Stéphane Bédard

Stéphane Bédard (born 11 March 1968) is a Canadian lawyer and politician. Bédard was interim leader of the Parti Québécois from 2014 to 2015. He was the Member of the National Assembly of Quebec for the provincial riding of Chicoutimi. He was chosen as interim parliamentary leader by the PQ caucus on April 10, 2014, following the PQ government's defeat in the 2014 general election and the resignation of Pauline Marois and officially became Leader of the Opposition when the legislature resumed on April 23, 2014. He officially became acting leader of the party on June 7, 2014, when Marois' resignation took effect at Parti Québécois Council of Presidents.[1] He held the position until Pierre Karl Péladeau was elected party leader in the Parti Québécois leadership election held on May 15, 2015. He resigned from the legislature and the Parti Québécois on October 22, 2015.[2]

Stéphane Bédard
Leader of the Opposition in Quebec
In office
April 23, 2014 – May 15, 2015
Preceded byPhilippe Couillard
Succeeded byPierre Karl Péladeau
Interim Leader of the Parti Québécois
In office
June 7, 2014 – May 15, 2015
Preceded byPauline Marois
Succeeded byPierre Karl Péladeau
MNA for Chicoutimi
In office
December 15, 1998 – October 22, 2015
Preceded byJeanne Blackburn
Succeeded byMireille Jean
Personal details
Born (1968-03-11) March 11, 1968
Chicoutimi, Quebec
Political partyParti Québécois
SpouseJanick Tremblay
ProfessionLawyer

Biography

Born in Chicoutimi, Quebec, Stéphane Bédard is the son of Marc-André Bédard.[3] After studying administration at HEC Montréal (1987-1988), he received a bachelor's degree in law at the Université de Montréal in 1991 and was admitted in 1992 at the Barreau du Québec. He was a lawyer from 1992 to 1998 in Chicoutimi. He was involved in politics during this period being the President of the Parti Québécois in Chicoutimi from 1994 to 1998 and was a member of the Yes Committee for the 1995 referendum.

Bédard ran for MNA in Chicoutimi in 1998 and was elected. While he was not named in a Ministry position, he was the Parliamentary assistant to the Minister of State for Education and Youth from March 21, 2001, to December 5, 2001, Parliamentary assistant to the Minister of State for Education and Employment from December 5, 2001, to January 30, 2002, and Parliamentary assistant to the Minister of State for Administration and the Public Service and Chair of the Conseil du trésor from January 30, 2002, to April 29, 2003. He was Secretary of State for the Renewal of the Public Service from January 30, 2002, to April 29, 2003.[4]

Bédard was re-elected in 2003 but the Parti Québécois lost to the Quebec Liberal Party. He was named the Assistant Deputy Leader of the Opposition and after being re-elected for a third term in 2007, he was named the PQ's chief Whip. After the 2008, he was named the House leader of the opposition while being replaced by Pointe-aux-Trembles MNA Nicole Léger as Chief Whip of the PQ.

He was elected for a fifth term in the 2012 general election, as the Parti québécois regained power. On September 19, 2012, he became Minister responsible for Government Administration, Chair of the Conseil du trésor (Treasury Board), Government House Leader and Minister responsible for the Saguenay–Lac‑Saint-Jean region in the government of Premier Pauline Marois.[5]

Notes and references
  1. "PQ elects Stephane Bedard to interim leader post". CTV News. April 10, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  2. "Le député Stéphane Bédard quitte la vie politique après 17 ans". Radio Canada, October 22, 2015.
  3. "Bloc leader Duceppe, former PQ interim leader both resign - The Globe and Mail".
  4. Offices held
  5. Members of Cabinet
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