Dennis H. Cochrane, CM (born 26 October 1950 in Moncton, New Brunswick) is a Canadian politician and civil servant.
Though his party won only three seats, it gained others later through by-elections and seemed poised to win, at least, official opposition status in the coming election.
The opposition Confederation of Regions Party was suffering internal strife and a number of its members chose to sit as independents.
Cochrane invited them to join the PC caucus; however, they declined and one of the Acadian members quit in protest.
He resigned at the end of 2009 when he accepted a position as Interim President and Vice Chancellor of St. Thomas University (New Brunswick) effective January 2010, replacing outgoing Michael W. Higgins.