Rhéal Éloi Fortin
Based on publicly available information — may contain inaccuracies
Business & Financial Interests
Before entering federal politics, Rhéal Éloi Fortin had a career in law. He was reportedly a co-founder and partner at the law firm Fortin, D'Amour, Goyette, located in Saint-Sauveur, Quebec. His professional background is in civil, commercial, and family law.
Key Relationships & Connections
Rhéal Éloi Fortin served as the interim leader of the Bloc Québécois from 2015 to 2017, following the resignation of Gilles Duceppe. In 2018, he became a key figure in a group of seven MPs who left the Bloc caucus due to disagreements with then-leader Martine Ouellet. This group, which included MPs like Louis Plamondon and Luc Thériault, formed a separate parliamentary group called Québec Debout before eventually rejoining the Bloc caucus after Ouellet's departure.
Public Controversies
The most significant public controversy involving Rhéal Éloi Fortin was the 2018 Bloc Québécois leadership crisis. He was one of seven out of ten Bloc MPs who resigned from the party's caucus, citing disagreements with the leadership approach of Martine Ouellet, which they felt was overly focused on Quebec sovereignty at the expense of other federal issues. The MPs sat as independents under the banner of Québec Debout for several months. The situation caused a major internal crisis for the party. Following a leadership review where Martine Ouellet failed to secure sufficient support, she resigned. Subsequently, Fortin and five of the other dissenting MPs rejoined the Bloc Québécois caucus in September 2018.
Where Rhéal Éloi falls on key policy spectrums
Your Money
People & Society
How We're Governed
Land & Community
Rhéal Fortin won with 25,438 votes (43.8%)
Total votes cast: 58,018
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Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chairperson of the advisory committee, Minister and Mr. Giroux, thank you for being with us this morning. I'll tell you right now that, after everything I've read about Justice Joyal, I probably would have made the same choice in your place. I am therefore not opposed to his appointment, at least not as we speak. That said, some questions come to mind in terms of
I'm going to interrupt you, because I have about 30 seconds left. I'm sorry, Ms. McTeer. I'm being really rude, but I have no choice. Minister, you were in Parliament when, at one point, we discussed the problem related to what your party called the Liberalist, a list of people who had previously contributed to the Liberal Party or who had worked for the Liberal Party during elections, in
Thank you, Madam Chair. Here we are at the next time. There's one thing I want to explore with you. We understand that this is currently the seventh process since the 2016 reform. Furthermore, we understand that the process means that the Prime Minister ultimately makes pretty much all the decisions. I don't mean to be grossly partisan. He will appoint people to the advisory board or ask the
I have no doubt about that. Thank you.
Thank you. Ms. McTeer, as part of the selection process, I understand that you did what was asked, which was to do proactive outreach in the legal community. Did you approach the governments of the provinces concerned to get their opinion on the applications or to elicit applications?
Thank you, Mr. Giroux. I apologize for rushing you, but, like earlier, we are in a time crunch. I have just over a minute left. Minister, did some provinces or governments object to certain candidates, or were all the candidates suitable from the outset?
When you say that it was to get feedback, does that mean that you submitted names and asked for a reaction, or rather that you asked the provinces to give you suggestions? What was your process?
Do you think that should be done?
It's always put off until the next time. I'm used to it, Minister. Thank you.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Prime Minister Minister, as I was saying earlier, we saw that the choice of candidate ultimately rests with the, who will also appoint the members of the advisory board. It seems that the process happens behind closed doors. However, as our colleague Mr. Maloney said earlier, I agree on the importance of the credibility of the justice system. It is important for people
With the few seconds I have left, I want to turn to Ms. McTeer, if I may. Ms. McTeer, regarding the report you were talking about earlier, do you have an idea of when it should be released?
If I understand correctly, you did not ask to be sent a list of characteristics or names. That is not something that was done.
I appreciate your answer, because it helps me understand, but what I would especially like to know is whether you consulted the provinces to ask them what they think the essential criteria are for a province to be well represented on the Supreme Court. Was that kind of approach taken? Were the provinces asked to submit candidates that they thought would be appropriate for the Supreme Court? Was