Michel Gauthier

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Michel Gauthier
Quebec National Assembly
for Roberval
In office
1981–1988
Preceded byRobert Lamontagne
Succeeded byGaston Blackburn
Personal details
Born(1950-02-18)February 18, 1950
Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
DiedMay 30, 2020(2020-05-30) (aged 70)
Political partyConservative (2018–2020)
Other political
affiliations		Bloc Québécois (1993–2007)
Parti Québécois (1981–1988)
ResidenceRoberval, Quebec
ProfessionTeacher, educational administrator, political advisor, broadcaster

Michel Gauthier (French pronunciation:

Leader of the Opposition during this time. He later recanted his sovereignist views when he joined the Conservative Party two years before his death.[1]

Early life

Gauthier was born in Quebec City on February 18, 1950, and was raised in Chambord. His father, Joseph-Georges Tremblay, worked as a motor engine technician; his mother, Cécile (Archambault), was a housewife.[2][3][4] Gauthier was a school teacher from 1970 to 1975, educational advisor from 1976 to 1979, then director of education services from 1979 to 1981 at the Roberval school board.[5]

He then served as president of the Tourism Corporation of Chambord in 1975 and in 1976 as president of Chambord Chamber of Commerce in 1977 and 1978.[5]

Political career

Gauthier was first elected as a Member of the National Assembly of Quebec for the Parti Québécois in 1981 for Roberval and was parliamentary secretary to the finance minister from 1983 to 1985. He was re-elected to the legislature in 1985 and served until 1988 when he resigned his seat to become director-general of the Roberval school board.[5]

He won a seat in the House of Commons of Canada as a candidate of the Bloc Québécois in 1993.[6]

Gauthier was not one of the Bloc's better-known Members of Parliament (MPs), but after Lucien Bouchard resigned to become Premier of Quebec, Gauthier won the Bloc Québécois leadership election of 1996, defeating Francine Lalonde.[7] The vote was conducted among members of the party's directorate rather than by all members of the party, and this hurt Gauthier's legitimacy.[7][8]

Gauthier's lack of profile resulted in some opposition parties mocking him as being the "faceless leader" of the opposition, as he was largely a political unknown in most of Canada and even in Quebec.[7] His leadership was unpopular with the caucus due to alleged conservative views and his lack of "charisma or authority" when compared to Bouchard.[2] Facing a revolt by his MPs, which culminated in the leaking of confidential caucus discussions, Gauthier resigned in March 1997.[2] He was succeeded by Gilles Duceppe.[6]

As a result of health issues after surgery, he announced in March 2007 that he would not run in the next federal election.

House Leader from 1997 until 2007.[2] Gauthier also served as the chief campaign organizer.[10] He formally resigned on July 29, 2007, and became the host of Gauthier, a television news show, which began airing on TQS in September 2007.[2]

On May 12, 2018, Gauthier joined the Conservative Party of Canada after not having been a member of any political party for eleven years.[1][11] He has also said he was no longer a sovereigntist, though he remained a Quebec nationalist.[11]

Personal life and death

Gauthier was married to Anne Allard until his death. He had two children from a previous marriage (Alexandre and Isabelle).[2][6]

Gauthier died on May 30, 2020, at the age of 70. He had been suffering from lung cancer in the years leading up to his death.[6][12]

References

  1. ^ a b The Canadian Press (May 12, 2018). "Ex-Bloc Quebecois leader, no longer a sovereigntist, joins Conservatives". CTV News. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Ha, Tu Thanh (May 31, 2020). "Former Bloc leader Michel Gauthier, 70, was a longtime voice for Quebec in Ottawa". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Archived from the original on June 1, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  3. ISBN 9781257925629
    . Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  4. ISBN 9782763773049
    . Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c "Michel Gauthier". National Assembly of Québec. December 2, 1985. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d "Former Bloc Québécois leader Michel Gauthier dies at 70". CBC News. May 31, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  7. ^
    ISBN 9781770700857
    .
  8. ISBN 9781770700857
    .
  9. ^ "Bloc stalwart Gauthier hangs up his political hat". CTV News. The Canadian Press. March 28, 2007. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  10. ^ Bernier, Jérémy; Paré, Étienne (May 30, 2020). "L'ex-politicien québécois Michel Gauthier est décédé". Le Journal de Québec (in French). Quebec City. Archived from the original on June 1, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Former Bloc Québécois leader Michel Gauthier renounces sovereignty, joins Conservatives". Montreal Gazette. Presse Canadienne. May 12, 2018. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
  12. ^ Blais, Stephane (May 31, 2020). "Former Bloc Quebecois leader Michel Gauthier dead at 70". Global News. The Canadian Press. Retrieved June 1, 2020.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michel_Gauthier&oldid=1209106869"