Claude Béchard
Encyclopedia
Claude Béchard was a politician in Quebec
, Canada
. He served as Quebec Liberal Party Member of the National Assembly
(MNA) for the riding of Kamouraska-Témiscouata
in the Bas-Saint-Laurent
region; as Minister
of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
as well as the Minister for Canadian Intergovermental Affairs, and previously the Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife
, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks
, Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade
and Ministry of Employment and Social Solidarity.
. In 1991, he received a bachelor's degree
in political science
from Université Laval
in Quebec City
. He graduated with a master's degree
in land planning and regional development
in 1994. He began doctoral studies in public administration, but left it to work as a political adviser to Daniel Johnson, Jr. from 1993 to 1996. He became the vice-president of the Quebec Liberal Party in 1997 and in a by-election
the same year was elected as a Member of the National Assembly for the riding of Kamouraska-Témiscouata. He was re-elected in 1998
and 2003
, the latter which gave his party the power. During the years in the opposition benches he served as critic for employment, labour, energy and education.
became Premier of Quebec
in 2003, he was named the Minister of Employment
, Social Solidarity and Family Welfare before a Cabinet shuffle caused by the departure of Yves Séguin
as Finance Minister, promoted him to the position of Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade in 2005. He occupied the position for year before becoming Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks in 2006.
Soon after, Béchard became involved in a controversial plan to sell part of the Mont Orford
provincial park to a developer who planned to build condominiums. The plan was eventually cancelled. In addition, Béchard announced that the Orford Park would double in size as a national park
.
Béchard was re-elected in the 2007 elections
and named the Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife replacing Pierre Corbeil
who was defeated by the PQ's Alexis Wawanoloath
. Line Beauchamp
succeeded him as Minister of Environment.
cancer. In addition, during the same year, his press secretary Nancy Michaud was kidnapped and later found murdered inside an abandoned home in Riviere-Ouelle.
Béchard recovered from his operation and was easily re-elected in the 2008 elections. On June 23, 2009, during a cabinet shuffle, Bechard was moved from the Natural Resources and Wildlife portfolios to Agriculture, Fisheries and Food replacing Laurent Lessard. Nathalie Normandeau replaced Béchard as Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife. Bechard was also named the Minister of Canadian Intergovermental Affairs replacing Jacques P. Dupuis.
Faced with continuing health challenges from his cancer, Béchard announced his retirement from politics on September 7, 2010, and died later the same day.
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He served as Quebec Liberal Party Member of the National Assembly
National Assembly of Quebec
The National Assembly of Quebec is the legislative body of the Province of Quebec. The Lieutenant Governor and the National Assembly compose the Parliament of Quebec, which operates in a fashion similar to those of other British-style parliamentary systems.The National Assembly was formerly the...
(MNA) for the riding of Kamouraska-Témiscouata
Kamouraska-Témiscouata
Kamouraska-Témiscouata is a provincial electoral district in Quebec, Canada that elects members to the National Assembly of Quebec. The riding was created in 1972 from Kamouraska and parts of L'Islet and Témiscouata...
in the Bas-Saint-Laurent
Bas-Saint-Laurent
The Bas-Saint-Laurent region is located along the south shore of the lower Saint Lawrence River in Quebec.It has a population of 200,653 and a land area of 22,232.11 km² .-Subdivisions:...
region; as Minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Quebec)
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is a government department in the Canadian province of Quebec...
as well as the Minister for Canadian Intergovermental Affairs, and previously the Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife
Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife (Quebec)
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife is responsible for the protection of flora and fauna and manage natural resource extraction in the province of Quebec....
, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks
Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks (Quebec)
The Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks is responsible for the provincial reserves, parks and, environmental policy and land development in the province of Quebec.The current minister is Pierre Arcand.-External links:*...
, Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade
Ministry of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade (Quebec)
Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade is in charge of the economic policy in the province. It is also charged with promoting the growth of R&D innovations in the province of Quebec.The current minister is Sam Hamad.-External links:*...
and Ministry of Employment and Social Solidarity.
Early life and career
Béchard was born in 1969 in Saint-Philippe-de-NériSaint-Philippe-de-Néri, Quebec
Saint-Philippe-de-Néri is a parish municipality in the Canadian province of Quebec, located in the Kamouraska Regional County Municipality.-Municipal council:* Mayor: Gilles Lévesque...
. In 1991, he received a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from Université Laval
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...
in Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
. He graduated with a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in land planning and regional development
Regional development
Regional development is the provision of aid and other assistance to regions which are less economically developed. Regional development may be domestic or international in nature...
in 1994. He began doctoral studies in public administration, but left it to work as a political adviser to Daniel Johnson, Jr. from 1993 to 1996. He became the vice-president of the Quebec Liberal Party in 1997 and in a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
the same year was elected as a Member of the National Assembly for the riding of Kamouraska-Témiscouata. He was re-elected in 1998
Quebec general election, 1998
The Quebec general election of 1998 was held on November 30, 1998, to elect members of the National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The incumbent Parti Québécois, led by Lucien Bouchard, won re-election, defeating the Quebec Liberal Party, led by Jean Charest.After the narrow defeat of...
and 2003
Quebec general election, 2003
The Quebec general election of 2003 was held on April 14, 2003, to elect members of the National Assembly of Quebec . The Parti libéral du Québec , led by Jean Charest, defeated the incumbent Parti Québécois, led by Bernard Landry.-Unfolding:...
, the latter which gave his party the power. During the years in the opposition benches he served as critic for employment, labour, energy and education.
Quebec cabinet
When Jean CharestJean Charest
John James "Jean" Charest, PC, MNA is a Canadian politician who has been the 29th Premier of Quebec since 2003. He was leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1993 to 1998 and has been leader of the Quebec Liberal Party since 1998....
became Premier of Quebec
Premier of Quebec
The Premier of Quebec is the first minister of the Canadian province of Quebec. The Premier is the province's head of government and his title is Premier and President of the Executive Council....
in 2003, he was named the Minister of Employment
Employment
Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. An employee may be defined as:- Employee :...
, Social Solidarity and Family Welfare before a Cabinet shuffle caused by the departure of Yves Séguin
Yves Séguin
Yves Séguin is a former Canadian politician in Quebec.He was first elected as the Quebec Liberal Party member for Montmorency in 1985. He was the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Revenue from 1985 to 1987. He was then made the Minister of Revenue himself in 1987. He was also made the...
as Finance Minister, promoted him to the position of Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade in 2005. He occupied the position for year before becoming Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks in 2006.
Soon after, Béchard became involved in a controversial plan to sell part of the Mont Orford
Mont Orford
Mount Orford is a mountain, ski resort and provincial park in the Eastern Townships region of the Canadian province of Quebec, Canada. It is a few minutes away from the town of Magog and one hour from Montreal....
provincial park to a developer who planned to build condominiums. The plan was eventually cancelled. In addition, Béchard announced that the Orford Park would double in size as a national park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
.
Béchard was re-elected in the 2007 elections
Quebec general election, 2007
The Quebec general election of 2007 was held in the Canadian province of Quebec on March 26, 2007 to elect members of the 38th National Assembly of Quebec. The Quebec Liberal Party led by Jean Charest managed to win a plurality of seats, but were reduced to a minority government, Quebec's first in...
and named the Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife replacing Pierre Corbeil
Pierre Corbeil
Pierre Corbeil, D.M.D. is a Quebec politician and dentist. He is a Member of National Assembly of Quebec for Abitibi-Est as a member of the Quebec Liberal Party and the current Minister Responsible for Indian Affairs.Corbeil went to the Université de Montréal and obtained a doctor's degree in...
who was defeated by the PQ's Alexis Wawanoloath
Alexis Wawanoloath
Alexis Wawanoloath is a Canadian politician. He was a Member of National Assembly of Quebec for the riding of Abitibi-Est, representing the Parti Québécois...
. Line Beauchamp
Line Beauchamp
Line Beauchamp is a Quebec politician. She is the current Quebec Member of the National Assembly of Quebec for the Montreal riding of Bourassa-Sauvé as a member of the Quebec Liberal Party...
succeeded him as Minister of Environment.
Cancer, recovery, and death
On May 30, 2008, Béchard was hospitalized for persistent stomach pain. On June 9, 2008, he was diagnosed with pancreaticPancreas
The pancreas is a gland organ in the digestive and endocrine system of vertebrates. It is both an endocrine gland producing several important hormones, including insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin, as well as a digestive organ, secreting pancreatic juice containing digestive enzymes that assist...
cancer. In addition, during the same year, his press secretary Nancy Michaud was kidnapped and later found murdered inside an abandoned home in Riviere-Ouelle.
Béchard recovered from his operation and was easily re-elected in the 2008 elections. On June 23, 2009, during a cabinet shuffle, Bechard was moved from the Natural Resources and Wildlife portfolios to Agriculture, Fisheries and Food replacing Laurent Lessard. Nathalie Normandeau replaced Béchard as Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife. Bechard was also named the Minister of Canadian Intergovermental Affairs replacing Jacques P. Dupuis.
Faced with continuing health challenges from his cancer, Béchard announced his retirement from politics on September 7, 2010, and died later the same day.