T. J. Burke

Who is T. J. Burke?

Thomas James "T.J." Burke QC is a New Brunswick lawyer and politician. Burke was the first Aboriginal who hails from Tobique First Nation selected to a legislature anywhere in Atlantic Canada. He has served in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick since 2003 and was a member of the cabinet from 2006 to 2009.

Burke was born in Los Angeles, California. His family returned to Canada in 1978, and he was raised in Fredericton, New Brunswick. He graduated from Fredericton High School in 1990. After high school, Burke enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he served from 1990 to 1995. Following his stint in the U.S. military, Burke again returned to Canada and completed a Bachelor of Arts at St. Thomas University and a law degree at Dalhousie University. He practiced law in Fredericton from being called to the bar until he was named to the cabinet.

Burke became active in New Brunswick Liberal politics in 2002 when he was recruited by Greg Byrne to assist in Shawn Graham's leadership campaign. He ran for and won the Liberal nomination for Fredericton North in 2003 and was elected to the legislature in June of that year defeating incumbent Progressive Conservative D. Peter Forbes.