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PM
Background
- Born
- 12 December 1957 — Verchères
- Education
- Bachelor of Civil Law from Laval University in 1980
- Career
- Managing Partner of the Bélanger Sauvé law firm based in Montreal, Quebec; Associate Partner from 1991 to 2003; Specialized in municipal and administrative law in a private practice in Montreal for 22 years; Taught at the École du Barreau du Québec from 1996 to 2002.
- Political Experience
- Liberal member of the National Assembly of Quebec from 2003 to 2007; MNA for Marguerite-d’Youville on 14 April 2003; parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General; assistant Government House Leader; parliamentary assistant to the Chair of the Conseil du trésor and Minister responsible for Government Administration; Chief of staff for the Government House Leader in 2007 and 2008; Chief of staff for the Minister of Justice and Attorney General and the Minister of Public Security in 2008; MNA for Châteauguay in the general election held on 8 December 2008; Chief Government Whip from December 2008 up until February 2011; Minister responsible for Canadian Intergovernmental Affairs and the Canadian Francophonie from February to September 2011; Minister responsible for the Reform of Democratic Institutions and Access to Information from February to September 2011; Minister of Transports from September 2011 to September 2012; MNA for Châteauguay in the general election held on 4 September 2012; Official Opposition House Leader on 9 April 2013; Re-elected for the third consecutive time in Châteauguay on 7 April 2014; Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy and Minister responsible for the Montérégie region on 23 April 2014; Minister of Education on 28 January 2016; Appointed to the Senate in 2024; representative of the Government in the Senate since 2025.
- Notable
- Ran unsuccessfully for the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party in 2013, coming second to Philippe Couillard; Lost his National Assembly seat in the 2018 Quebec general election; Took a leave of absence on 22 February following a tumour diagnosis and returned to work on 19 January 2017.
Sponsored Bills — Current Parliament
S-6
Making Federal Laws Consistent with Quebec's Laws
S-219Senate bill awaiting first reading in the House of Commons
New Law Celebrates Judges' Freedom
S-4Senate bill awaiting first reading in the House of Commons
Law to Update Rules on Energy Saving
S-5At second reading in the House of Commons
Law to Make Health Records Shareable and Stop Tech Companies From Blocking Data
S-3At second reading in the House of Commons
Law to Update How We Measure Stuff Like Weight and Electricity
At second reading in the House of Commons
Previous Parliaments
Details
Group: Government Representative's Office
Province: Quebec
Status: Active