Josée Verner
Encyclopedia
Josée Verner, PC
, (born December 30, 1959) is a Canadian politician
. She represented the electoral district of Louis-Saint-Laurent
in the Canadian House of Commons
from 2006 to 2011 as a member of the Conservative Party of Canada
. She also served as a minister in the Cabinet of Prime Minister
Stephen Harper
serving as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister for La Francophonie. On May 18, 2011, it was announced that she would be appointed to the Canadian Senate
following the loss of her seat in the 2011 federal election, and she was she formally appointed on June 13, 2011.
and the federal Conservative Party of Canada
, Verner also once worked as a political staffer in Quebec City
in the Robert Bourassa
government. Verner has spent almost 20 years in the communications and public service fields.
She was a candidate for the Conservatives in the 2004 federal election
and finished second with 31% of the vote, the party's best Quebec showing, in a three-way race that was won by the Bloc Québécois
's Bernard Cleary
. This was contrasted with her victory in a two-way race in 2006.
Looking to boost the party's profile in Quebec, and hoping to make Verner a viable candidate in future elections, Conservative leader Stephen Harper
took the unusual step of naming Verner to the opposition shadow cabinet
even though she was not a Member of Parliament
. She served as critic for the Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
and the Minister responsible for La Francophonie, both posts then held by fellow Quebecker Jacques Saada
. She was also appointed chair of the Quebec Conservative caucus
which at the time was made up of herself and Conservative senators
.
and Josée Verner are currently working on a Copyright Act amendment bill which is set to be introduced (at least in part) on June 12, 2008. It has been stated by Prentice during a confrontation with the public demanding details on the bill that "When Canadian Heritage Minister Josée Verner and I have reached a consensus and we're satisfied, we will introduce a bill."
So far, little details have been publicly released on the proposed bill, but preliminary copies have been leaked onto the internet, and have prompted major fears from Michael Geist
, Research Chair of Internet and E-commerce Law at the University of Ottawa, as well as the public at large, that the core desire of the draft legislation is "to satisfy U.S. pressure by enacting something very close to the U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright Act".
, she was elected with 57.68% of the vote in Louis-Saint-Laurent, defeating Bernard Cleary
, and heading a wave of Conservative victories that swept the Quebec City area.
On February 6, 2006, she was sworn into Prime Minister Stephen Harper
's cabinet as Minister of International Co-operation and Minister for La Francophonie and Official Languages.
Her parliamentary secretary is Ted Menzies
, who received some criticism for having La Francophonie as his portfolio while he does not speak French
. It was subsequently specified that he was appointed parliamentary secretary to Josée Verner for his experience as opposition critic for International Co-operation rather than for La Francophonie.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
, (born December 30, 1959) is a Canadian politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. She represented the electoral district of Louis-Saint-Laurent
Louis-Saint-Laurent
Louis-Saint-Laurent is a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004.It was created in 2003 from parts of Portneuf and Quebec East ridings.-Geography:...
in the Canadian House of Commons
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...
from 2006 to 2011 as a member of the Conservative Party of Canada
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...
. She also served as a minister in the Cabinet of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
serving as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister for La Francophonie. On May 18, 2011, it was announced that she would be appointed to the Canadian Senate
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...
following the loss of her seat in the 2011 federal election, and she was she formally appointed on June 13, 2011.
Political career
A member of the provincial Action démocratique du QuébecAction démocratique du Québec
The Action démocratique du Québec, commonly referred to as the ADQ is a centre-right political party in Quebec, Canada. On the sovereignty question, it defines itself as autonomist, and has support from both soft nationalists and federalists....
and the federal Conservative Party of Canada
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...
, Verner also once worked as a political staffer 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...
in the 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...
government. Verner has spent almost 20 years in the communications and public service fields.
She was a candidate for the Conservatives in the 2004 federal election
Canadian federal election, 2004
The Canadian federal election, 2004 , was held on June 28, 2004 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 38th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal government of Prime Minister Paul Martin lost its majority, but was able to form a minority government after the elections...
and finished second with 31% of the vote, the party's best Quebec showing, in a three-way race that was won by the Bloc Québécois
Bloc Québécois
The Bloc Québécois is a federal political party in Canada devoted to the protection of Quebec's interests in the House of Commons of Canada, and the promotion of Quebec sovereignty. The Bloc was originally a party made of Quebec nationalists who defected from the federal Progressive Conservative...
's Bernard Cleary
Bernard Cleary
Bernard Cleary is a Canadian politician.Cleary was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the Canadian federal election, 2004. He was the Bloc Québécois member of parliament for the riding of Louis-Saint-Laurent. He was the Bloc's critic to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern...
. This was contrasted with her victory in a two-way race in 2006.
Looking to boost the party's profile in Quebec, and hoping to make Verner a viable candidate in future elections, Conservative leader Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
took the unusual step of naming Verner to the opposition shadow cabinet
Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (Canada)
The Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet of the 39th Canadian parliament is listed below. Members are drawn from the Liberal Party of Canada, and most are members of their parliamentary caucus...
even though she was not a 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...
. She served as critic for the Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
The Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec is the member of the Cabinet of Canada who also serves as the chief executive of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec....
and the Minister responsible for La Francophonie, both posts then held by fellow Quebecker Jacques Saada
Jacques Saada
Jacques Saada, PC is a Canadian politician and former cabinet minister.Saada is a teacher and linguist by profession and was Chief Executive Officer of a translation firm, a consultant and a lecturer in translation prior to entering politics.He was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons...
. She was also appointed chair of the Quebec Conservative caucus
Caucus
A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement, especially in the United States and Canada. As the use of the term has been expanded the exact definition has come to vary among political cultures.-Origin of the term:...
which at the time was made up of herself and Conservative senators
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...
.
Canadian Copyright Law Reforms
Industry Minister Jim PrenticeJim Prentice
James "Jim" Prentice, PC, QC is a Canadian lawyer, and politician. In the 2004 federal election he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons as a candidate of the Conservative Party of Canada...
and Josée Verner are currently working on a Copyright Act amendment bill which is set to be introduced (at least in part) on June 12, 2008. It has been stated by Prentice during a confrontation with the public demanding details on the bill that "When Canadian Heritage Minister Josée Verner and I have reached a consensus and we're satisfied, we will introduce a bill."
So far, little details have been publicly released on the proposed bill, but preliminary copies have been leaked onto the internet, and have prompted major fears from Michael Geist
Michael Geist
Michael Allen Geist is a Canadian academic, and the Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-Commerce Law at the University of Ottawa. Geist was educated at the University of Western Ontario where he received his Bachelors of Laws before going on to get his Masters of Laws at both Osgoode Hall Law...
, Research Chair of Internet and E-commerce Law at the University of Ottawa, as well as the public at large, that the core desire of the draft legislation is "to satisfy U.S. pressure by enacting something very close to the U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright Act".
In cabinet
Running again in the 2006 electionCanadian federal election, 2006
The 2006 Canadian federal election was held on January 23, 2006, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 39th Parliament of Canada. The Conservative Party of Canada won the greatest number of seats: 40.3% of seats, or 124 out of 308, up from 99 seats in 2004, and 36.3% of votes:...
, she was elected with 57.68% of the vote in Louis-Saint-Laurent, defeating Bernard Cleary
Bernard Cleary
Bernard Cleary is a Canadian politician.Cleary was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the Canadian federal election, 2004. He was the Bloc Québécois member of parliament for the riding of Louis-Saint-Laurent. He was the Bloc's critic to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern...
, and heading a wave of Conservative victories that swept the Quebec City area.
On February 6, 2006, she was sworn into Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
's cabinet as Minister of International Co-operation and Minister for La Francophonie and Official Languages.
Her parliamentary secretary is Ted Menzies
Ted Menzies
Ted Menzies, PC, MP is a Canadian politician. He currently represents the electoral district of Macleod in the Canadian House of Commons and serves as Minister of State for Finance.- In opposition :...
, who received some criticism for having La Francophonie as his portfolio while he does not speak French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
. It was subsequently specified that he was appointed parliamentary secretary to Josée Verner for his experience as opposition critic for International Co-operation rather than for La Francophonie.