Omer Léger

Who is Omer Léger?

Omer Léger is a merchant and Canadian politician.

Léger served in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick having replaced former Premier Louis J. Robichaud and having his final provincial election defeat at the hands of future Premier Camille Thériault.

He was born in Gardner, Massachusetts and studied at St. Joseph's College in Memramcook, New Brunswick. He became an administrator for the Assomption Mutuelle insurance company.

Léger was first elected in a 1971 by-election in the Kent riding to replace Robichaud who had accepted an appointment as chairman of the International Joint Commission following his party's defeat in the 1970 provincial election. He was the first Progressive Conservative to be elected in the traditionally Liberal Kent County in almost 60 years. Léger almost immediately joined the cabinet of Richard Hatfield. He served as provincial secretary until the 1974 election, where he was re-elected in the Kent South riding, when he added minister of Fisheries to his portfolio. He was defeated in the 1978 election by Liberal Bertin Leblanc, when the Progressive Conservatives barely squeaked by a victory at 30 seats against 28 for the Liberal Party.