Keith Ashfield
1952 - 2018
Keith Ashfield
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Keith Ashfield, PC, former Member of Parliament for Fredericton, died unexpectedly at his home in Lincoln, NB on Sunday April 22. He was 66 years of age. Left to mourn are his wife Judy (Morton), daughter Tara (Bruce Ellingwood), and son Seth (Isabelle Rock). He is also survived by his mother Nora Ashfield-Locke of Grand Manan, and was predeceased by his father John (Jack) Ashfield, infant son Joel, and step-father Brenton Locke.

Keith is survived by his brother Allan (Dianne Fleet); by sisters Marion (Bruce Fletcher) and Diane McLaughlin; by sisters-in-law Diane (Danny) Scott, Wendy (Rick) Palmer; brothers-in-law Tom (Sherry) Morton, Fred (Sherry) Morton, and Rick Morton. He was predeceased by in-laws Morris and Jean Morton and Phillip Morton. He will be sadly missed by a great number of nieces, nephews, grandchildren, loving friends, colleagues, neighbors, and acquaintances.

Born in North Tay, NB, Keith grew up in several parts of the province as his father worked on successive construction projects. Following his father’s accidental death, Keith settled with friends of the family in Lincoln and attended Oromocto High School, graduating in 1970. He briefly attended UNB, then entered the private sector at Auto Machinery Ltd., where he began as a stockroom clerk and rose to become Vice-President and General Manager.

Keith and Judy married in 1972; Tara was born in 1974, and Seth in 1980.

Keith first became politically involved in the early 1980’s when he was elected to the then-District 17 School Board. He became a member of the New Brunswick School Trustees Association, and later served on the Canadian School Trustees Association.

He first ran in a provincial general election in 1991 as Progressive Conservative candidate in the then-Sunbury riding, and lost. In 1999 he tried again, and this time won his seat as Member of the Legislative Assembly for the riding of New Maryland. He was appointed Deputy Speaker of the Legislature. He was re-elected in 2003, and was appointed to the provincial Cabinet as Minister of Natural Resources by Premier Bernard Lord. He won election for a third time in 2006, and served as a member of the Opposition until 2008.

In 2008 Keith made the transition to federal politics and won the general election that year as Conservative Member of Parliament for Fredericton. He was appointed Minister of State for ACOA, and later Minister of National Revenue, by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He was re-elected in 2011, and was named Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Regional Minister for New Brunswick.

Keith suffered a heart attack in September 2012, and underwent major bypass surgery soon after. In 2013 he was diagnosed with cancer, and chose to relinquish his Cabinet responsibilities. Recovering from his illness, he ran for re-election in 2015, but was defeated in the Liberal wave that year.

Keith was defined by the work he did, and was seldom idle. To find him without a saw or hammer or paintbrush or government briefing memo in his hand was a rare thing. The only place he found genuine rest and relaxation was at the much-loved and often-renovated family camp on Maquapit Lake, where Keith and Judy spent each summer, visited by multitudes of guests, acquaintances, and relations. Many people are smiling as they read this and recall good times at the lake with Keith and Judy.

Finding retirement not to his liking, and wanting to continue in public service, Keith decided to run again in the provincial election scheduled for September 2018. Earlier this month he accepted the nomination as PC candidate for Oromocto-Fredericton-Lincoln, and was actively organizing his election campaign team in the days before his death.

New Brunswick and Fredericton are the poorer for Keith’s passing. Keith’s political philosophy is neatly encapsulated in a quote from Martha Gellhorn: "People will say with pride: "I’m not interested in politics." They might just as well say, "I’m not interested in my standard of living, my health, my job, my rights, my freedoms, my future or any future". Political discourse in the province will suffer the loss of his common-sense approach to issues, his forceful argument, his shrewd political judgement, and his booming laugh.

Cremation will take place. The family will receive friends at the Fredericton Inn, Main Ballroom on May 6th, 2018 from 1-4 PM.

Bishop’s Funeral Home, Fredericton (458-1885) have been entrusted with the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Fredericton Hospice House, or a charity of the donor’s choice. Online condolences and the sharing of memories may be sent through www.bishopsfuneralhome.com

 

             

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Keith Ashfield