Lucien Bouchard
Lucien Bouchard, PC, GOQ ( born December 22, 1938 in Saint- Cœur -de -Marie (now part of Alma), Quebec ) is a Canadian politician, diplomat and lawyer. From 1985 to 1988 he was Canadian Ambassador to France and was then as Minister of the Environment of the progressive- conservative government of Brian Mulroney. Frustrated with the failure of a constitutional reform that would have given more rights to the Province of Québec, he left the government, founded the separatist party Bloc Québécois and was its first chairman. In 1995, he led the Yes campaign before the referendum on independence, which most nearly missed a nays share of 50.58 %. He then moved to the provincial politics and was dated 29 January 1996 to March 8, 2001 Prime Minister of Québec; during this period he was also Chairman of the Parti Québécois.
Biography
Studies and career
Bouchard studied social science and law at the Université Laval. He graduated in 1964 with a Bachelor and was admitted in the same year as a lawyer. Until 1985 he practiced his profession in Chicoutimi. From 1970 to 1976 he was president of the arbitral tribunal in education in the province of Quebec. Robert Bourassa, the Premier of Québec, sat 1974, a bipartisan commission in order to investigate the causes of violence and corruption in the construction industry, particularly in the hydropower projects in the region around the James Bay. One of the Commissioners was Brian Mulroney, Bouchard appointed as his advisor. The investigation revealed involvement of organized crime in labor unions and construction companies. Then Bouchard served as chief negotiator for the provincial government in negotiations with unions.
Diplomacy and federal policy
Throughout his political career, Bouchard argued for the independence of Quebec. In 1971 he joined the Parti Québécois. In 1980, he actively supported the first referendum on independence, which, however, failed with about 60 % opposed. In 1984, Bouchard's close friend Brian Mulroney 's new prime minister of Canada. This appointed him in July 1985 as ambassador to France. As such Bouchard also led the preparations for the second Francophonie Summit, which was held in Québec City in 1987. By March 1988, he remained as ambassador in office.
Despite its separatist stance Bouchard joined the Progressive Conservative party at ( in principle no objection to its membership of the Parti Québécois, as in Canada, the parties are separated at the federal and provincial level ). He was convinced of the Meech Lake Accord of Mulroney initiated, which provided various constitutional amendments will bring more Quebec sovereignty. He won on June 20, 1988, a by-election in the constituency of Lac -Saint -Jean and moved as a Member of Parliament to the House. In the 1988 general election that followed in November, he sat through clearly. As of December 1988, he was a Minister of the Environment to the Cabinet.
The governments of the provinces of Manitoba and Newfoundland failed to ratify the Meech Lake Accord before the agreed date. As one led by Jean Charest Commission proposed several changes to avert the failure of the Agreement, Bouchard resigned on May 21, 1990 in protest of his ministerial post and also revoked his membership in the Progressive Conservative Party. In June 1991 he founded together with like-minded House of Representatives the Bloc Québécois, which should occur at the federal level for the independence of Quebec. Bouchard became the first chairman of the new party.
The Parti Québécois supported the election campaign of the Bloc Québécois in the general election in 1993 to achieve the goal of independence can quickly Québec. Candidates of the Bloc Québécois prevailed in 54 of 75 constituencies of the province of Quebec. Although the party took exclusively in Quebec, she was so successful that it became the second strongest party in the House of Bouchard and thus could play the role of opposition leader.
Independence referendum
In September 1994, Jacques Parizeau 's new prime minister of Quebec, and promised to conduct a second referendum on the independence of Québec in a year. Bouchard, who supported this campaign from the beginning, became ill in December 1994 to necrotizing fasciitis. Only by the amputation of a leg could be saving lives. His recovery and his public appearances on crutches sparked a wave of sympathy. Bouchard took over the management of the Parizeau has been slow running campaign and gave it new impetus. The referendum was held on 30 October 1995 and ended with a very narrow defeat of the separatist provincial government: 50.58 % were against independence.
Premier of Québec
After this defeat Jacques Parizeau announced his imminent resignation. Bouchard turn gave mid January 1996 his House seat and turned on the federal policy. On 27 January, he was elected chairman of the Parti Québécois, two days later, he took over the office of the Provincial Premiers. In a by-election in the constituency Jonquière on February 19, he secured a mandate in the National Assembly of Quebec.
As Prime Minister of Québec Bouchard extent of the independence question far less importance in than its predecessor. He repeatedly stressed that he would be carried out no new referendum as long as the economic conditions have not improved significantly. This attitude brought him much criticism from hardliners within the Parti Québécois. Bouchard pursued a " zero deficit " policy and turned away from Keynesianism, who had dominated the provincial policy over the last three decades and led to a substantial deficit. Bouchard to design balanced the budget managed. He achieved mainly with savings in health care. Also controversial were his plans to reform the community structures through extensive mergers.
Retirement from politics
On 8 March 2001 Bouchard resigned as Prime Minister and party leader, became his successor Bernard Landry. He began to work in the specialized business and corporate law firm Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg again as a lawyer. He is Chairman of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and a member of boards of directors of several companies. In April 2004 he was among the founders of the Center for International Studies at the Université de Montréal. In October 2005 he published eleven co-authors of the manifesto " Pour un Québec lucide " ( For a clear- Québec ) in which the population of Quebec will be made aware of the demographic, economic and cultural challenges of the future.
Works
- Lucien Bouchard mot à mot Éditions Stanke, Montreal 1996, ISBN 2-76040-534-6.
- À visage découvert. Éditions du Boréal, Montreal 1992, ISBN 2-89052-479-5.