Jean-Claude Rivest
Encyclopedia
Jean-Claude Rivest is a Canadian
lawyer, politician and Senator
.
Born in L'Assomption, Quebec
, the son of Victor Rivest and Yvette Lafortune, he studied law at the Université de Montréal
. He was called to the Quebec Bar in 1966. He practiced law from 1966 to 1967, until he started working for Jean Lesage
. From 1970 to 1976, he worked for Robert Bourassa
, Premier of Quebec
. From 1976 to 1979, he worked for Gérard D. Lévesque
, leader of the Official Opposition in the National Assembly of Quebec
. In 1979, he was elected to the National Assembly as a Liberal Party candidate in a by-election
in the riding of Jean-Talon. He was re-elected in the 1981 general election
.
He was appointed to the Senate on the recommendation of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney
in 1993,. He initially sat as a Progressive Conservative
Senator. Upon that party's merger with the Canadian Alliance
, he sat in the newly formed Conservative Party
caucus. In September 2004, he changed his designation to "Independent". He is a member of the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs committee.
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...
lawyer, politician and Senator
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
.
Born in L'Assomption, Quebec
L'Assomption, Quebec
L'Assomption is an off-island suburb of Montreal, in southwestern Quebec, Canada on the L'Assomption River. It is the seat of the Regional County Municipality of L'Assomption. It is located on the outer fringes of the Montreal urban area....
, the son of Victor Rivest and Yvette Lafortune, he studied law at the Université de Montréal
Université de Montréal
The Université de Montréal is a public francophone research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It comprises thirteen faculties, more than sixty departments and two affiliated schools: the École Polytechnique and HEC Montréal...
. He was called to the Quebec Bar in 1966. He practiced law from 1966 to 1967, until he started working for Jean Lesage
Jean Lesage
Jean Lesage, PC, CC, CD was a lawyer and politician in Quebec, Canada. He served as the 19th Premier of Quebec from 22 June 1960, to 16 August 1966...
. From 1970 to 1976, he worked for Robert Bourassa
Robert Bourassa
Jean-Robert Bourassa, was a politician in Quebec, Canada. He served as the 22nd Premier of Quebec in two different mandates, first from May 12, 1970, to November 25, 1976, and then from December 12, 1985, to January 11, 1994, serving a total of just under 15 years as Provincial Premier.-Early...
, 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....
. From 1976 to 1979, he worked for Gérard D. Lévesque
Gérard D. Lévesque
Gérard D. Levesque was a long time Quebec politician and Cabinet minister who twice served as Acting Leader of the Quebec Liberal Party. Levesque was first elected to what is now called the Quebec National Assembly in the riding of Bonaventure in 1956 and sat in the legislature continuously until...
, leader of the Official Opposition in the National Assembly of Quebec
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...
. In 1979, he was elected to the National Assembly as a Liberal Party candidate 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....
in the riding of Jean-Talon. He was re-elected in the 1981 general election
Quebec general election, 1981
The Quebec general election of 1981 was held on April 13, 1981, to elect members of the National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The incumbent Parti Québécois, led by René Lévesque, won re-election, defeating the Quebec Liberal Party, led by Claude Ryan.The PQ won re-election despite...
.
He was appointed to the Senate on the recommendation of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney
Brian Mulroney
Martin Brian Mulroney, was the 18th 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. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada-U.S...
in 1993,. He initially sat as a Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
Senator. Upon that party's merger with the Canadian Alliance
Canadian Alliance
The Canadian Alliance , formally the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance , was a Canadian conservative political party that existed from 2000 to 2003. The party was the successor to the Reform Party of Canada and inherited its position as the Official Opposition in the House of Commons and held...
, he sat in the newly formed Conservative Party
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
caucus. In September 2004, he changed his designation to "Independent". He is a member of the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs committee.