Jean-Marc Fournier
| Jean-Marc Fournier | |
|---|---|
Saint-Laurent MNA and interim leader Jean-Marc Fournier at the Quebec Liberal Party leadership convention.
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| Leader of the Official Opposition in Quebec | |
| In office September 19, 2012 – December 18, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Pauline Marois |
| Succeeded by | Philippe Couillard |
| MNA for Saint-Laurent | |
| Assumed office September 13, 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Jacques Dupuis |
| MNA for Châteauguay | |
| In office September 12, 1994 – November 5, 2008 |
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| Preceded by | Pierrette Cardinal |
| Succeeded by | Pierre Moreau |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 7, 1959 Châteauguay, Quebec |
| Political party | Quebec Liberal Party |
| Spouse(s) | Maryse Legault |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Jean-Marc Fournier (born October 7, 1959) is a Quebec politician and a lawyer. He was the interim leader of the Quebec Liberal Party from 2012 to 2013.
He currently represents the riding of Saint-Laurent in the National Assembly, and previously represented the riding of Châteauguay from 1994 to 2008. He served as the Minister of Revenue, Government House Leader, Minister of Education, Minister of Municipal Affairs, and Attorney General in the Government of Jean Charest.
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Early career
Fournier was born in Châteauguay, Quebec. He studied at the Université de Montréal and obtained a law degree and later a master's degree in public law. He was admitted to the Barreau du Québec in 1982. He was a lawyer for nearly ten years. He later worked at the offices of the Ministry of Governmental Affairs, Employment and Justice.
He was also a radio host at community radio station CHAI-FM and was an organizer of the 1986 Quebec Winter Games. He was also the president of the Chateauguay Chamber of Commerce and was named Outstanding Citizen in 1987 by the city.
Prior to his entry in provincial politics, Fournier was the defeated candidate of the Liberal Party of Canada in Châteauguay in 1988 and was also involved in the leadership campaign of Paul Martin for Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada in which Jean Chrétien eventually won.
Quebec National Assembly
Fournier won the 1994 elections and was subsequently re-elected in the 1998, 2003 and 2007 elections. Before the Quebec Liberal Party took power in the 2003 election, Fournier at various moments served as the chief whip of the official opposition, critic for Canadian intergovernmental affairs, as well as critic for health.
After his 2003 re-election, he was named the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Sports and Recreation and from 2005 to 2007, he was the Minister of Education, Leisure and Sports for Quebec, Canada. Fournier replaced Pierre Reid in the midst of the 2005 Quebec student protests in which over 200 000 college and university students protested the Liberals cuts in bursary funds in the 2004 budget. Fournier and the students groups settled a deal in April 2005 which included involvement from the federal government and its bursary program.
On October 31, 2008, Fournier announced he would retire from politics. On November 17, 2009, it was announced Fournier would join the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, Michael Ignatieff, as principal secretary.[1]
Minister under Jean Charest
On August 9, 2010 it was announced that Fournier would run in a by-election in the district of Saint-Laurent to replace Jacques Dupuis, who was retiring from provincial politics.[2] Two days later, Fournier was appointed the Minister of Justice and the Reform of Democratic Institutions by Premier Jean Charest as part of a wider cabinet shuffle, despite his not yet holding a seat in the National Assembly. He was reelected by a wide margin on September 13, 2010.[3]
Civil disobedience a form of vandalism
Following large student protests opposing tuition increases, Fournier supported the passage of Bill 78, a Quebec law drafted in response to the protests. After student groups vowed civil disobedience to oppose the law, Fournier declared the practice "a nice word for vandalism."[4]
Interim Liberal Leader
On September 12, 2012, Fournier was named interim Leader of the Quebec Liberal Party, replacing Jean Charest.[5]
Electoral record (partial)
| Quebec general election, 2003: Châteauguay | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||||
| Liberal | Jean-Marc Fournier | 20,434 | 51.80 | |||||
| Parti Québécois | Éric Cardinal | 13,751 | 34.86 | |||||
| Action démocratique | Daniel Lapointe | 4,399 | 11.15 | |||||
| Bloc Pot | Gilles Lalumière | 547 | 1.39 | |||||
| UFP | Guylaine Sirard | 222 | 0.56 | |||||
| Equality | Robert Jason Morgan | 93 | 0.24 | |||||
| Total valid votes | 39,446 | 100.00 | ||||||
| Rejected and declined votes | 552 | |||||||
| Turnout | 39,998 | 74.33 | ||||||
| Electors on the lists | 53,810 | |||||||
| Source: Official Results, Le Directeur général des élections du Québec. | ||||||||
References
- ↑ Fournier joins Ignatieff office[1]
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ "Jean-Marc Fournier redevient député." La Presse, September 13, 2010.]
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
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| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minister of Municipal Affairs (Quebec) 2003–2005 |
Succeeded by Nathalie Normandeau |
| Preceded by | Minister of Education, Leisure and Sports 2005–2007 |
Succeeded by Michelle Courchesne |
| Preceded by | Minister of Revenue (Quebec) 2007–2008 |
Succeeded by Robert Dutil |
| Preceded by | Government House Leader 2007–2008 |
Succeeded by Jacques Dupuis |
| Preceded by | Minister of Justice (Quebec) 2010–2012 |
Succeeded by Bertrand St-Arnaud |
| Preceded by | Leader of the Quebec Liberal Party (Interim) 2012–2013 |
Succeeded by Philippe Couillard |
