Frank McKenna
Hall of Fame Inductee 1996
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of Fame
Frank McKenna, Premier of New Brunswick since 1987, has championed
the development and application of information technologies that have
helped build New Brunswick's economy and improved the delivery of government
services. It has been his vision to realize that, as the world moves
into the Information Age, New Brunswick's road to self-sufficiency is
paved in fibre.
Since taking office, McKenna has been the most important salesperson
for New Brunswick's technological advantages. Several years ago, for
example, the province teamed up with NBTel in a strategic partnership
that made it the first jurisdiction in North America to have a fully
digitized telephone network linking homes and businesses. On the strength
of that network, New Brunswick has become known as the continent's call
centre capital, attracting more than 30 call centres employing more
than 5,000 people. Several next-generation call centres, called remote
development centres, have also announced plans to set up in New Brunswick.
In 1993, McKenna established a task force on technology that resulted
in New Brunswick becoming the first jurisdiction in North America, and
possibly the world, to set up an Information Highway Secretariat headed
by its own minister. Its mandate is to make the province the most technologically
friendly society in the world.
McKenna has received numerous awards. In 1993, the Economic Developers'
Association of Canada named him Economic Developer of the Year. The
Canadian Advanced Technology Association (CATA) gave him its award of
distinction for public sector leadership in the development and application
of advanced technology in Canada, as well as the CATA Iway Award for
Government Services in May, 1996. He has also received the Canadian
Association of Universities Continuing Education Award of Recognition
and several honorary doctorates.
McKenna was born in Apohaqui, N.B., in 1948. He holds a bachelor of
arts from St. Francis Xavier University and a law degree from the University
of New Brunswick. He was first elected to the provincial legislature
in 1982 and was chosen leader of the Liberal Party of New Brunswick
in 1985. His party won every seat in the election of 1987, and has been
re-elected twice. |