Michelle Courchesne
Encyclopedia
Michelle Courchesne is a Quebec
politician
. A member of the Quebec Liberal Party, she is the National Assembly
Member for the riding of Fabre
in Laval, Quebec
. She is also the current President of the Treasury of Board and Minister responsible for the Laval region while being a former Minister
of Education
, Family
, Immigration
, Employment
and Social Solidarity.
Courchesne went to the Université de Montréal
and obtained a bachelor's degree
in sociology
and a master's degree
in urban development. She would become an urbanist
from 1976 to 1981 before being elected to the City Council
of Laval. She would also work at the Ministry of Culture and Communications as a Deputy Minister
before being a member of the administration council of the National Bank of Canada
, Radio-Canada, the National Theater School of Canada and the Quebec Mental Health Foundation. She was then the director of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra
and a vice-president for Marketel and Cognicase.
Courchesne entered politics in 2003
, where she was elected as the MNA for Fabre while the Liberals regained power after nine years of governing by the Parti Québécois
. She was named by Jean Charest
in the Cabinet
as the Minister responsible for the relations with the Citizens and Immigration and was then promoted to Employment and Social Solidarity following a Cabinet shuffle
in 2005 where she took the position occupied by Claude Bechard
.
Following the 2007 elections
, she was re-elected in a Liberal minority government
, and named the Minister of Education, Leisure and Sports as well Minister of Family. On April 24, 2007 the Ministry of Education had announced that it will lift a tuition freeze for university
studies and will increase it by 50$ per semester over the next five years which prompting fierce opposition by the University student association, the FEUQ. Quebec currently holds the lowest university tuition fees across Canada
, with fees averaging 1,700$ per student per semester. Following the 2008 election, she kept most of the portfolios but gave up the Ministry of Family to LaFontaine
MNA Tony Tomassi
.
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....
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. A member of the Quebec Liberal Party, she is 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...
Member for the riding of Fabre
Fabre (electoral district)
Fabre is a provincial electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that elects members to the National Assembly of Quebec. The district is located in Laval and includes the westernmost portion of Île Jésus west of Autoroute 15 in the northern half of the district and west of Autoroute 13 in the southern...
in Laval, Quebec
Laval, Quebec
Laval is a Canadian city and a region in southwestern Quebec. It is the largest suburb of Montreal, the third largest municipality in the province of Quebec, and the 14th largest city in Canada with a population of 368,709 in 2006...
. She is also the current President of the Treasury of Board and Minister responsible for the Laval region while being a former 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 Education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, Family
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
, Immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
, 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 :...
and Social Solidarity.
Courchesne went to 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...
and obtained 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 sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
and 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 urban development. She would become an urbanist
Urban planning
Urban planning incorporates areas such as economics, design, ecology, sociology, geography, law, political science, and statistics to guide and ensure the orderly development of settlements and communities....
from 1976 to 1981 before being elected to the City Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
of Laval. She would also work at the Ministry of Culture and Communications as a Deputy Minister
Deputy Minister (Canada)
In Canada, a deputy minister is the senior civil servant in a government department. He or she takes political direction from an elected minister. Responsibility for the department's day-to-day operations, budget and program development lie with the deputy minister...
before being a member of the administration council of the National Bank of Canada
National Bank of Canada
National Bank of Canada is the 6th largest bank and 8th largest financial institution in Canada. The bank's headquarters are in Montreal, Quebec....
, Radio-Canada, the National Theater School of Canada and the Quebec Mental Health Foundation. She was then the director of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Orchestre symphonique de Montréal is a symphony orchestra based in Montréal, Québec, Canada, with Montréal's Place des Arts as its home.-History:...
and a vice-president for Marketel and Cognicase.
Courchesne entered politics in 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:...
, where she was elected as the MNA for Fabre while the Liberals regained power after nine years of governing by 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...
. She was named by Jean Charest
Jean 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....
in the Cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
as the Minister responsible for the relations with the Citizens and Immigration and was then promoted to Employment and Social Solidarity following a Cabinet shuffle
Cabinet shuffle
In the parliamentary system a cabinet shuffle or reshuffle is an informal term for an event that occurs when a head of government rotates or changes the composition of ministers in their cabinet....
in 2005 where she took the position occupied by Claude Bechard
Claude Béchard
Claude Béchard was a politician in Quebec, Canada. He served as Quebec Liberal Party Member of the National Assembly 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...
.
Following 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...
, she was re-elected in a Liberal minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
, and named the Minister of Education, Leisure and Sports as well Minister of Family. On April 24, 2007 the Ministry of Education had announced that it will lift a tuition freeze for university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
studies and will increase it by 50$ per semester over the next five years which prompting fierce opposition by the University student association, the FEUQ. Quebec currently holds the lowest university tuition fees across 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...
, with fees averaging 1,700$ per student per semester. Following the 2008 election, she kept most of the portfolios but gave up the Ministry of Family to LaFontaine
LaFontaine
LaFontaine is a provincial electoral district in Quebec, Canada that elects members to the National Assembly of Quebec. The district is located in Montreal in the northeastern corner of the island north of Autoroute 40 and south of Rivière des Prairies...
MNA Tony Tomassi
Tony Tomassi
Tony Tomassi is a Quebec politician. He is the current Member of National Assembly of Quebec for the riding of LaFontaine in Montreal. He represents the Quebec Liberal Party and was the Minister for Family....
.