René Arseneault

Originally from Balmoral, René was born into a family that instilled in him a sense of responsibility and social justice from an early age. After obtaining a law degree from the University of Moncton, he co-founded the law firm Arsenault & Pelletier in 1996 with his wife, Michèle, who also shares a passion for law and delivering  practical results for clients. Bilingual (French and English), René practiced business and insurance law, appearing before the Court of King’s Bench of New Brunswick and the New Brunswick Court of Appeal.

In 2015, René made the leap into federal politics. He was elected to represent the riding of Madawaska-Restigouche in the House of Commons. On the eve of the 2025 election, René stepped down to resume his legal career and be closer to his family in New Brunswick.

René held several roles as a parliamentarian. He was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Official Languages). He co-chaired the Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying, chaired the Standing Committee on Official Languages, and served as a member of the Committee on Industry, Science and Technology, the Committee on Public Safety and National Security, and the Standing Committee on Public Accounts. René was a member of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, the Canada-France Inter-parliamentary Association, and the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association.

René submitted numerous reports to Parliament and took several actions aimed at advancing the rights of official language minority communities. He played a crucial role in ensuring that the children of rights holders under section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms were accounted for. René also worked tirelessly to modernize the Official Languages Act, made possible in part due to the parliamentary consensus he helped to build. René distinguished himself as a parliamentarian through his rigour, strategic thinking, and ability to tackle complex issues with creativity and conviction.

With a strong sense of initiative, René joins the Power Law team to continue defending the principles of fairness and justice that guided him throughout his career.

René can also be reached by contacting:Darius Bossé
506-268-3280
dbosse@powerlaw.ca