affordable, secure, clean energy future, but to also maximize the business and job growth potential of further developing our region's clean and renewable energy industries," said Valcourt in a release. On February 22, 2013, Valcourt became Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development in a cabinet shuffle. Valcourt stirred controversy when he claimed that the high rates of suicide among aboriginal youths were "the responsibility of their parents". In the 2015 federal election, Valcourt was defeated by Liberal René Arseneault, finishing third with just over 16% of the vote. Electoral record |- |Pierrette Ringuette |align="right"|16,058 |align="right"|48.8 |align="right"|+5.0 |- |Bernard Valcourt |align="right"|15,045 |align="right"|45.7 |align="right"|−2.5 |- |- |Parise Martin |align="right"|844 |align="right"|2.6 |align="right"|−5.4 |- bgcolor="white" !align="left" colspan=3|Total !align="right"|32,902 !align="right"| !align="right"| |- |Bernard Valcourt |align="right"|14,747 |align="right"|48.2 |align="right"|−3.7 |- |Romeo Rossignol |align="right"|13,385 |align="right"|43.8 |align="right"|+1.9 |- |Réal Couturier |align="right"|2,441 |align="right"|8.0 |align="right"|+1.8 |- bgcolor="white" !align="left" colspan=3|Total !align="right"|30,573 !align="right"| !align="right"| |- |Bernard Valcourt |align="right"|16,411 |align="right"|51.9 |align="right"|+29.0 |- |Gerald Clavette |align="right"|13,245 |align="right"|41.9 |align="right"|−23.9 |- |Floranne McLaughlin-St-Amand |align="right"|1,968 |align="right"|6.2 |align="right"|−5.1 |- bgcolor="white" !align="left" colspan=3|Total !align="right"|31,624 !align="right"| !align="right"| References External links Bernard Valcourt official site 1952 births Living people Members of the House of Commons of Canada from New Brunswick Progressive Conservative Party of Canada MPs Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick MLAs Lawyers in New Brunswick Members of the King's Privy Council for Canada Leaders of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick People from Edmundston People from Restigouche County, New Brunswick Conservative Party of Canada MPs Members of the 24th Canadian Ministry Members of the 25th Canadian Ministry Members of the 28th Canadian Ministry Ministers of Labour of Canada