Rhéal Ernest Richard (May 1, 1922 – September 25, 2006) was a Canadian businessman and politician in the Province of New Brunswick.

From 1948 to 1957, Ernest Richard served as a Shippagan town councillor and as Mayor from March 1957 to October 1960.

In 1948, Richard also entered provincial politics and was elected by acclamation to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick as the Liberal Party member for Gloucester County.

In 1960 he was made Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, serving until 1963 when Premier Louis Robichaud appointed him to his Cabinet as the Province's first ever Minister of Fisheries.

Ernest Richard was involved in a number of community projects and received the Medal of Merit in 1975 for his many years of service to the Canadian Red Cross.