{{Short description|Canadian politician}} {{Use Canadian English|date=September 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = The Honourable | honorific_suffix = ECNS | image = Neil-LeBlanc.jpg <!-- only free-content images are allowed for depicting living people - see WP:NONFREE --> | image_size = 150px | name = Neil LeBlanc | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|08|08}} | birth_place = Wedgeport, Nova Scotia | death_date = | death_place = | assembly = Nova Scotia House of | constituency_AM = Argyle | term_start = November 6, 1984 | term_end = May 25, 1993 | predecessor = Hugh Tinkham | successor = Allister Surette | term_start2 = March 24, 1998 | term_end2 = August 5, 2003 | predecessor2 = Allister Surette | successor2 = Chris d'Entremont | office3 = Minister of Finance | term_start3 = August 16, 1999 | term_end3 = August 5, 2003 | predecessor3 = Don Downe | successor3 = Peter G. Christie | party = Progressive Conservative | spouse = Grace LeBlanc | occupation = Owner of fish and lobster wholesale company }}
'''Neil J. LeBlanc''' (born August 8, 1956) is a former politician in Nova Scotia, Canada.
==Early life and education== He was born in Wedgeport, Nova Scotia to Gladys (Bourque) and Alfred LeBlanc. He graduated from Saint Mary’s University and then for the chartered accounting firm of Peat, Marwick and Mitchell (now KPMG).
==Political career== He entered politics in 1984, when he was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly as a Progressive Conservative for the riding of Argyle. LeBlanc after his second election victory in 1988, was named Solicitor General, becoming one of Nova Scotia’s youngest Cabinet Ministers.
In the 1990s, LeBlanc also served as Minister responsible for the Nova Scotia Sport and Recreation Commission and Minister of Government Services.
He lost his seat during the Liberal sweep of 1993,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?1993/05/26+107.raw+PE93Elect|title=Liberal sweep claims cabinet ministers|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=May 26, 1993|accessdate=September 29, 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000830230443/http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?1993%2F05%2F26+107.raw+PE93Elect|archivedate=August 30, 2000|url-status=dead}}</ref> and returned home to establish N. LeBlanc Enterprises Ltd., a fish and lobster wholesale company.
LeBlanc made a successful return to politics in the 1998 election, winning back the seat he lost, five years earlier. Following the election, he was named as the Progressive Conservative House Leader.
He was re-elected in the 1999 election, that saw the Progressive Conservatives under John Hamm form a majority government. He was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia as Minister of Finance, Minister of Business and Consumer Services, as well as Minister of Acadian Affairs.<ref>[https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=19990813002 John Hamm Names New Cabinet] Province of Nova Scotia</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?1999/08/14+200.raw+PE99Aug14+2|title=Hamm shrinks cabinet|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=August 14, 1999|accessdate=November 24, 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050124064704/http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?1999%2F08%2F14+200.raw+PE99Aug14+2|archivedate=January 24, 2005|url-status=dead}}</ref> Along with his cabinet duties, he was also named the minister responsible for Nova Scotia Resources Ltd., Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation, Halifax/Dartmouth Bridge Commission; and President de l’Association des Parlementaire Francais.
In 2002, LeBlanc introduced Nova Scotia’s first balanced budget in 40 years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/n-s-forecasts-first-budget-surplus-in-40-years-1.327588|title=N.S. forecasts first budget surplus in 40 years|publisher=CBC.ca|accessdate=March 18, 2014|date=April 4, 2002}}</ref>
In 2003, LeBlanc retired after 14 years as an MLA and eight and a half years as a cabinet minister, to return to Wedgeport to spend more time with his family and to briefly assume duties as Chief Administrative Officer of the Municipality of the District of Argyle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/stories/2003/01/16/f232.raw.html|title=LeBlanc, Holm, MacEwan leaving politics|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=January 16, 2003|accessdate=November 24, 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20031107014736/http://www.herald.ns.ca/stories/2003/01/16/f232.raw.html|archivedate=November 7, 2003}}</ref>
==Leadership candidacy== In 2005, LeBlanc announced his candidacy for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/leblanc-enters-tory-leadership-race-1.556777|title=LeBlanc enters Tory leadership race|publisher=CBC News|date=October 28, 2005|accessdate=March 18, 2014}}</ref> Originally considered a front-runner, LeBlanc finished last on the first ballot, 59 votes behind the leader, Rodney MacDonald, and 12 behind second place finisher, Bill Black.<ref>{{cite web|first=Takuya|last=Sogawa|url=http://older.kingsjournalism.com/nnn/nova_news_3588_8113.html|title=After tight race, Tories will unite under new leader: delegates|publisher=Nova News Net|date=February 13, 2006|accessdate=March 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713152353/http://older.kingsjournalism.com/nnn/nova_news_3588_8113.html#|archive-date=2011-07-13|url-status=dead}}</ref> Dropped from the second ballot, LeBlanc endorsed MacDonald, who defeated Black on the decisive ballot.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/n-s-tories-pick-youthful-leader-1.612338|title=N.S. Tories pick youthful leader|publisher=CBC News|accessdate=March 18, 2014|date=February 11, 2006}}</ref>
==After politics== On July 13, 2006, LeBlanc was named as Consul General to Boston replacing Stan Keyes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/former-tory-minister-turns-diplomat-1.581922|title=Former Tory minister turns diplomat|publisher=CBC.ca|accessdate=March 18, 2014|date=July 13, 2006}}</ref>
Following the Progressive Conservative defeat to the New Democratic Party in the 2009 election and the subsequent resignation of Progressive Conservative leader Rodney MacDonald, LeBlanc was touted as a possible contender to replace MacDonald.<ref>LeBlanc possible PC leader. The Chronicle Herald</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leblanc, Neil}} Category:1956 births Category:Consuls for Canada Category:Canadian people of Acadian descent Category:Living people Category:Members of the Executive Council of Nova Scotia Category:People from Yarmouth County Category:Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia MLAs Category:Canadian city managers and chief administrative officers Category:20th-century members of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly Category:Ministers of finance of Nova Scotia Category:21st-century members of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly Category:Saint Mary's University (Halifax) alumni