François Legault
François Legault | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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32nd Premier of Quebec | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed office October 18, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Monarchs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lieutenant Governor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deputy | Geneviève Guilbault | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Philippe Couillard | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leader of the Coalition Avenir Québec | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed office November 4, 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
President | Dominique Anglade Maud Cohen Stéphane Le Bouyonnec Sarah Beaumier | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Position established | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Lachine, Quebec, Canada | May 26, 1957||||||||||||||||||||||||
Political party | Coalition Avenir Québec (since 2011) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other political affiliations | Parti Québécois (1998–2009) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spouse |
Isabelle Brais (m. 1992) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Residence | Édifice Price | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alma mater | HEC Montréal (BBA, MBA) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Occupation |
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This article is part of a series on |
Conservatism in Canada |
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François Legault MNA (pronounced [fʁɑ̃.swa lə.ɡo]; born May 26, 1957) is a Canadian politician serving as the 32nd premier of Quebec since 2018. A founding member of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), he has led the party since it began in 2011. Legault sits as a member of the National Assembly (MNA) for the Lanaudière region riding of L'Assomption. Legault's ongoing tenure of 5 years, 185 days as premier is the ninth-longest in Quebec history and the longest of any Quebec premier since 2012.
Prior to entering politics, he was the co-founder of the Canadian airline
Early life and education
François Legault was born on May 26, 1957, at the
Legault has a bachelor's and master's degree in business administration from HEC Montréal. He is also a member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.[3]
Business career
Legault worked as an administrator for
Political career
Parti Québécois
After his
When Bouchard resigned, Legault supported Bernard Landry.
Landry appointed Legault as minister of education and later as minister of health and social services. He was re-elected in 2003 while the PQ lost to the Quebec Liberal Party. He remained on the PQ front bench as the critic for economics, economic development, and finances.
Legault endorsed Richard Legendre in the 2005 PQ leadership election, which was won by André Boisclair. After his re-election in 2007, Legault was renamed the PQ critic for economic development and finances.
Legault was re-elected in the 2008 election but announced on June 25, 2009, that he would retire from politics.[8][9] He was seen by some political analysts at the time as a potential contender in a future leadership election.[10] However, some Liberals thought that he could replace Jean Charest, then premier.[11]
Coalition Avenir Québec
In February 2011, Legault co-founded with
The party finished third in the 2012 general election, winning 19 seats and 27.05 percent of the vote.[18] In the 2014 general election, the CAQ finished third again, but increased their seat count to 22.[19][20]
In the 2018 general election on October 1, Legault led the CAQ to a gain of 53 seats for a total of 74, vaulting the CAQ from third place to a majority of 11 and making Legault the premier of Quebec.[21] He is the first premier in 48 years to not hail from the Liberals or Parti Québécois.
Legault led the CAQ again in the 2022 general election to a second straight majority. Legault gained 14 seats in the election, expanding his caucus.[22]
Premier of Quebec (2018–present)
On October 18, 2018, Legault was sworn in as Premier of Quebec, marking the end of nearly 50 years of Liberal and Parti Québécois rule in the province.[23]
Religious symbols
Having run on the platform during the 2018 election, on March 28, 2019, the Quebec government tabled its long-awaited secularism bill. Bill 21, entitled "An Act respecting the laicity of the State", if made law, would
The bill passed on June 17 by a 73–35 vote, with backing of the Parti Québécois while the Liberals and Quebec Solidaire were opposed. The Coalition Avenir Quebec government also introduced a last-minute amendment toughening the law, making provisions for a minister to verify that it is being obeyed and to demand corrective measures if necessary.[26][27]
Immigration
Under Legault CAQ government, he has decreased immigration numbers to 40,000 in 2019, and he has also in 2019 introduced a values test for immigrants.[28]
In 2019, during a European Trip to France, Legault said he wants more French and other European immigrants to come to Quebec with the overall immigration numbers cut.[29]
In August 2019, Legault said to businesses who called for an increase in immigration that they need to boost wages if they want to find workers.[30][31][32]
In December 2019, during a meeting with Governor of California
In June 2022, Legault stated he was against multiculturalism, in favor of supporting interculturalism and integration, which would include immigrants assimilating into Quebec and learning French.[35][36][37]
Language
In May 2022, The CAQ government of Legault passed
In that same year Legault caused some controversy when he stated that Quebec risked losing French as an official language if Quebec doesn't have more control over immigration policy. He compared it to the U.S. state of Louisiana which once spoke French as a majority.[39][40][41]
2019 apology to Indigenous peoples
Legault apologized to First Nations and Inuit in October 2019 for discrimination they suffered in dealing with the state, noting the Government of Quebec had failed in its duty to them. He acknowledged that apologies are but a first step, and more work needs to be done to break down barriers and rectify long-standing problems.[42]
COVID-19 response
During the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak, Legault organized daily press conferences with Director of Public Health Horacio Arruda and Minister of Health Danielle McCann, starting March 12, to encourage the population to stay home and keep hygiene measures that allegedly would help suppress spread of the virus. In May, Canada's chief science adviser, Mona Nemer, criticized Quebec for its lack of testing and tracing strategy.[43]
Environmental targets
In November 2020, Legault announced the government's plan to tackle climate change, which would involve a ban on the sale of new gas-powered vehicles from 2035 (commercial vehicles and second-hand cars would be exempt). Some experts have said that rather than focusing on electric vehicles, more funds should be committed to public transit and climate change mitigation.[44]
Education
The Legault government passed Bill 40 on February 8, 2020.[45] This expropriated the province's 60 French school boards, turning them into school service centres.[46]
Bill 40 was passed to expropriate school boards that have been running in English style for 175 years.[46] This did not include nine English school boards. But the move is seen as further undermining English-language education in the province.[45]
In April 2022, following a controversy over academic freedom at the University of Ottawa, the Legault government tabled Bill 32, a bill on Academic freedom in universities.[47][48] The bill passed in June 2022.[49]
Buy Local initiative
Legault and his government has promoted a
Labor relations
In December 2023, half a million public sector workers went on strike.[54] The provincial government has said it hopes to reach a deal with the unions before 2024.[55]
Bibliography
- (2013) Cap sur un Québec gagnant: le projet Saint-Laurent[56]
Personal life
Legault married Isabelle Brais on March 7, 1992, in
Legault is
Awards and honours
Legault has been a Fellow of the Ordre des comptables agréés du Québec (Order of Chartered Accountants of Québec) since 2000.[7]
References
- ^ Baillargeon, Stéphane (May 17, 2019). ""C'est beaucoup d'émotions pour moi", dit François Legault" ["It's a lot of emotion for me," says François Legault]. Le Devoir (in French). Montreal, Quebec. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
- ^ "Quebec election: François Legault is a pragmatist at heart | Montreal Gazette". September 22, 2018.
- ^ Macpherson, Don (October 14, 2010). "Legault's movement would fill a vacuum in Quebec". The Gazette (Montreal). Archived from the original on January 19, 2013. Retrieved 2012-01-23.
- ^ "Legault says he's not going to give up". Metro. April 5, 2014. Archived from the original on April 2, 2016. Retrieved 2016-03-20.
- ^ "CAQ leader François Legault wins riding". Global News. April 7, 2014. Retrieved 2016-03-20.
- ^ "François Legault - Assemblée nationale du Québec". www.assnat.qc.ca (in French). Retrieved 2021-01-07.
- ^ a b "François Legault". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
- ^ Hamilton, Graeme (June 26, 2009). "Legault resignation latest blow for PQ". National Post. Montreal, Quebec. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
- ^ "PQ critic Legault leaving politics". CBC News. Montreal, Quebec. June 25, 2009. Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
- ^ Legault, Josée (June 25, 2009). "It is likely we haven't seen the end of François Legault". The Gazette. Montreal. Archived from the original on January 17, 2016. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
- ^ "Behind the scenes of the CAQ - Macleans.ca". Macleans.ca. 2012-04-16. Retrieved 2018-10-06.
- ^ "Ex-PQ minister launches coalition". Cbc.ca. February 21, 2011. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
- ^ "Francois Legault unveils Coalition for the Future". CTV News. February 21, 2011. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
- ^ "Quebec gets new political party". Cbc.ca. November 14, 2011. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
- ^ "Francois Legault says CAQ would 'never' hold a referendum". CTV News. April 10, 2014. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
- ^ Keating, Cecilia (2 October 2018). "What just happened in Quebec? Seven things you need to know about François Legault's historic victory". National Observer. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
- ^ Les Perraux (October 1, 2018). "Coalition Avenir Québec wins historic majority as voters soundly reject old-line Liberals, PQ". The Globe and Mail.
- ^ "Pauline Marois to become Quebec's 1st female premier". Cbc.ca. September 4, 2012. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
- ^ "Quebec election: Liberals win majority". Cbc.ca. April 7, 2014. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
- ^ "Many of the CAQ's gains in ridings come at the PQ's expense". The Globe and Mail. April 7, 2014. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
- ^ "Premier-designate François Legault wants 'to make Quebec stronger within Canada' - iPolitics". iPolitics. 2018-10-02. Retrieved 2018-10-03.
- ^ "'I'm going to be the premier of all Quebecers': Legault elected with majority government". 3 October 2022.
- ^ "Change coming, Francois Legault vows as he becomes Quebec premier". lfpress.com. October 18, 2018.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-03-29. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-03-29. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Perreaux, Les (16 June 2019). "Quebec passes bill banning public servants from wearing religious symbols". The Globe and Mail.
- ^ "Quebec bans religious symbols for state workers in new law". Global News.
- ^ Patriquin, Martin (January 29, 2019). "Quebec nationalism could once claim to be colour- and country-blind. Not anymore". Cbc.ca. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
- ^ "As Quebec cuts immigration, premier calls for more newcomers from Europe". Cbc.ca.
- ^ "Quebec premier tells businesses to boost wages if they want to find workers - Montreal | Globalnews.ca".
- ^ "Legault holds line on immigration number, urges companies to boost wages". Montrealgazette.com.
- ^ "Legault tells Quebec employers to boost wages to attract talent - The Globe and Mail". The Globe and Mail. 14 August 2019.
- ^ "Quebec Premier François Legault defends telling California governor 'all' French-Canadians are Catholic". Montreal.ctvnews.ca. 12 December 2019.
- ^ a b "'All French Canadians' are Catholic, Quebec premier tells governor of California". Cbc.ca.
- Montreal Gazette.
- ^ "CityNews". Montreal.citynews.ca. 28 June 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
- ^ "Quebec's premier rejects multiculturalism as province celebrates Fête nationale". Cbc.ca. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
- ^ "Language law Bill 96 adopted, promising sweeping changes for Quebec". Montreal. 2022-05-24. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
- ^ Lowrie, Morgan (June 2022). "Quebec Premier Francois Legault accused of stoking immigration fears after speech at CAQ convention". The Globe and Mail.
- ^ "Quebec is no Louisiana, experts say as premier accused of stoking immigration fears | Globalnews.ca".
- ^ "Quebec is no Louisiana, experts say, as premier accused of stoking immigration fears". June 2022.
- ^ Quebec's First Nations and Inuit people [sic] receive apology from Premier Legault. A report found that Indigenous communities suffered systemic racism in the province. Archived 2020-07-31 at the Wayback Machine, Huffington Post, October 2, 2019
- ^ Shingler, Benjamin (7 May 2020). "As Quebec opens up, Canada's top science adviser questions province's lack of COVID-19 testing". Cbc.ca. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
- ^ "Quebec's push to go electric won't get province to emission reduction targets, experts say". Cbc.ca. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
- ^ a b Bourhis, Richard (24 February 2020). "Québec's Bill 40 further undermines the province's English-language school system". The Conversation. Retrieved 2020-03-27.
- ^ a b "Quebec passes education reforms abolishing school boards". CBC News. February 8, 2020. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
- ^ "Quebec moves to shore up academic freedom with controversial bill". CBC News. 2022-04-06. Archived from the original on 2023-06-08.
- ^ "Quebec tables Bill 32 to protect academic freedom in universities".
- ^ "Quebec passes controversial bill to protect academic freedom". 3 June 2022.
- ^ Rastello, Sandrine (27 April 2020). "A fight against Amazon becomes a state matter in Quebec". Financial Post.
- ^ "A Fight Against Amazon Becomes a State Matter in Quebec". Au.finance.yahoo.com. 27 April 2020.
- ^ "Legault open to idea of 'Amazon Quebec' to promote local retailers - Montreal". Globalnews.ca.
- ^ "Legault not ruling out a 'Quebec Amazon' to promote local retailers". Theglobeandmail.com. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
- ^ "More than half a million Quebec public-sector workers are on strike. Here's what to know". The Globe and Mail. 2023-12-13. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
- ^ "Quebec public sector unions threaten unlimited strike in new year - Montreal | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
- ISBN 978-2-7646-2284-1.
- ^ "Déclaration de mariage" (in French). Ministry of Health and Social Services. March 7, 1992. Retrieved March 19, 2020 – via Institut généalogique Drouin.
- ^ "François Legault biography". Thestar.com. Retrieved 2018-09-30.
External links
- "Biography". Dictionnaire des parlementaires du Québec de 1792 à nos jours (in French). National Assembly of Quebec.