Fernand Roberge

Fernard Roberge (born July 19, 1940) is a hotelier and former Canadian Senator.

The Honourable
Fernand Roberge
Senator from Quebec
(Saurel)
In office
1993–2000
Preceded byFernand Leblanc
Succeeded byJean Lapointe
Personal details
Born (1940-07-19) July 19, 1940
Laurierville, Quebec, Canada
Political partyProgressive Conservative
Professionhotelier

In 1977, Roberge became the first French Canadian to be chief executive officer of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Montreal and held the post for over 12 years. He was also part-owner of the hotel until selling his interest in 1991 to the Rolaco Group of New York.[1]

He was appointed to the upper house by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney in May 1993, a month before the Progressive Conservative leader retired from office. Mulroney and Roberge were long time friends.[2] Mulroney had previously appointed Roberge to the board of Air Canada in 1985.[3]

Roberge had been one of the members of the "Ritz Gang" which helped Mulroney plot the downfall of then-Progressive Conservative leader Joe Clark in 1983 precipitating the 1983 Progressive Conservative leadership convention won by Mulroney.[4]

In the lead up to the 1984 federal election, Roberge was a member of the Progressive Conservative party's candidate selection committee for Quebec.[5] After the election, he was appointed chairman of the Mulroney government's patronage advisory committee for Quebec.[6]

Shortly before the 1993 Progressive Conservative leadership convention, Roberge endorsed Kim Campbell for leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada.[7]

In 1998, Roberge was named one of the 10 senators with the worst attendance record in the chamber.[8] He resigned from the body in July 2000 at the age of 60 in order to spend more time on his business affairs[9] saying in the statement that, "I want to concentrate all my energies on various business projects and this involvement becomes increasingly incompatible with Senate duties in Ottawa."[10]

In 2007, he was appointed chairman of the Ritz-Carlton advisory committee.[11]

Since the early 1990s Roberge has also President and Chief Executive Officer of Stratcorp Inc., a management consulting society where he assists with special projects involving international strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions and is a special advisor to the firm of Jones Lang LaSalle.[12]

References
  1. "Ritz-Carlton gets a makeover; $100-million project. New wing, penthouse are in the works", The Gazette, September 19, 2007
  2. "Appointment flurry ends Mulroney term Canadian Press", Canadian Press, Winnipeg Free Press, June 24, 1993
  3. "Additions to the Red Chamber's roster", Globe and Mail, June 11, 1993
  4. "Conservative fund raiser named to Senate", Globe and Mail, June 11, 1993
  5. "Mulroney friends 25-year-old network forged win" by Graham Fraser, Globe and Mail, September 7, 1984
  6. "REWARDS So long, Over the past six months, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney has made more than 500 appointments of sundry friends and supporters. Herewith, a guide to the patronage game and thank you very much" by Stevie Cameron, Globe and Mail, June 5, 1993
  7. "CAUCUS SUPPORT CONTINUES TO GROW", Canada NewsWire, June 2, 1993
  8. "Senate records", Toronto Star, February 11, 1998
  9. http://fr.canoe.ca/archives/lcn/infos/national/2000/07/20000720-213856.html
  10. "Mr. Fernand Roberge resigns from the Senate", Canada NewsWire, July 20, 2000
  11. "Aging grande dame gets a facelift", Globe and Mail, January 21, 2008
  12. "Appointment Notices - Jones Lang LaSalle", Globe and Mail, June 7, 2007
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