Jean Pelletier (born February 21, 1935 in Chicoutimi, Quebec) is a Canadian political operative and former head of VIA Rail. An important member and a leading organizer of the Liberal Party of Canada. February 21 is the 52nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Chicoutimi (from Shkoutimeou , meaning the end of the deep water in the Montagnais dialect) is situated at the confluence of Chicoutimi river and Saguenay River. ... VIA Rail Canada (also referred to as VIA Rail and VIA; pronounced ‘vee-ah’) is an independent Crown corporation offering intercity passenger rail services in Canada. ... The Liberal Party of Canada (French: Parti libéral du Canada), coloquially known as Grits (originally Clear Grits) is a Canadian federal political party, positioned around center of the political spectrum, combining a generally progressive social policy with moderate economics. ...

He began his political career with the Union Nationale party, and was elected mayor of Quebec City in 1977, a position he held until 1988. With the demise of the Union Nationale, he joined the Liberal Party, and was an unsuccessful Liberal candidate in the 1993 election. Union Nationale logo. ... Motto: « Don de Dieu feray valoir Â» (I shall put Gods gift to good use) Site in the province of Quebec Official logo Provincial region Province Country Capitale-Nationale Quebec Canada Gentilé Québécois, Québécoise Mayor Andrée Boucher Jan. ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Popular vote map with bar graphs showing seat totals in the provinces and territories PC leader Kim Campbell. ...

He has long been a close ally and a very close friend of Jean Chrétien. They have known each other for fifty years, having first met at boarding school while still youths. They attended law school together and earned similar reputations as aggressive fighters. When Chrétien became Prime Minister in 1993, Pelletier became the Chief of Staff in the Prime Minister's Office. The Right Honourable Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien, PC, QC, BA, LL.L, LL.D (born January 11, 1934) was the twentieth Prime Minister of Canada, serving from November 4, 1993, to December 12, 2003. ... A boarding school is a school where some or all students not only study but also live, amongst their peers but away from their home and family. ... // A law school is an institution where future lawyers obtain legal degrees. ... Paul Martin is the current Prime Minister of Canada. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... The term Chief of Staff can refer to: The White House Chief of Staff, the highest-ranking member of the Executive Office of the President of the United States. ... In Canada, the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) is one of the most powerful parts of the government. ...

He was known as the person who would aggressively fight for the prime minister's interests. He was nicknamed the "Silent Executioner" for the ease with which he could end problems, and sometimes others' political careers, without causing any fracas in the media. He was often considered the second most powerful man in Canada, after Chrétien. He was a leader in the unsuccessful battle to keep Paul Martin from taking over the party in 2003. The Right Honourable Paul Edgar Philippe Martin, PC, MP, BA, LLB (born August 28, 1938, in Windsor, Ontario), commonly known as Paul Martin took office on December 12, 2003 as the twenty-first Prime Minister of Canada. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

On May 4, 2001, Chrétien appointed Pelletier head of VIA Rail, a Crown corporation. Pelletier was a life-long train aficionado, and the appointment was a reward for his years of service. Soon after, Chrétien promised an extra C$700 million to improve VIA's service. In 1985, Pelletier was made a Member of the Order of Canada and promoted to Officer in 2003. In 1990, he was made an Officer of the National Order of Quebec. May 4 is the 124th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (125th in leap years). ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... VIA Rail Canada (also referred to as VIA Rail and VIA; pronounced ‘vee-ah’) is an independent Crown corporation offering intercity passenger rail services in Canada. ... In Commonwealth countries a Crown corporation is a state-controlled company or enterprise (a public corporation). ... For an alternate meaning, see Fan (implement). ... The Canadian dollar, CAD or C$, is the unit of currency of Canada. ... This article is about the year. ... The Order of Canada is Canadas highest civilian honour, with membership awarded to those who exemplify the Orders Latin motto Desiderantes meliorem patriam, which means, Desiring a better country. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The National Order of Quebec (in French Ordre national du Québec) is an order of merit bestowed by the government of Quebec, Canada. ...

On March 1, 2004, Pelletier was fired from his VIA post by Prime Minister Martin after becoming embroiled in the "sponsorship scandal". VIA was accused of skipping mandated procedures in order to hand out contracts to Liberal-friendly firms and individuals. Pelletier was not at VIA for most of these occurrences. He was fired instead for remarks he made to Montreal's La Presse newspaper attacking popular Olympic athlete Myriam Bédard. Talking about Bédard, who had held a marketing position at VIA and had gone to the media with stories of corruption, Pelletier said "I don't want to be mean, but this is a poor girl who deserves pity, who doesn't have a spouse, as far as I know." He later reiterated that "She is struggling as a single mother with economic responsibilities. Deep down, I think she is pitiful." March 1 is the 60th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (61st in leap years). ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The sponsorship scandal, AdScam, or Sponsorgate, is an ongoing scandal that came as a result of a Canadian federal government sponsorship program (sometimes capitalized) in the province of Quebec, originally rationalized as an effort to raise Canadian patriotic sentiments to counter Quebec separatism. ... City motto: Concordia Salus (Latin: Well-being through harmony) Province Quebec Mayor Gérald Tremblay Area  - % water 366. ... La Presse, founded in 1884, is a large-circulation French-language daily newspaper published in Montreal, Quebec. ... For months before the Olympic Games, runners relay the Olympic Flame from Olympia to the opening ceremony. ... Myriam Bédard (born December 22, 1969) is a Canadian biathlete (ret), winner of two Olympic gold medals. ... A single parent is a parent with one or more children, who is neither married, nor living together with his or her partners. ...

This caused an immediate media fracas. The remarks were widely condemned as sexist and out-of-touch by an unending flow of women's group representatives, sports group representatives and others, and led to his almost immediate dismissal. The sign of the headquarters of the National Association Opposed To Woman Suffrage Sexism is commonly considered to be discrimination against people based on their sex rather than their individual merits, but can also refer to any and all differentiations based on sex. ...

On March 30, 2004, Pelletier sued VIA and the federal government for C$3 million, for defamation and illegal dismissal. A federal court ruled that dismissal did not follow due process and ordered him reinstated in November 2005. Although he was reinstated, the government appealed the court ruling and kept him off the payroll. On December 22, 2005, he was fired a second time, this time after the government ensured that due process was followed in the dismissal. Pelletier has filed suit in Quebec Superior Court alleging wrongful dismissal; Transport Minister Jean Lapierre issued a written statement noting that the recent dismissal is effective immediately and that Pelletier will not receive compensation due to his suit against the government.^[1] March 30 is the 89th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (90th in Leap years). ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 22 is the 356th day of the year (357th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jean Lapierre The Honourable Jean-C. Lapierre, PC, MP, LLL (born May 7, 1956) is a Canadian politician, born in Bassin, Quebec Lapierre is a prominent member of the Liberal Party of Canada and Paul Martins political lieutenant in Quebec. ...

Chief of Staff of Canadas Prime Ministers Office is the top official of the office. ... In Canada, the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) is one of the most powerful parts of the government. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... Percy Downe The Honourable Percy Downe, BA (born July 8, 1954) is a Canadian Senator and former political aide. ...

References

1. ^  Clark, Campbell; Globe and Mail (December 23, 2005), Liberals fire Pelletier from railway - Again. Retrieved December 23, 2005.