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The Honourable Lucien Bouchard
The Hon. Lucien Bouchard with his (now estranged) wife Audrey Best
27th Premier of Quebec
In office January 26, 1996 – March 8th, 2001
Preceded by	Jacques Parizeau
Succeeded by	Bernard Landry
Born	December 22, 1938 (1938-12-22) (age 69) Saint-Coeur-de-Marie, Quebec, Canada
Political party	Parti Québécois
Spouse	Audrey Best
Profession	lawyer

Lucien Bouchard, PC, B.Sc, LL.B (born December 22, 1938) is a Quebec lawyer, diplomat and politician. He was the Leader of Opposition in the Canadian House of Commons from 1993 to 1996, and Premier of Quebec from January 29, 1996 to March 8, 2001. He became a central figure for the oui side in the 1995 Quebec referendum. Image File history File links Unbalanced_scales. ... The prefix The Honourable or The Honorable ( or formerly The Honble) is a title of quality attached to the names of certain classes of persons. ... Image File history File links Bouchard4. ... The Premier of Quebec (in French Premier ministre du Québec, sometimes literally translated to Prime Minister of Quebec) is the first minister for the Canadian province of Quebec. ... Jacques Parizeau, (born August 9, 1930) is an economist and noted Quebec sovereigntist who served as Premier of Quebec, Canada, from September 26, 1994 to January 29, 1996. ... 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). ... is the 356th day of the year (357th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the Canadian province. ... The Parti Québécois [PQ] (translation: Quebecker Party) is a separatist 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. ... For the fish called lawyer, see Burbot. ... 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... B.S. redirects here. ... The degree of Bachelor of Laws is the principal academic degree in law in the majority of common law countries other than the United States, where it has been replaced by the Juris Doctor degree. ... is the 356th day of the year (357th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the Canadian province. ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A politician is an individual who is a formally recognized and active member of a government, or a person who influences the way a society is governed through an understanding of political power and group dynamics. ... 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). ... Type Lower House Speaker Peter Milliken, Liberal since January 29, 2001 Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Peter Van Loan, Conservative since January 4, 2007 Opposition House Leader Ralph Goodale, Liberal since January 23, 2006 Members 308 Political groups Conservative Party Liberal Party Bloc Québécois... The Premier of Quebec (in French Premier ministre du Québec, sometimes literally translated to Prime Minister of Quebec) is the first minister for the Canadian province of Quebec. ... is the 29th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 67th day of the year (68th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Bill on the referendum and eventual declaration of independence. ...

He is the brother of noted historian Gérard Bouchard, and a recipient of the title of Commander of the French Legion of Honour [1]. Gérard Bouchard (December 26, 1943 – ) is a historian, sociologist, and writer from Quebec, Canada. ... Chiang Kai-sheks Légion dhonneur. ...

Biography

Origins

Bouchard graduated from Jonquière Classical College in 1959, and obtained a Bachelor's degree in social science and a law degree at Université Laval in 1964. He was called to the Quebec bar later that year. Université Laval (Laval University) is the oldest centre of education in Canada, and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French. ... The Barreau du Québec is the bar association for lawyers in Quebec. ...

He practised law in Chicoutimi until 1985, while being given many charges as a public servant over the years: president of the arbitration committee for the education sector (1970 to 1976), prosecutor in chief for the commission for labour and industry (Cliché commission -- 1974 to 1975), co-president of the study commission on the public and parapublic sectors (Martin-Bouchard commission — 1975). From then, he acted as a coordinator or member of many special teams on behalf of Quebec's government in the trade union negotiations for the public sector. Chicoutimi is one of the three boroughs (arrondissement in French) of the city of Saguenay, Quebec, Canada. ... This is an article about the politics of the Province of Quebec, Canada. ... The Lawrence textile strike (1912), with soldiers surrounding peaceful demonstrators A trade union or labor union is an organization of workers who have banded together to achieve common goals in key areas such as wages, hours, and working conditions, forming a cartel of labour. ...

Early years in politics and diplomacy

Bouchard's relationship with politics is a complex one, as he affiliated himself over the years with various political parties with highly diverging ideologies, going as far as founding one, the Bloc Québécois. A political party is a political organization that seeks to attain political power within a government, usually by participating in electoral campaigns. ... An ideology is an organized collection of ideas. ... The Bloc Québécois (BQ) is a centre-left federal political party in Canada that defines itself as devoted to the promotion of sovereignty for Quebec. ...

Bouchard has been a Quebec nationalist during his entire political career; his convictions as a Canadian federalist or a Quebec sovereignist have varied. He worked for the federalist Liberal Party of Quebec's campaign of 1970, but was deeply shaken by the events of Quebec's October Crisis, especially by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau's imposition of the War Measures Act. At the same time, he was a great admirer of Premier René Lévesque, often quoting him in speeches. Quebec nationalism is the subject of many international studies together with the contemporary nationalism of Scotland, Catalonia and other non-sovereign regions of the world. ... Canadian federalism is one of the three pillars of the constitutional order, along with responsible government and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. ... Quebec The Quebec sovereignty movement is a movement calling for the attainment of sovereignty for Quebec, a province of the country of Canada. ... Quebec federalism, in regards to the future of the Quebec people, defends the concept of Quebec remaining within Canada as opposed to Quebec sovereigntism, proponent of Quebec independence (most often, but not for all followers, along with an economic union with Canada similar to the European Union). ... The Parti libéral du Québec (Liberal Party of Quebec, although it refers to itself in English as the Québec Liberal Party), or PLQ, is a liberal political party in the Canadian province of Quebec. ... The Quebec general election of 1970 was held on April 29, 1970 to elect members of the National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. ... This article is about the terrorist kidnappings in Quebec. ... Regions Political culture Foreign relations Other countries Atlas  Politics Portal      The Prime Minister of Canada (French: Premier ministre du Canada), is the Minister of the Crown who is head of the Government of Canada. ... “Trudeau” redirects here. ... The War Measures Act (enacted in August 1914, replaced by the Emergencies Act in 1988) was a Canadian statute that allowed the government to assume sweeping emergency powers. ... René Lévesque (pronounced ) (August 24, 1922 – November 1, 1987) was a reporter, a minister of the government of Quebec, Canada, (1960 – 1966), the founder of the Parti Québécois political party, and 23rd Premier of Quebec (November 25, 1976 – October 3, 1985). ...

Bouchard worked with the "Yes" side during the 1980 Quebec referendum on sovereignty. In 1984 Brian Mulroney, Bouchard's close friend from law school days at Université Laval, became Canadian Prime Minister. Mulroney would go on to ask Bouchard to serve in various official capacities, including (in 1985) as Canadian ambassador to France. Despite being sympathetic to the sovereigntist cause, Bouchard joined Mulroney's Progressive Conservative government in 1988 as Secretary of State and later Minister of the Environment, serving until 1990. While still a strong Quebec nationalist, he believed that Mulroney's Meech Lake Accord was sufficient to placate nationalist feelings and keep Quebec in confederation. The 1980 Quebec referendum was the first referendum in Quebec on the role of Quebec within Canada and whether Quebec should pursue a path toward sovereignty. ... Martin Brian Mulroney PC CC GOQ (predominantly known as Brian Mulroney) (born March 20, 1939), was the eighteenth Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Meech Lake Accord was a set of failed amendments to the Constitution of Canada negotiated in 1987 by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and the provincial premiers, including Robert Bourassa, premier of Quebec. ...

However, after a commission headed by Jean Charest recommended some changes to the Accord, Bouchard left the Progressive Conservatives (May 1990), feeling that the spirit and objectives of Meech were being diluted. Mulroney felt betrayed by Bouchard, and rejected his reasoning, having heard from a friend that Bouchard planned on leaving days before the Commission's report. In fact, in his memoirs Mulroney stated that trusting Bouchard was his most regretful and costliest mistake as Prime Minister. After the failure of Meech, Bouchard formed the sovereigntist Bloc Québécois, initially a faction of disaffected, separatist federal MPs and later a full-blown party, which attracted a variety of former Liberals and Conservatives. John James Charest, PC, LL.B., MNA, known as Jean Charest IPA: (born June 24, 1958) is a Canadian lawyer and politician from the province of Quebec. ...

The Parti Québécois campaigned for the Bloc in the 1993 federal election in order to prepare Quebec for sovereignty, according to the Three Periods strategy of PQ leader Jacques Parizeau. In this election, the Bloc Québécois won 54 out of 75 ridings in Quebec, the second-most populous province in Canada. Despite having essentially ran candidates only in Quebec, the Bloc's strong showing in that province was enough to win the second-most seats in the country's federal election. This made Bouchard the first separatist leader of the Opposition in the history of Canada. The Parti Québécois [PQ] (translation: Quebecker Party) is a separatist 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. ... Popular vote map with bar graphs showing seat totals in the provinces and territories. ... The Three Periods is a Quebec sovereigntist strategy. ... Jacques Parizeau, (born August 9, 1930) is an economist and noted Quebec sovereigntist who served as Premier of Quebec, Canada, from September 26, 1994 to January 29, 1996. ... 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). ...

Bouchard was still serving in that capacity in Ottawa, and working closely with the provincial Parti Québécois to bring about the independence of Quebec, when he lost a leg to necrotizing fasciitis ("flesh-eating disease") in December 1994. The Parti Québécois [PQ] (translation: Quebecker Party) is a separatist 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. ... Necrotizing fasciitis or fasciitis necroticans, commonly known as flesh-eating bacteria, is a rare infection of the deeper layers of skin and subcutaneous tissues, easily spreading across the fascial plane within the subcutaneous tissue. ...

Referendum on sovereignty

In 1995, Bouchard signed, as Bloc leader, a tripartite agreement with Parti Québécois leader Jacques Parizeau and Action démocratique leader Mario Dumont, which mapped the way to the referendum on independence. He was instrumental in convincing Parizeau to include a plan of association with Canada in the referendum question. He campaigned with the other two leaders for the Yes side. Québec premier Jacques Parizeau first led the Yes campaign but, as support for sovereignty began to plateau, Bouchard was given the official leadership. The Action démocratique du Québec (ADQ) is a conservative, nationalist and populist provincial political party in Quebec, Canada. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Bill on the referendum and eventual declaration of independence. ...

The referendum was narrowly defeated by a majority vote of 50.58% to 49.42%.

Premier of Quebec

With French prime minister Lionel Jospin on April 6, 2000

After the Yes side lost the 1995 referendum, Parizeau resigned as Québec premier. Bouchard resigned his seat in Parliament in 1996, and became the leader of the Parti Québécois and premier of Québec. Image File history File links Bouchard1. ... Image File history File links Bouchard1. ... Lionel Robert Jospin (born July 12, 1937 in Meudon, a suburb of Paris) is a French statesman who served as Prime Minister of France from 1997-2002. ...

On the matter of sovereignty, while in office, he stated that no new referendum would be held, at least for the time being. A main concern of the Bouchard government, considered part of the necessary conditions gagnantes ("winning conditions" for the feasibility of a new referendum on sovereignty), was economic recovery through the achievement of "zero deficit". Long-term Keynesian policies resulting from the "Quebec model", developed by both PQ governments in the past and the previous Liberal government had left a substantial deficit in the provincial budget. Keynesian economics, or Keynesianism, is an economic theory based on the ideas of John Maynard Keynes, as put forward in his book The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money, published in 1936 in response to the Great Depression of the 1930s. ... The Parti libéral du Québec (Liberal Party of Quebec), or PLQ, is a liberal political party in the Canadian province of Quebec. ... This article is about budget deficits. ...

Retirement

Bouchard retired from politics in 2001, and was replaced as Québec premier by Bernard Landry. He stated that his relative failure to revive the sovereignist flame was a cause of his departure, something for which he took responsibility. Others have speculated that the Michaud Affair, regarding allegedly anti-Semitic comments by Parti Québécois candidate Yves Michaud, was another factor favouring Bouchard's departure. Bouchard also faced criticism by the hard liners of his own party for failing to engage the province in a third, decisive referendum on sovereignty. 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). ... The Michaud Affair (in French lAffaire Michaud) was a political controversy in Quebec that began in 2000. ... Yves Michaud Yves Michaud, born February 13, 1930 in Acton Vale, near Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada is a prominent sovereignist public figure and member of the Parti Québécois. ...

Since then, he has returned to practising law by becoming a partner at Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg, where he specializes in commercial and corporate law. He has served as a negotiator in high-profile labor and commercial disputes, most recently for Olymel and the Societe des alcools du Quebec (Quebec Liquor Board) during a strike that lasted six months. He is chairman of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and sits on the board of Transcontinental G.T.C. Limited, Saputo Inc., Groupe BMTC and Groupe Conseil Dessau-Soprin. In April 2004, he helped launch the Centre for International Studies of the Université de Montréal (CÉRIUM), of which he is a board member. He recently separated from Audrey Best (born 1960), a California-born airline stewardess he married after meeting her on an international flight. They have two children, Alexandre and Simon. Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP is a full service Canadian corporate law firm. ... The Montreal Symphony Orchestra (MSO) (in French: Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM)) is a major orchestra based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, with its home venue at Montreals Place des Arts. ... Saputo Incorporated is a Canadian based dairy company. ... The Université de Montréal (UdeM) (translated into English commonly as (the) University of Montreal) is one of six universities in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ...

On October 19, 2005, Bouchard and eleven other Quebecers of different backgrounds and political aspirations published a manifesto entitled "Pour un Québec lucide" ("For a clear-eyed vision of Quebec"). The manifesto warned Quebec's aging population about the challenges the future poses, demographically, economically and culturally. It made a certain impression on the Parti Québécois leadership race of 2005, getting mixed reactions. It was well received in other quarters, receiving praise on the editorial page of The Globe and Mail. is the 292nd day of the year (293rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Pour un Québec lucide is a manifesto signed by 12 prominent Quebecers, including former premier Lucien Bouchard. ... The nine candidates and the election president at the Quebec City public debate. ... The Globe and Mail is a Canadian English-language nationally distributed newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities across the country. ...

Nearly a year later on October 16, 2006 Bouchard declared to TVA news reporter Paul Larocque, that the population of the province is not working enough and that it should be more productive in order to produce more resources for the population. He also added that his generation had contracted 75% of the province's current debt and that the future generations should not be handling the burden of paying for the previous ones.^[1] is the 289th day of the year (290th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Legacy

His government implemented some controversial policies, including cuts to the province's health care spending in order to balance the deficitary provincial budget, and the amalgamation of Quebec's larger cities undertaken by his successor Bernard Landry. Also, some have criticized him for not pushing forward on the sovereignty issue during his time in office. These hard line purs et durs independentists were a problem for his leadership, notably due to the strongly decentralised structure of the Parti Québécois. Other aspects of his legacy include the creation of a low-cost, universal public daycare system, the birth of Emploi Québec, and achieving a balanced budget. He is remembered for his sometimes "short fuse" when provoked and his unforgiving demands for excellence in those he worked with, but also for his charm and eloquence, and was appreciated as a formidable foe by his political adversaries. Bouchard stated that he will not return to politics.^[2] A physician visiting the sick in a hospital. ... 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). ...

Quotes

• More than ever, it will be imperative to remind all that the sovereignist way is one of generosity, of tolerance, and openness.
  • "Plus que jamais, il faudra rappeler que la démarche souverainiste en est une de générosité, de tolérance, et d'ouverture."^{[citation needed]}

• The people of Quebec possess all the assets to achieve an enviable place in the concert of nations (i.e., the international community). At the only condition of repatriating all of its public resources, rather than dispersing them on two conflicting fronts.
  • "Le peuple québécois possède tous les atouts pour se tailler une place enviable dans le concert des nations. À la seule condition de rapatrier toutes ses ressources publiques, plutôt que de les disperser sur deux fronts conflictuels."^{[citation needed]}

• Interview with TVA reporter Paul Larocque on October 16, 2006:^[3]
• There is a certain distress, a certain stagnation [in Quebec]. It is a comfort which is dangerous, because it holds the future for us which will not be comfortable and which will be very very difficult. (...)The great project of Quebec of tomorrow, it should be conceived
  • "Il y a un certain désarroi, un certain sur-place [au Québec]. C'est un confort qui est dangereux, parce qu'il nous réserve des lendemains qui ne seront pas confortables, qui vont être très très difficiles. (…) Le grand projet du Québec de demain, il faut le concevoir."

• During the referendum campaign, October 14, 1995:

• There is something magical about a Yes vote. With a wave of our magic wand, we will stir up a feeling of solidarity among Quebecers.
  • "Le oui a quelque chose de magique. D'un coup de baguette, nous allons provoquer la solidarité des Québécois."^{[citation needed]}

Elections as party leader

He won the 1998 election and resigned in 2001. Categories: Stub | Quebec general elections ...

References

See also

• List of Quebec premiers
• Nicknames of Quebec premiers
• Quebec sovereignty movement
• History of Quebec
• Politics of Quebec
• Politics of Canada

This is a list of the Premiers of Quebec, Canada since Confederation (1867). ... A peculiar custom of Quebecers is to give nicknames to their politicians (and some personalities), quite especially their Premiers. ... The province of Quebec shown in red. ... Quebec has played a special role in Canadian history; it is the site where French settlers founded the colony of Canada (New France) in the 1600s and 1700s. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The politics of Canada function within a framework of constitutional monarchy and a federal system of parliamentary government with strong democratic traditions. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Lucien Bouchard

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ...

Analysis

• CBC report on Bouchard's life and career

Biographies

• National Assembly biography (French)
• Agora biography (French)
• Bilan du Siècle biography (French)
• Federal Political Biography from the Library of Parliament
• Lucien Bouchard page at CÉRIUM

v • d • e Premiers of Quebec
Chauveau · Ouimet · de Boucherville · de Lotbinière · Chapleau · Mousseau · Ross · Taillon · Mercier · de Boucherville · Taillon · Flynn · Marchand · Parent · Gouin · Taschereau · Godbout · Duplessis · Godbout · Duplessis · Sauvé · Barrette · Lesage · D. Johnson · Bertrand · Bourassa · Lévesque · P. Johnson · Bourassa · D. Johnson, Jr. · Parizeau · Bouchard · Landry · Charest

v • d • e Ministers of the Environment
Ministers of the Environment (1971-1976)1	Davis · Sauvé · LeBlanc (acting) · J. Marchand · LeBlanc (acting)
Minister of Fisheries and the Environment (1976-1979)	LeBlanc
Minister of State (Environment) (1977-1979)	L. Marchand
Ministers of the Environment (1979-)	L. Marchand · Fraser · Roberts · Caccia · Blais-Grenier · McMillan · Bouchard · Oberle (acting) · de Cotret · Charest · Vincent · Copps · Marchi · Stewart · Anderson · Dion · Ambrose · Baird
1From 1971 to 1976 the Minister of the Environment was also the Minister of Fisheries.

v • d • e Secretaries of State of Canada

Langevin · Aikins · Christie · Scott · Aikins · O'Connor · Mousseau · Chapleau · Patterson · Costigan · Dickey · Montague · Ouimet (acting) · Daly (acting) · Tupper · Scott · Murphy · Roche · Coderre · Blondin · Patenaude · Sévigny (acting) · Meighen · Burrell · Sifton · Drayton (acting) · Monty · Copp · Foster · Murphy (acting) · Lapointe · Perley · Rinfret · Cahan · Rinfret · Lapointe · Casgrain · McLarty · Martin · Gibson · Bradley · Pickersgill · Pinard · Fairclough · Courtemanche · Balcer · Dorion · Balcer · Halpenny · Pickersgill · Lamontagne · LaMarsh · Connolly · Marchand · Pelletier · Faulkner · Roberts · MacDonald · Fox · Regan · Joyal · McLean · B. Bouchard · Crombie · L. Bouchard · Weiner · de Cotret · Landry1 1The department was eliminated in 1993 when the government was reorganized. The position of Secretary of State for Canada was not legally eliminated until 1996 when its remaining responsibilities were assigned to other cabinet positions and departments, particularly the newly created position of Minister of Canadian Heritage.