Bruce Fitch
Canadian politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ralph Bruce Fitch (born c. 1958) is a former Canadian politician. He represented Riverview in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 2003 until 2024.
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Bruce Fitch | |
|---|---|
Fitch in 2020 | |
| Minister of Health | |
| In office July 15, 2022 – November 2, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Dorothy Shephard |
| Succeeded by | John Dornan |
| Minister of Social Development | |
| In office September 29, 2020 – July 15, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Dorothy Shephard |
| Succeeded by | Dorothy Shephard |
| Minister of Tourism, Heritage and Culture | |
| In office February 24, 2020 – September 29, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Gauvin |
| Succeeded by | Tammy Scott-Wallace |
| Leader of the Opposition (New Brunswick) | |
| In office October 18, 2014 – October 22, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Brian Gallant |
| Succeeded by | Blaine Higgs |
| Interim Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick | |
| In office October 18, 2014 – October 22, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | David Alward |
| Succeeded by | Blaine Higgs |
| Minister of Local Government | |
| In office October 12, 2010 – October 12, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Chris Collins |
| Succeeded by | Brian Kenny |
| Minister responsible for Service New Brunswick | |
| In office October 12, 2010 – September 22, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Victor Boudreau |
| Succeeded by | Ed Doherty |
| Minister of Justice and Consumer Affairs | |
| In office February 14, 2006 – September 18, 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | T. J. Burke |
| Minister of Energy | |
| In office June 27, 2003 – February 14, 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Jeannot Volpé |
| Succeeded by | Brenda Fowlie |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick for Riverview | |
| In office June 9, 2003 – September 19, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Pat Crossman |
| Succeeded by | Rob Weir |
| Mayor of Riverview | |
| In office May 11, 1998 – 2003 | |
| Preceded by | David Richardson |
| Succeeded by | Clarence Sweetland |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ralph Bruce Fitch 1958 or 1959 (age 66–67) Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada |
| Party | Progressive Conservative |
| Occupation | Politician |
Early life
Born in Moncton, New Brunswick, he is the son of Dr. Ralph Fitch. In 1980, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Mount Allison University. His career in the private sector was in the insurance and financial industries. He worked with Scotiabank and its brokerage firm ScotiaMcLeod for many years prior to his election to the legislature.
Political career
He was first involved in politics when he was elected in 1989 to the municipal council of the Town of Riverview. He was re-elected to that position in 1992 and 1995 before successfully running for mayor in 1998. He was re-elected mayor in 2001 and served in that capacity until his election to the legislature in the 2003 provincial election. Fitch was the only non-incumbent Progressive Conservative to win a seat in that election and was immediately named to cabinet as Minister of Energy. He was shuffled to the new Justice and Consumer Affairs portfolio on February 14, 2006 despite having no legal training; this was made possible by disassociating the functions of the Office of the Attorney General from the Justice Department.
He is a member of the First Baptist Church. His hobbies include sailboarding and golf. An ardent fan and supporter of minor sports, he is frequently seen on the sidelines of his children’s games. He also coached minor soccer and football in the past.
He has been involved in the community for many years. He has been a member of many boards and committees, including Codiac Regional Police Board, Lakeview Manor Senior Citizens Home, and the Atlantic Baptist University.
On October 18, 2014 after the Progressive Conservative Party under David Alward failed to form government, Fitch was made interim leader of the Progressive Conservative Party and Leader of the Opposition of New Brunswick.[1]
Fitch was re-elected in the 2018 and 2020 provincial elections. On April 5, 2024, he announced that he would not be seeking re-election during the 2024 provincial election.[2]
Electoral record
Riverview
| 2020 New Brunswick general election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Bruce Fitch | 4,695 | 60.08 | +11.06 | ||||
| Liberal | Heath Johnson | 1,281 | 16.39 | -10.80 | ||||
| Green | Rachel Pletz | 800 | 10.24 | +3.06 | ||||
| People's Alliance | Troy Berteit | 778 | 9.96 | -3.36 | ||||
| New Democratic | John Nuttall | 261 | 3.34 | +0.04 | ||||
| Total valid votes | 7,815 | |||||||
| Total rejected ballots | 13 | 0.17 | -0.02 | |||||
| Turnout | 7,828 | 65.99 | +1.98 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 11,863 | |||||||
| Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | +10.93 | ||||||
| Source: Elections New Brunswick[3] | ||||||||
| 2018 New Brunswick general election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Bruce Fitch | 3,701 | 49.02 | -3.71 | ||||
| Liberal | Brent Mazerolle | 2,053 | 27.19 | -2.29 | ||||
| People's Alliance | Heather Collins | 1,005 | 13.31 | -- | ||||
| Green | Stephanie Coburn | 542 | 7.18 | -0.44 | ||||
| New Democratic | Madison Duffy | 249 | 3.30 | -6.86 | ||||
| Total valid votes | 7,550 | 100.0 | ||||||
| Total rejected ballots | 14 | 0.19 | ||||||
| Turnout | 7,564 | 64.00 | ||||||
| Eligible voters | 11,818 | |||||||
| Source: Elections New Brunswick[3] | ||||||||
| 2014 New Brunswick general election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Bruce Fitch | 3,751 | 52.73 | -10.15 | ||||
| Liberal | Tammy Rampersaud | 2,097 | 29.48 | +6.01 | ||||
| New Democratic | Danie Pitre | 723 | 10.16 | +3.55 | ||||
| Green | Linda Hardwick | 542 | 7.62 | +0.58 | ||||
| Total valid votes | 7,113 | 100.0 | ||||||
| Total rejected ballots | 28 | 0.39 | ||||||
| Turnout | 7,141 | 61.84 | ||||||
| Eligible voters | 11,547 | |||||||
| Progressive Conservative notional hold | Swing | -8.08 | ||||||
| Source: Elections New Brunswick[3] | ||||||||
| 2010 New Brunswick general election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Bruce Fitch | 4,358 | 62.88 | -0.46 | ||||
| Liberal | Lana Hansen | 1,627 | 23.47 | -10.23 | ||||
| Green | Steven Steeves | 488 | 7.04 | – | ||||
| New Democratic | Darryl Pitre | 458 | 6.61 | +3.65 | ||||
| Total valid votes | 6,931 | 100.0 | ||||||
| Total rejected ballots | 41 | 0.59 | ||||||
| Turnout | 6,972 | 65.15 | ||||||
| Eligible voters | 10,702 | |||||||
| Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | +4.88 | ||||||
| Source: Elections New Brunswick[3] | ||||||||
| 2006 New Brunswick general election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Bruce Fitch | 4,326 | 63.34 | +12.56 | ||||
| Liberal | Ward White | 2,302 | 33.70 | -10.29 | ||||
| New Democratic | Richard Grant | 202 | 2.96 | -2.27 | ||||
| Total valid votes | 6,830 | 100.0 | ||||||
| Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | +11.42 | ||||||
| Source: Elections New Brunswick[3] | ||||||||
| 2003 New Brunswick general election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Bruce Fitch | 3,794 | 50.78 | -6.90 | ||||
| Liberal | Ward White | 3,287 | 43.99 | +16.04 | ||||
| New Democratic | John Falconer | 391 | 5.23 | -6.31 | ||||
| Total valid votes | 7,472 | 100.0 | ||||||
| Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | -11.47 | ||||||
| Source: Elections New Brunswick[3] | ||||||||