Jeannot Volpé

MLA, Madawaska-les-Lacs



Jeannot Volpé was born in Saint-Jacques in northwestern New Brunswick, where he still lives. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education at the Université de Moncton.

Mr. Volpé taught physical education in the Edmundston area until the early 1980s. During those years, he was also a coach in gymnastics, wrestling, and track and field. He has always enjoyed sports, especially hunting and fishing.

His return to the family farm in the early 1980s gave him the opportunity to become involved in various farming organizations, which he headed for a number of years. He was also the founding president of the Fédération des agriculteurs francophones du nord-ouest du Nouveau-Brunswick and a director of several national farm organizations.

He was first elected to the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly as a Progressive-Conservative Member on September 11, 1995, in the riding of Madawaska-les-Lacs. He was chair of caucus and opposition critic for several departments. He served on the Select Committees on the Environment and on Energy.

He was re-elected in June 1999, and he was sworn in as the Minister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Energy Secretariat. He was re-elected on June 9, 2003, and sworn in as Minister of Finance on June 27, 2003.

He was re-elected in the provincial election held September 18, 2006. He is opposition critic for areas of interest related to finance. On February 1, 2007, he became Interim Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick and Leader of the Official Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, and served in this role until succeeded by Mr. David Alward on October 18, 2008.

Mr. Volpé is the proud father of four children, Dino, Gino, Bruno, and Marco, and the proud grandfather of five grandchildren.