities owe the viability of their communities to the changes brought forward by Louis Robichaud.
Earlier this year, New Brunswick’s largest French-language newspaper, L’Acadie Nouvelle, once again called for the long-awaited commemoration of Louis J. Robichaud’s legacy. The newspaper’s editorial team has long argued that the man who made New Brunswick Canada’s only officially bilingual province deserves to be honoured. L’Acadie Nouvelle‘s editorial team even suggested a specific way to do this: Rename a section of the Trans-Canada Highway in New Brunswick. Other ideas should also be considered. I encourage New Brunswickers to contact their representatives to share their thoughts.
Today, as I speak in the Senate, the chamber where Louis served from 1973 to 2000, I am proud to join those advocating for a meaningful celebration of the life of Louis J. Robichaud.
Let us take advantage of this milestone year to pay him the tribute he deserves.
Happy birthday, Louis. Thank you. Meegwetch.
