Jean-Jacques Bertrand
Encyclopedia
Jean-Jacques Bertrand was the 21st Premier
of Quebec
, Canada
, from October 2, 1968 to May 12, 1970. He led the Union Nationale party.
for the District of Missisquoi
from 1948 until his death in 1973.
.
Bertrand tried to become leader of the Union Nationale in 1961, but was defeated by his colleague Daniel Johnson, Sr., the MLA for the district of Bagot
.
In 1966
, the Union Nationale was put back in office and Premier
Daniel Johnson, Sr. appointed Bertrand to his Cabinet. Bertrand served both as Education Minister until 1967 and Minister of Justice
until Johnson's sudden death from a heart attack in 1968. In addition to those assignments, Bertrand was also Johnson's Deputy Premier.
His victory (58% of the delegates) over colleague Jean-Guy Cardinal
(41%), Minister of Education and newly-elected MLA for the district of Bagot
, at the Leadership Convention of 1969, caused a deep division among party insiders. While Johnson had been more accommodating towards the more nationalist elements of the party, Bertrand clearly positioned himself as a federalist
. Cardinal was considered the nationalist candidate in the race. His defeat prompted a number of supporters to leave the Union Nationale and join the Parti Québécois
.
The Union Nationale was also weakened by the passage of a controversial language legislation in 1969, known as Bill 63. Meant to resolve a conflict that plagued the public school board of Saint-Léonard, the bill confirmed the status quo on the language of instruction in the public schools (parents can choose English or French) and angered Quebec nationalists. Two Union Nationale MLAs, Jérôme Proulx
and Antonio Flamand
crossed the floor
and sat as Independents, along with Parti Québécois Leader René Lévesque
and Liberal dissident Yves Michaud
to protest against the new law.
The Bill 63 would be superseded by Robert Bourassa
's Bill 22
in 1974 and René Lévesque's Bill 101 in 1977.
The less controversial accomplishments of the Bertrand administration include the abolition of the Legislative Council of Quebec
, the provincial equivalent of the Canadian Senate. Since then, the Legislative Assembly of Quebec is known as the National Assembly of Quebec
.
to Robert Bourassa's Liberals. While the party managed to obtain the status of Official Opposition, it finished third in the popular vote behind the PQ. The UN never significantly recovered from that defeat and no longer exists as a political party.
A year later, Bertrand resigned as Leader of the Union Nationale. He died a few months before the 1973 election
.
His son, Jean-François Bertrand
, was the Member of the National Assembly
for the district of Vanier from 1976
to 1985
and a Cabinet Member of René Lévesque
's Parti Québécois
government. Bertrand's widow Gabrielle
served as Progressive Conservative
Member of Parliament
for the district of Brome—Missisquoi
from 1984
to 1993
.
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....
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 October 2, 1968 to May 12, 1970. He led the Union Nationale party.
Member of the legislature
Bertrand served as Member of the Legislative AssemblyNational 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...
for the District of Missisquoi
Missisquoi (provincial electoral district)
Missisquoi was a provincial electoral district in the province of Quebec, Canada. Located in the Estrie region, it was created in 1867. It was merged with Brome in 1973 to form the new district of Brome-Missisquoi.-Members of Legislative Assembly:...
from 1948 until his death in 1973.
Member of the Cabinet
He served as Minister of Lands and Forestry from 1958 to 1960 and briefly as Minister of Youth and Social Welfare until his party, the Union Nationale lost the provincial election in 1960Quebec general election, 1960
The Quebec general election of 1960 was held on June 22, 1960 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec, Canada. It was one of the most significant elections in Quebec history, rivalled perhaps only by the 1976 general election...
.
Bertrand tried to become leader of the Union Nationale in 1961, but was defeated by his colleague Daniel Johnson, Sr., the MLA for the district of Bagot
Bagot (provincial electoral district)
Bagot is a former provincial electoral district in the province of Quebec, Canada. Created in 1867, the Estrie region district existed until 1972, when it was included in the new riding of Johnson in honour of former Quebec Premier Daniel Johnson who was a Member of the Legislative and National...
.
In 1966
Quebec general election, 1966
The Quebec general election of 1966 was held on June 5, 1966, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec, Canada. The Union Nationale , led by Daniel Johnson, Sr, defeated the incumbent Quebec Liberal Party, led by Jean Lesage....
, the Union Nationale was put back in office and Premier
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....
Daniel Johnson, Sr. appointed Bertrand to his Cabinet. Bertrand served both as Education Minister until 1967 and Minister of Justice
Minister of Justice (Quebec)
The Minister of Justice is responsible for the administration of courts and prosecutors in Quebec, Canada. The Minister is automatically the Attorney General, and Registrar of Quebec....
until Johnson's sudden death from a heart attack in 1968. In addition to those assignments, Bertrand was also Johnson's Deputy Premier.
Premier of Quebec
Bertrand was chosen Acting Party Leader until a leadership convention could be held and therefore became Premier of Quebec.His victory (58% of the delegates) over colleague Jean-Guy Cardinal
Jean-Guy Cardinal
Jean-Guy Cardinal was a nationalist politician in Quebec, Canada.-Union Nationale:Cardinal was a supporter of the Union Nationale. He was appointed to the Legislative Council of Quebec and to Daniel Johnson, Sr.'s Cabinet in 1967 and became Minister of Education.Less than a year later, Premier...
(41%), Minister of Education and newly-elected MLA for the district of Bagot
Bagot (provincial electoral district)
Bagot is a former provincial electoral district in the province of Quebec, Canada. Created in 1867, the Estrie region district existed until 1972, when it was included in the new riding of Johnson in honour of former Quebec Premier Daniel Johnson who was a Member of the Legislative and National...
, at the Leadership Convention of 1969, caused a deep division among party insiders. While Johnson had been more accommodating towards the more nationalist elements of the party, Bertrand clearly positioned himself as a federalist
Canadian federalism
Canada is a federation with two distinct jurisdictions of political authority: the country-wide federal government and the ten regionally-based provincial governments. It also has three territorial governments in the far north, though these are subject to the federal government...
. Cardinal was considered the nationalist candidate in the race. His defeat prompted a number of supporters to leave the Union Nationale and join 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...
.
The Union Nationale was also weakened by the passage of a controversial language legislation in 1969, known as Bill 63. Meant to resolve a conflict that plagued the public school board of Saint-Léonard, the bill confirmed the status quo on the language of instruction in the public schools (parents can choose English or French) and angered Quebec nationalists. Two Union Nationale MLAs, Jérôme Proulx
Jérôme Proulx
-Member of the legislature:Proulx won a seat to the National Assembly of Quebec in 1966 in the district of Saint-Jean and was a member of the Union Nationale. In 1969 though, he left his party and sat as an Independent to protest against the passage of Bill 63, a controversial language legislation...
and Antonio Flamand
Antonio Flamand
-Background:He was born on June 28, 1933 in Saint-Honoré, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean. He moved to Rouyn-Noranda and made career in accounting and education.-Member of the legislature:...
crossed the floor
Crossing the floor
In politics, crossing the floor has two meanings referring to a change of allegiance in a Westminster system parliament.The term originates from the British House of Commons, which is configured with the Government and Opposition facing each other on rows of benches...
and sat as Independents, along with Parti Québécois Leader 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...
and Liberal dissident Yves Michaud
Yves Michaud
Yves Michaud is a prominent Quebec public figure, a sovereignist and pur et dur supporter of the Parti Québécois.-Background:...
to protest against the new law.
The Bill 63 would be superseded by 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...
's Bill 22
Official Language Act (Quebec)
The Official Language Act of 1974 , also known as Bill 22, is an act of the National Assembly of Quebec which made French the sole official language of Quebec, a province of Canada...
in 1974 and René Lévesque's Bill 101 in 1977.
The less controversial accomplishments of the Bertrand administration include the abolition of the Legislative Council of Quebec
Legislative Council of Quebec
From 1867 until 1968, the Legislative Council of Quebec was the unelected upper house of the bicameral legislature in the Canadian province of Quebec...
, the provincial equivalent of the Canadian Senate. Since then, the Legislative Assembly of Quebec is known as 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...
.
Leader of the Official Opposition
The Union Nationale lost the 1970 electionQuebec general election, 1970
The Quebec general election of 1970 was held on April 29, 1970 to elect members of the National Assembly of Quebec, Canada. The former Legislative Assembly had been renamed the "National Assembly" in 1968...
to Robert Bourassa's Liberals. While the party managed to obtain the status of Official Opposition, it finished third in the popular vote behind the PQ. The UN never significantly recovered from that defeat and no longer exists as a political party.
A year later, Bertrand resigned as Leader of the Union Nationale. He died a few months before the 1973 election
Quebec general election, 1973
The Quebec general election of 1973 was held on October 29, 1973 to elect members to National Assembly of Quebec, Canada. The incumbent Quebec Liberal Party, led by Robert Bourassa, won re-election, defeating the Parti Québécois, led by René Lévesque, and the Union Nationale .The Liberals won a...
.
His son, Jean-François Bertrand
Jean-François Bertrand
-Background:He was born on June 22, 1946 in Cowansville, Quebec and has a degree in political science from Université Laval. He is the son of politicians Jean-Jacques and Gabrielle Bertrand.-Member of the legislature:...
, was the 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...
for the district of Vanier from 1976
Quebec general election, 1976
The Quebec general election of 1976 was held on November 15, 1976 to elect members to National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. It was one of the most significant elections in Quebec history, rivalled only by the 1960 general election, and caused major repercussions in the rest of Canada...
to 1985
Quebec general election, 1985
The Quebec general election of 1985 was held on December 2, 1985, to elect members of the National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The Quebec Liberal Party, led by former premier Robert Bourassa, defeated the incumbent Parti Québécois, led by premier Pierre-Marc Johnson.This election...
and a Cabinet Member of 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...
's 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...
government. Bertrand's widow Gabrielle
Gabrielle Bertrand
Gabrielle Bertrand was a Canadian politician.Born Gabrielle Giroux in Sweetsburg, Quebec, the daughter of Louis-Arthur Giroux and Juliette Bolduc, she married Jean-Jacques Bertrand in 1944, the future Union Nationale Premier of Quebec from 1968 to 1970...
served as 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....
Member of Parliament
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
for the district of Brome—Missisquoi
Brome—Missisquoi
Brome—Missisquoi is a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1925...
from 1984
Canadian federal election, 1984
The Canadian federal election of 1984 was held on September 4 of that year to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 33rd Parliament of Canada...
to 1993
Canadian federal election, 1993
The Canadian federal election of 1993 was held on October 25 of that year to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 35th Parliament of Canada. Fourteen parties competed for the 295 seats in the House at that time...
.
See also
- Politics of QuebecPolitics of QuebecThe politics of Quebec are centred on a provincial government resembling that of the other Canadian provinces, namely a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. The capital of the province is Quebec City, where the Lieutenant Governor, Premier, the legislature, and cabinet reside.The...
- List of Quebec general elections
- Timeline of Quebec historyTimeline of Quebec historyThis article presents a detailed timeline of Quebec history. Events taking place outside Quebec, for example in English Canada, the United States, Britain or France, may be included when they are considered to have had a significant impact on Quebec's history....
External links
- National Assembly biography (in French)