Christian Ouellet

Christian Ouellet (April 22, 1934 – December 21, 2021) was a Canadian politician from the province of Quebec. He represented Brome—Missisquoi in the House of Commons of Canada from 2006 to 2011 as a member of the Bloc Québécois.

Christian Ouellet
Member of the House of Commons of Canada for Brome—Missisquoi
In office
January 23, 2006 – May 2, 2011
Preceded byDenis Paradis
Succeeded byPierre Jacob
Personal details
Born(1934-04-22)April 22, 1934
Montreal, Quebec
DiedDecember 21, 2021(2021-12-21) (aged 87)
Political partyBloc Québécois
SpouseEstelle Côté
ResidenceMagog, Quebec
Professionarchitect/professor

He is not to be confused with another Christian Ouellet, who has worked as an organizer and policy strategist for the Quebec Liberal Party.[1]

Early life and career

Ouellet was born in Montreal on April 22, 1934. An architect by profession, he joined the Ordre des architectes du Québec in 1969 and took a Master's Degree in building from the University of Manchester in England (1972–75).[2] He has promoted ecological housing since 1973 and was a finalist for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's Healthy Housing Design Competition in 1991.[3]

Ouellet chaired the Solar Energy Society of Canada and the Parti Québécois's national committee on Environment and Sustainable Development.[4] He taught architecture at the Université de Montréal and lectured at the Université du Québec à Montréal.[5]

Political career

Ouellet was active with the Bloc Québécois and its provincial counterpart, the Parti Québécois, before running for office himself.[6] He first sought election to the House of Commons in the 2004 federal election and finished a close second against incumbent Liberal cabinet minister Denis Paradis in Brome—Missisquoi. He challenged Paradis again in the 2006 election and won by over five thousand votes.[7]

During the 2006 election, Ouellet said that he would downplay Quebec sovereigntism if elected and would instead focus on tackling economic issues and opposing corruption. Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe criticized this statement, saying that his party would promote sovereignty as well as defending Quebec's interests in other areas.[8] After talking with Duceppe, Ouellet agreed to support the Bloc's full platform on sovereignty.

Ouellet was re-elected in the 2008 federal election, defeating Paradis by a reduced margin in a rematch from 2006.

In parliament, Ouellet served as the Bloc's critic for social housing and as an associate critic for natural resources and the environment.[9] He has also promoted increased Via Rail access from Montreal to Sherbrooke via Quebec's Estrie.[10] In 2009, he introduced a Private Member's Bill to remove waiting times for Employment Insurance benefits.[11]

Ouellet was one of eight Canadian parliamentarians to meet with Chen Shui-bian, the president of Taiwan, in 2006.[12]

On February 24, 2011, the Bloc announced that Ouellet would not be a candidate in the next federal election.[13]

Personal life and death

Ouellet died on December 21, 2021, at the age of 87.[14]

Electoral record
2008 Canadian federal election: Brome—Missisquoi
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
Bloc QuébécoisChristian Ouellet17,56135.21−3.12$75,915
LiberalDenis Paradis16,35732.79+4.82$66,462
ConservativeMark Quinlan9,30918.66−1.69$78,614
New DemocraticChristelle Bogosta4,5149.05+3.20$4,678
GreenPierre Brassard1,7843.58+0.03$126
IndependentDavid Marler3540.71$16,915
Total valid votes 49,879 100.00
Total rejected ballots 531
Turnout 50,410 65.78 −0.46
Electors on the lists 76,636
2006 Canadian federal election: Brome—Missisquoi
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
Bloc QuébécoisChristian Ouellet18,59638.33−1.33$66,782
LiberalDenis Paradis13,56927.97−14.11$58,420
ConservativeDavid Marler9,87420.35+9.30$69,104
New DemocraticJosianne Jetté2,8395.85+3.19$2,722
Progressive CanadianHeward Grafftey1,9213.96$60,081
GreenMichel Champagne1,7213.55−1.00$2,460
Total valid votes 48,520 100.00
Total rejected ballots 554
Turnout 49,074 66.24 +3.61
Electors on the lists 74,088
Sources: Official Results, Elections Canada and Financial Returns, Elections Canada.
2004 Canadian federal election: Brome—Missisquoi
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalDenis Paradis18,60942.08−7.50$56,708
Bloc QuébécoisChristian Ouellet17,53739.66+7.93$29,014
ConservativePeter Stastny4,88811.05−6.50$14,318
GreenLouise Martineau2,0114.55none listed
New DemocraticPiper Huggins1,1772.66$5
Total valid votes 44,222 100.00
Total rejected ballots 790
Turnout 45,012 62.63
Electors on the lists 71,866
Percentage change figures are factored for redistribution. Conservative Party percentages are contrasted with the combined Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative percentages from 2000.
Sources: Official Results, Elections Canada and Financial Returns, Elections Canada.

References
  1. The other Christian Ouellet presented the Liberal Party's submission to the Bouchard-Taylor Commission on reasonable accommodation practices in Quebec. See Amy Luft, "Quebec Liberals chart middle course on reasonable accommodation," 'Montreal Gazette, 10 December 2007, A11.
  2. Christian Ouellet Archived 2010-11-03 at the Wayback Machine, Bloc Québécois, accessed 17 November 2010.
  3. "FINALISTS SELECTED IN CMHC HEALTHY HOUSING DESIGN COMPETITION" [press release], 19 November 1991, 12:54.
  4. "What's New," Canadian Architect, 1 March 2010.
  5. Miro Cernetig, "Harper heads for the hills of Martin country in Quebec," Toronto Star, 18 June 2004, A07.
  6. Christian Ouellet Archived 2010-11-03 at the Wayback Machine, Bloc Québécois, accessed 17 November 2010.
  7. The seat was heavily targeted by the Bloc during the latter campaign. See Philip Authier, "Gnome from Brome fights on: Clouds tight race," Montreal Gazette, 9 January 2006, A11.
  8. Rhéal Séguin, "Duceppe chastises Bloc candidate," Globe and Mail, 8 December 2005, A11.
  9. Christian Ouellet Archived 2010-11-03 at the Wayback Machine, Bloc Québécois, accessed 17 November 2010.
  10. Andy Riga, "Railways studying train to Sherbrooke," Montreal Gazette, 27 February 2008, A1; "'That's the beauty of being in power,'" Montreal Gazette, 7 October 2008, A12.
  11. "Rare speaker's vote gives EI bill second reading," Canadian Press, 29 April 2009, 16:06.
  12. "TAIWAN: PRESIDENT CHEN MEETS WITH MEMBERS OF CANADIAN PARLIAMENT," US Fed News, 30 August 2006.
  13. Le Bloc québécois annoncera un candidat surprise dans Brome-Missisquoi, La Presse, February 24, 2011
  14. L'ancien député bloquiste Christian Ouellet est décédé (in French)
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