Gilles Duceppe, MP (born July 22, 1947 in Montreal, Quebec) is a Quebec nationalist and social democratic politician in Canada. He is a Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons and the leader of the separatist Bloc Québécois party. He is the son of a well-known Québécois actor, Jean Duceppe, and Hélène Rowley. His maternal grandfather was John James Rowley, a Briton by birth. Duceppe's British roots had him once quip that "I’m a bloke who turned Bloc."[1]. Duceppe is also known to at one time have been a Marxist [2] The Bloc Québécois is a centre-left federal political party in Canada that is devoted to the promotion of sovereignty for Quebec. ... The incumbent, in politics, is the current holder of a political office. ... Laurier re-directs here. ... August 13 is the 225th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (226th in leap years), with 140 days remaining. ... MCMXC redirects here; for the Enigma album, see MCMXC a. ... Jean-Claude Malépart (1938-12-03 – 1989-11-16) was a French Canadian politician. ... July 22 is the 203rd day (204th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 162 days remaining. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... Nickname: Motto: Concordia Salus (salvation through harmony) Coordinates: Country Canada Province Quebec Founded 1642 Established 1832 Government  - Mayor Gérald Tremblay Area [1][2][3]  - City 365. ... Motto: Je me souviens (French: I remember) Capital Quebec City Largest city Montreal Official languages French Government - Lieutenant-Governor Lise Thibault - Premier Jean Charest (PLQ) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 75 - Senate seats 24 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area Ranked 2nd - Total 1,542,056 km² - Water... This article needs cleanup. ... 38th Parliament Members of the House of Commons in the 38th Parliament of Canada, as of May 17, 2005. ... July 22 is the 203rd day (204th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 162 days remaining. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... Nickname: Motto: Concordia Salus (salvation through harmony) Coordinates: Country Canada Province Quebec Founded 1642 Established 1832 Government  - Mayor Gérald Tremblay Area [1][2][3]  - City 365. ... Motto: Je me souviens (French: I remember) Capital Quebec City Largest city Montreal Official languages French Government - Lieutenant-Governor Lise Thibault - Premier Jean Charest (PLQ) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 75 - Senate seats 24 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area Ranked 2nd - Total 1,542,056 km² - Water... The Quebec sovereignty movement is a political movement for the attainment of sovereignty for Quebec, a province of the Canadian federation. ... Social democracy is a political ideology emerging in the late 19th and early 20th centuries from supporters of Marxism who believed that the transition to a socialist society could be achieved through democratic evolutionary rather than revolutionary means. ... 38th Parliament Members of the House of Commons in the 38th Parliament of Canada, as of May 17, 2005. ... The House of Commons (French: Chambre des communes) is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign (represented by the Governor General) and the Senate. ... The Bloc Québécois is a centre-left federal political party in Canada that is devoted to the promotion of sovereignty for Quebec. ... Look up Québécois in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Jean Duceppe is a Quebecois Canadian actor, and the father of sovereignist Canadian politician Gilles Duceppe. ... Languages Cornish, Dgèrnésiais, English, French, Irish, Jèrriais, Manx, Scots, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh Religions Anglican, Presbyterianism, Roman Catholicism Related ethnic groups Americans, Australians, Belongers, Canadians, Channel Islanders, Cornish, English, Irish, Manx, New Zealanders, Scottish, Welsh British people, or Britons,[7] are inhabitants of Great Britain[8][9] or...

Early life

Duceppe is a native of Montreal, Quebec. At about the age of 12, he was involved in an incident that affected his views of Quebec's place in Canada. When the young Duceppe complained about differential treatment of francophone students on a school bus, an anglophone teacher slapped him [3]. Duceppe responded by slapping her back. He later stated in the Ottawa Citizen that: "If you're talking about social justice, that event marked me." Nickname: Motto: Concordia Salus (salvation through harmony) Coordinates: Country Canada Province Quebec Founded 1642 Established 1832 Government  - Mayor Gérald Tremblay Area [1][2][3]  - City 365. ... Motto: Je me souviens (French: I remember) Capital Quebec City Largest city Montreal Official languages French Government - Lieutenant-Governor Lise Thibault - Premier Jean Charest (PLQ) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 75 - Senate seats 24 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area Ranked 2nd - Total 1,542,056 km² - Water... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Look up Anglophone in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Duceppe studied political science at the Université de Montréal yet did not complete his program of study. While attending Université de Montréal, he became the general manager of the school's newspaper, Quartier Libre. In his youth, he advocated communism, and held membership in the Worker's Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist). Duceppe later claimed that his three-year membership in the W.C.P. (M.L.) was a mistake brought on by a search for absolute answers [4]. However, during this period - which lasted well into his thirties - he subscribed to militant Maoist ideology and was fired from his job as a hospital orderly for belligerent activities [5]. Duceppe even went so far as to intentionally spoil his 1980 sovereignty-association referendum ballot arguing that Quebecois should instead focus their efforts on staying united to fight their common capitalist enemy[6]. Before becoming a member of the federal parliament of Canada, Duceppe worked as a hospital orderly and later became a trade union negotiator. The Université de Montréal (UdeM) (translated into English commonly as (the) University of Montreal) is one of six universities in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. ... Communism is an ideology that seeks to establish a classless, stateless social organization based on common ownership of the means of production. ...

Election to Parliament

In 1990, Duceppe was elected to the Canadian House of Commons under the banner of the newly-formed Bloc Québécois in a by-election in Montreal's Laurier—Sainte-Marie riding. At the time, Duceppe ran as an independent because the Bloc had not been registered by Elections Canada as a political party. All of the Bloc's other Members of Parliament had crossed the floor from either the Progressive Conservative Party or the Liberal Party earlier that year. Duceppe's victory in a by-election demonstrated - for the first time - that the party had electoral support in Quebec and could win elections. Previously, many pundits (and members of other parties) predicted that the Bloc would not gain traction with ordinary voters in Quebec. MCMXC redirects here; for the Enigma album, see MCMXC a. ... The House of Commons (French: Chambre des communes) is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign (represented by the Governor General) and the Senate. ... A by-election or bye-election is a special election held to fill a political office when the incumbent has died or resigned. ... Laurier re-directs here. ... In the British Isles since Anglo-Saxon times, a riding is traditionally a sub-division (especially in three) of a county, in Australia analogous. ... Elections Canada is the non-partisan agency of the Government of Canada responsible for the conduct of federal elections and referendums. ... In politics, crossing the floor is to vote against party lines. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Liberal Party of Canada (French: ), colloquially known as the Grits (originally Clear Grits), is a Canadian federal political party. ... A by-election or bye-election is a special election held to fill a political office when the incumbent has died or resigned. ... Motto: Je me souviens (French: I remember) Capital Quebec City Largest city Montreal Official languages French Government - Lieutenant-Governor Lise Thibault - Premier Jean Charest (PLQ) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 75 - Senate seats 24 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area Ranked 2nd - Total 1,542,056 km² - Water... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Leadership of the Bloc Québécois

In 1996, when Lucien Bouchard stepped down as Bloc leader to become leader of the Parti Québécois, Duceppe served as interim leader of the party. Michel Gauthier eventually became the official leader later that year. However, Gauthier's lack of visibility in both Quebec and English Canada coupled with his weak leadership resulted in the party forcing him out in 1997. Duceppe won the ensuing leadership contest and became the official leader of the Bloc Quebecois and Leader of the Opposition. As Leader of the Opposition, Duceppe was technically entitled for membership in the Queen's Privy Council for Canada but he rejected it. 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Lucien Bouchard, PC , B.Sc , LL.B (born December 22, 1938 in Saint-Coeur-de-Marie, Quebec, Canada) is a Quebec lawyer, diplomat and politician. ... The Parti Québécois (PQ) is a political party that advocates national sovereignty for the Canadian province of Quebec and secession from Canada, as well as social democratic policies and has traditionally had support from the labour movement. ... An interim leader, in Canadian politics, is a party leader who is appointed by the partys legislative caucus or the partys executive to temporarily act as leader when there is a gap between the resignation or death of a party leader and the election of his or her... Portrait of Michel Gauthier. ... The Leader of the Opposition (French: Chef de lOpposition) in Canada is the Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons who leads Her Majestys Loyal Opposition (the body in Parliament recognized as the Official Opposition). ... The Privy Council Office as it appeared in the 1880s The Queens Privy Council for Canada (French: Conseil privé de la Reine pour le Canada) is the council of advisers to the Queen of Canada, whose members are appointed by the Governor General of Canada for life on the...

In the 1997 general election, the Bloc lost official opposition status, slipping to third place in the House of Commons behind the Reform Party. Of particular note during the campaign concerned a visit by Duceppe to a cheese factory where he was photographed wearing a hairnet resembling a shower cap. The photo became widely parodied on Canadian television. On election night, the Bloc's Commons caucus strength was reduced to 44 seats. This number further fell after the subsequent federal election (2000 election) to a mere 38 seats. Over this period, critics derided Duceppe as an ineffectual campaigner, but no serious challenge to his leadership emerged. 36th Parliament The Canadian federal election of 1997 was held on June 2, 1997, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons. ... Her Majestys Loyal Opposition (French: LOpposition Loyale de Sa Majesté) in Canada is usually the largest parliamentary opposition party in the Canadian House of Commons that is not in government either on its own or as part of a governing coalition. ... The Reform Party of Canada was a Canadian federal political party founded in 1987. ... The 2000 Canadian federal election was held on November 27, 2000, to elect 301 Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of Canada. ...

With the sponsorship scandal that erupted soon after Jean Chrétien's departure as Liberal party leader in 2003, the Bloc's fortunes improved markedly. In the 2004 election, Duceppe's Bloc won 54 seats in the Commons, returning the party to its all-time high water mark. During the election's national debates, Duceppe's lucid explanations of Bloc Quebecois policies and his chastising of the other national party leaders' promises, resulted in both the French and English media ruling him the best speaker. Despite the Bloc's 54 seat strength, the party did not form Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition. Instead, that role was held by the new Conservative Party, which was formed in December 2003. The sponsorship scandal is an ongoing scandal that has affected the government of Canada, and particularly the ruling Liberal Party of Canada for a number of years, but rose to especially great prominence in 2004. ... Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien, usually known as Jean Chrétien, PC, QC, BA, BCL, LLD (h. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Canadian federal election, 2004 (more formally, the 38th general election), was held on June 28, 2004 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons. ... The Conservative Party of Canada (French: Parti conservateur du Canada), colloquially known as the Tories, is a right-leaning conservative political party in Canada, formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in December 2003. ...

With Chrétien's departure, Duceppe became the longest-serving leader of a major party in Canada. With the recent success of the Bloc, and his increasingly well-received performance as leader, speculation mounted that Duceppe might seek the leadership of the Parti Québécois - particularly when Bernard Landry stepped down as party leader on June 4, 2005. On June 13, 2005, Duceppe announced that he would not run for the leadership of the PQ. The Parti Québécois (PQ) is a political party that advocates national sovereignty for the Canadian province of Quebec and secession from Canada, as well as social democratic policies and has traditionally had support from the labour movement. ... Jean-Bernard Landry, born March 9, 1937 in Saint-Jacques, Quebec, (near Joliette), is a Quebec lawyer, teacher, politician, past Premier of Quebec, Canada, (2001–2003), former leader of the Opposition (2003–2005) and former leader of the Parti Québécois (2001–2005). ... June 4 is the 155th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (156th in leap years), with 210 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 13 is the 164th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (165th in leap years), with 201 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The nine candidates and the election president at the Quebec City public debate. ...

In the 2006 federal election, many Bloc insiders believed that Duceppe's popularity, combined with the unpopularity of the Liberal Party in Quebec, would push the Bloc Quebecois over the symbolic majority vote mark among Quebec voters. Many Quebec separatists felt that a strong performance by the Bloc in the 2006 federal election would boost the sovereignist movement and perhaps set the stage for a new referendum on secession after the anticipated Quebec provincial election expected in 2007. In actuality, a late surge in Conservative and federalist support kept the Bloc's share of the popular vote below 43% giving the Bloc only 51 seats. The unimpressive and lackluster results on election night has called into question the level of supposed separatist support in Quebec. Rendition of party representation in the 39th Canadian parliament decided by this election. ...

On November 24, 2006, Gilles Duceppe announced that the Bloc Quebecois would support a Conservative motion that recognizes that Quebecois form a nation within Canada - the latest twist in a dispute that threatens to reopen the thorny debate concerning Quebec's place within Confederation. For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... In Canadian English, a Québécois (IPA: ) is a native or resident of the province of Quebec, Canada, especially a French-speaking one. ...

In the March 26, 2007 Quebec provincial election, the Parti Québécois was reduced to third place in the National Assembly of Quebec, behind both the governing Quebec Liberal Party and the opposition Action démocratique du Québec. Following this disappointing result, PQ leader André Boisclair announced his resignation as leader on May 8, 2007. Duceppe confirmed on May 11, 2007 he would seek the PQ leadership. [7] However, the next day, he changed his mind and announced he would not run.[8] He also announced his support for Pauline Marois [9] The new composition of the legislature Map of Quebecs ridings coloured in to indicate ridings won by each party and their popular vote. ... The Quebec Parliament Building at night The National Assembly of Quebec (French: Assemblée nationale du Québec) is the name for the legislative body of the province of Quebec, Canada which was defined in the Canadian constitution as the Legislative Assembly of Quebec (lassemblée législative de... The Parti libéral du Québec (Liberal Party of Quebec), or PLQ, is a liberal political party in the Canadian province of Quebec. ... The Action démocratique du Québec (ADQ) is a fiscally conservative, nationalist and populist provincial political party in Quebec, Canada. ... André Boisclair (born April 14, 1966 in Montreal, Quebec) is a politician in Quebec, Canada. ...

Controversial issues

On immigration and reasonable accommodation

Gilles Duceppe believes that integration of new immigrants into Quebec is important, but that Quebec society must actively provide assistance for such integration. Some see this as contrary to the cosmopolitan nature of immigrant-rich Montreal society. [10] [11] See also: Reasonable accommodation and Herouxville. Map of the world with countries coloured according to their immigrant population as a percentage of total population: Although human migration has existed throughout human history, immigration in the modern sense refers to movement of people from one nation-state to another. ... Look up cosmopolitan in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Nickname: Motto: Concordia Salus (salvation through harmony) Coordinates: Country Canada Province Quebec Founded 1642 Established 1832 Government  - Mayor Gérald Tremblay Area [1][2][3]  - City 365. ... Reasonable accommodation is a political term in societies becoming increasingly multicultural. ... Hérouxville[1] is a parish municipality in Québec (Canada), located in the Regional county municipality (RCM) of Mékinac, and in the administrative region of Mauricie. ...

Quotes

• "We are delighted by the fact that Canada will become the first country to officially recognize the Quebec nation,"
• "What's important is that the nation is recognized and it is on that basis that we will demand the government be accountable because it must mean something," [12]

External links

• Quebecers form a nation without conditions: Bloc motion
• The man who would be king
• Duceppe coy on separation details
• Quebec 'nation' gambit called a 'dangerous, big mistake'
• Bloc to support Tory motion declaring Quebecois nation within a united Canada
• MPs to vote on recognizing Quebec as a nation
• Leader: Gilles Duceppe, from CBC Canada Votes 2006
• How'd they vote?: Gilles Duceppe's voting history and quotes

Jean-Claude Malépart (1938-12-03 – 1989-11-16) was a French Canadian politician. ... Laurier re-directs here. ... MCMXC redirects here; for the Enigma album, see MCMXC a. ... Lucien Bouchard, PC , B.Sc , LL.B (born December 22, 1938 in Saint-Coeur-de-Marie, Quebec, Canada) is a Quebec lawyer, diplomat and politician. ... The Bloc Québécois is a centre-left federal political party in Canada that is devoted to the promotion of sovereignty for Quebec. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Portrait of Michel Gauthier. ... Lucien Bouchard, PC , B.Sc , LL.B (born December 22, 1938 in Saint-Coeur-de-Marie, Quebec, Canada) is a Quebec lawyer, diplomat and politician. ... List of Canadian Leaders of the Opposition 1 - George Brown was the unofficial leader of the Liberal Party during the 1867 election, but failed to win a seat in the House of Commons in the September 20th election. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Portrait of Michel Gauthier. ... Portrait of Michel Gauthier. ... List of Canadian Leaders of the Opposition 1 - George Brown was the unofficial leader of the Liberal Party during the 1867 election, but failed to win a seat in the House of Commons in the September 20th election. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ernest Preston Manning (born June 10, 1942, in Edmonton, Alberta), is a right-wing populist Canadian politician. ... Portrait of Michel Gauthier. ... The Bloc Québécois is a centre-left federal political party in Canada that is devoted to the promotion of sovereignty for Quebec. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...