Stéphane Dion

Stéphane Dion, PC ( born September 28, 1955 in Quebec ) is a Canadian politician, sociologist and author. After an academic career Dion went into politics. Since 1996 he has been a deputy in the lower house, representing the electoral district of Saint- Laurent- Cartierville in the city of Montreal. Under the Liberal Prime Ministers Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin, he was Minister for relations with the provincial governments and environment ministers. From 2006 to 2008 he was Chairman of the Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition; but not succeeded to replace the Conservative minority government.

Study and academic career

He is the second oldest of five children, the political scientist Léon Dion and the French-born real estate agent Denyse Dion ( born Kormann ). Stéphane Dion grew up in Quebec City. At the University of Laval, he studied political science at the Faculty co-founded by his father. 1977 and 1979, he received a BA and MA degrees. His dissertation was an analysis of campaign strategies of the Parti Québécois ( as a student he had the separatist movement supported).

Then Dion lived together with his future wife Jeanine Krieber four years in Paris. He studied sociology at the Académie des sciences morales et politiques and at the Institut d' études politiques de Paris. After a short stint as an assistant at the University of Moncton, he was appointed in 1984 as assistant professor at the University of Montreal. He taught there until January 1996, where he specialized in organizational analysis and theory of public administration. 1990/91 he was a visiting professor at the Brookings Institution.

In April 1986 he married Janine Krieber; In the same year the couple traveled to Peru, where they adopted their only daughter, Jeanne. Between 1987 and 1995, Dion published several books and articles on political issues, public administration and management. Dion was in 1994/95 Visiting Professor in the Laboratoire d' économie publique de Paris 1990-1993 Editor of the Canadian Journal of Political Science.

MP and Minister

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien was in view of forthcoming elections in search of profiled candidates for his cabinet. On January 25, 1996, he appointed Dion minister for relations between the federal and provincial governments. Exactly one month later, Dion was elected without difficulty in the constituency of Saint- Laurent- Cartierville. In the 1997 General Election, 2000, 2004 and 2006, he succeeded each re-election.

Dion remained until Chrétien's resignation on 12 December 2003 in office. When Paul Martin took over the government, he dismissed Dion, as Chrétien's cabinet was discredited because of a corruption scandal, and he wanted to distance himself from the former ministers. The Liberal Party suffered losses, especially in Quebec at the general election in 2004 and was only able to form a minority government. Thus, this province was represented in spite of everything in government, Dion was appointed on 20 July 2004 Minister of the Environment.

Party Chairman and Leader of the Opposition

After the Liberals had lost the elections in 2006 and passed the responsibility of government to the Conservatives, Dion was forced to resign on February 12, 2006 as a minister. Paul Martin gave the party presidency and Dion presented himself as a candidate to replace him. At the party congress on December 6, 2006, he reached in the first and second round only the third best result. However, he could let Bob Rae and Michael Ignatieff behind and was eventually elected rather surprisingly in fourth ballot.

In the early elections in October 2008, it was not possible the Liberals to replace the Conservative Party of Prime Minister Stephen Harper as the strongest party. The stalemate persisted; the Liberals again lost seats, while the Conservatives once again failed to win a majority. Dion subsequently announced that he would resign as party leader as soon as the Delegate Assembly have appointed a successor; as an appointment in May 2009 was provided.

Harper continued his minority government, but saw it after a few weeks because of the financial crisis of massive criticism of his economic policy exposed. The opposition parties announced a vote of no confidence against Harper for 8 December 2008. If successful, the Liberals and the New Democrats have formed with toleration of the Bloc Québécois form a coalition government with Dion as interim prime minister. Harper then requested at Governor General Michaëlle Jean to suspend the parliamentary work until end of January 2009, four days before the planned vote of no confidence, she took Harper on request. On 10 December 2008 Dion resigned much earlier than expected, the parliamentary faction specific Michael Ignatieff as interim chairman.