Hugh John Flemming

Hugh John Flemming was born to Sarah and James Kidd Flemming on January 5, 1899, in Peel, New Brunswick. He was raised in a political environment as his father served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick (1900 - 1914) and was Premier of the province from 1911 until his resignation in 1914. Following the resignation, his father encountered both financial and health problems. To assist the family, Hugh John Flemming left school at the age of 15 to help operate the family's sawmill in Juniper, New Brunswick.

He began his own political career in 1921 when he was elected as municipal councillor for Carleton, a position he held until 1935. In 1935 he experienced the down side of public service when his bid for a seat in the House of Commons as a Conservative candidate for Victoria-Carleton was unsuccessful.

He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick as a Conservative to represent the constituency of Carleton on August 28, 1944. He was one of only five Conservatives to be re-elected in the 1948 general election. In 1951 he became Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick and on September 22, 1952, he directed his party to a surprising victory over John B. McNair, ending 17 years of Liberal government. His government was re-elected in 1956 with an increased majority in the Legislature. During his time as Premier he also served as Minister of Public Works and Minister of Municipal Affairs.

His Progressive Conservative government was defeated in the 1960 election by the Liberals who were led by the young Acadian, Louis Joseph Robichaud. Following the defeat, Mr. Flemming left provincial politics and accepted an appointment as Minister of Forestry in the federal government of then Prime Minister John G. Diefenbaker. Soon after, he secured a seat in Parliament as the Member for Royal in a by-election held in October of 1960. In 1962 he was elected Member of Parliament for Victoria-Carleton and he was appointed Minister of National Revenue. He held this portfolio until the Diefenbaker government resigned in April of 1963. He continued to serve as a Member of Parliament until his retirement in 1972.

The Hugh John Flemming government is perhaps best known for modernizing the New Brunswick Electric Power Commission. Central to this accomplishment was the construction of the Beechwood Hydro Electric Dam on the upper St. John River. At the time of its construction, the dam was the largest capital project undertaken by the provincial government. Other major accomplishments include eight consecutive budget surpluses, which accounts for every year he served as Premier. As well, he was instrumental in persuading the federal government to establish the Atlantic Adjustments Grants, a federal program which provided greater financial assistance for economic development to the "have-not" provinces.

Throughout his years as a public servant, Hugh John Flemming distinguished himself as an honest, straightforward and committed man who cared deeply about the people and the province of New Brunswick. He is remembered as one of the most widely respected political figures in New Brunswick's history. He died on October 16, 1982, in Fredericton, New Brunswick.