14 Facts About Michael Malley

Michael "Tanker" Malley was born on July 8,1962 and is a former Canadian politician in New Brunswick, Canada.

Michael Malley represented the riding of Miramichi-Bay du Vin in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1999 to 2006 and served as Speaker of the Assembly for part of 2006.

Michael Malley was named whip, a position of expanded importance in a legislature with such close numbers.

Michael Malley was widely called upon by leaders in his community to leave the government in 2004 if the Lord government did not back away from rumoured health care cuts in the region.

On February 17,2006, shortly after a cabinet shuffle, Michael Malley announced he would leave the Conservative caucus to sit as an independent.

Michael Malley expressed disappointment in the government's overall direction and in his not being included in cabinet despite being the only representative of Miramichi in the Conservative caucus.

Premier Bernard Lord alleged Michael Malley had less savory motives for leaving Lord's governing Conservative party.

Lord alleged at a news conference that Michael Malley made five specific demands in exchange for staying with the Conservatives, including: more money for his constituency office, more help for the Miramichi's troubled paper mill and the appointment of a friend as his special assistant.

Lord further alleged that Michael Malley demanded he immediately appoint Fredericton lawyer Cleveland Allaby, who Lord called a "good friend" of Mr Michael Malley's, as provincial court judge in the Miramichi.

When Michael Malley announced he was leaving the Conservatives, he stated that he would use his new position of influence to support legislation that helps the poor people of New Brunswick and residents of the Miramichi region.

On March 28,2006, Michael Malley was acclaimed as Speaker of the Legislature after Tony Huntjens, the nominee of Bernard Lord, withdrew his name.

Graham said Michael Malley was making the legislature the "laughing stock" of the Commonwealth because of the unusual and unprecedented move of a, by definition, non-partisan Speaker announcing from his chair his change in partisan affiliation.

Michael Malley refused to comment to the media on this situation.

Michael Malley was soundly defeated, trailing his opponent by better than 20 percentage points in the popular vote.