David Payne (politician)
Encyclopedia
David Payne is a politician and former member of the National Assembly
of Quebec
, Canada
, from the constituency of Vachon
. During his time in the National Assembly he was the only anglophone MNA within the Parti Québécois
parliamentary caucus, and advocated anglophone rights in a new Québec Constitution.
Payne was raised in Middlesbrough in North Yorkshire
. A keen sportsman, he graduated with a degree in philosophy from the Pontifical Gregorian University
and earned a diploma in sociology at the Université catholique de Louvain
. His Doctoral studies (IP) are in the field of democratization in post-conflict societies.
, being appointed in 1976 as Executive Secretary in the Executive Council of Quebec premier René Lévesque
. He wrote "Autant de façons d'être Québécois", and headed up the public hearings into the future of the Anglophone community of the Lower North Shore producing "La Basse-Cote Nord- perspectives et développement", referred to as the Payne Report.
He was appointed Secretary to the Commission of Enquiry on the mining disaster of Belmoral in northern Quebec in 1979, and occupied senior positions both in the private sector in Quebec public service.
He was elected to the provincial legislature
as the Member for the new district of Vachon in 1981, but was defeated in 1985 and 1989, only to be re-elected in 1994 and 1998.
In March 1996 he was Delegate to the Future of Europe Conference for parliamentarians at Lancaster House, London.
He was appointed Secretary General of Environnement 2000, a government supported agency preparing policies towards the Rio Summit later that year.
After his election in 1981, he was narrowly defeated in 1985 and 1989, only to be re-elected with strong majorities in 1994 and 1998. He was appointed President of the permanent Commission on Culture and Communications. He directed a number of government missions to various countries, notably in Asia and South America. As the only representative of the anglophone community in the Parti Québécois parliamentary caucus at the time, he was a frequent guest on Canadian television and radio media concerning Quebec constitutional and language affairs.
For many years Payne was President-Delegate (Quebec) of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
.
In 1996 he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier of Quebec
. He was also Government spokesperson for English relations.
In 1984 he was present in the National Assembly when a gunman, Denis Lortie
, entered the building and retained a number of employees in the Quebec Parliament, killing three employees, and wounding several others.
Payne left his seat in 2003 to become Economic and Commercial Delegate of Quebec to China.
Subsequently he joined the National Democratic Institute (Washington, US) as Director of Legislative Programs in Kosovo, and was Special Advisor to the President of the Assembly of Kosovo. Later he occupied a similar post for United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Afghanistan.
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...
of Quebec
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...
, from the constituency of Vachon
Vachon (electoral district)
Vachon is a provincial electoral district in Quebec, Canada that elects members to the National Assembly of Quebec. The district is located in Longueuil and includes most of the borough of Saint-Hubert...
. During his time in the National Assembly he was the only anglophone MNA within the Parti Québécois
Parti Québécois
The Parti Québécois is a centre-left political party that advocates national sovereignty for the province of Quebec and secession from Canada. The Party traditionally has support from the labour movement. Unlike many other social-democratic parties, its ties with the labour movement are informal...
parliamentary caucus, and advocated anglophone rights in a new Québec Constitution.
Payne was raised in Middlesbrough in North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
. A keen sportsman, he graduated with a degree in philosophy from the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
and earned a diploma in sociology at the Université catholique de Louvain
Université catholique de Louvain
The Université catholique de Louvain, sometimes known, especially in Belgium, as UCL, is Belgium's largest French-speaking university. It is located in Louvain-la-Neuve and in Brussels...
. His Doctoral studies (IP) are in the field of democratization in post-conflict societies.
Career
In the 1970s, he was appointed Directeur Général du Centre d'accueil des immigrants, then taught at Vanier CollegeVanier College
Vanier College is an English-language public college located in the Montreal borough of Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada. It was founded in 1970 as the second English-language public college of Quebec's public college system...
, being appointed in 1976 as Executive Secretary in the Executive Council of Quebec premier René Lévesque
René Lévesque
René Lévesque was a reporter, a minister of the government of Quebec, , the founder of the Parti Québécois political party and the 23rd Premier of Quebec...
. He wrote "Autant de façons d'être Québécois", and headed up the public hearings into the future of the Anglophone community of the Lower North Shore producing "La Basse-Cote Nord- perspectives et développement", referred to as the Payne Report.
He was appointed Secretary to the Commission of Enquiry on the mining disaster of Belmoral in northern Quebec in 1979, and occupied senior positions both in the private sector in Quebec public service.
He was elected to the provincial legislature
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...
as the Member for the new district of Vachon in 1981, but was defeated in 1985 and 1989, only to be re-elected in 1994 and 1998.
In March 1996 he was Delegate to the Future of Europe Conference for parliamentarians at Lancaster House, London.
He was appointed Secretary General of Environnement 2000, a government supported agency preparing policies towards the Rio Summit later that year.
After his election in 1981, he was narrowly defeated in 1985 and 1989, only to be re-elected with strong majorities in 1994 and 1998. He was appointed President of the permanent Commission on Culture and Communications. He directed a number of government missions to various countries, notably in Asia and South America. As the only representative of the anglophone community in the Parti Québécois parliamentary caucus at the time, he was a frequent guest on Canadian television and radio media concerning Quebec constitutional and language affairs.
For many years Payne was President-Delegate (Quebec) of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, previously known as the Empire Parliamentary Association, is an organisation, of British origin, which works to support good governance, democracy and human rights...
.
In 1996 he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the 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....
. He was also Government spokesperson for English relations.
In 1984 he was present in the National Assembly when a gunman, Denis Lortie
Denis Lortie
Denis Lortie is a former Canadian army corporal. In 1984, he stormed into the National Assembly of Quebec building and killed three Quebec government employees....
, entered the building and retained a number of employees in the Quebec Parliament, killing three employees, and wounding several others.
Payne left his seat in 2003 to become Economic and Commercial Delegate of Quebec to China.
Subsequently he joined the National Democratic Institute (Washington, US) as Director of Legislative Programs in Kosovo, and was Special Advisor to the President of the Assembly of Kosovo. Later he occupied a similar post for United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Afghanistan.
External links
- David PAYNE at Assemblée nationale du Québec