Monique Vézina
Encyclopedia
Monique Vézina, PC
(born July 13, 1935) is a former Canadian
politician. She now works with a Non-governmental organization
in the field of international development.
Prior to entering politics, Vézina worked for numerous community agencies in the fields of education, family services and women's rights in the Lower Saint Lawrence River
valley region of Quebec
. In 1976, she became chair of the Federation of the Caisses Populaires Desjardins (a credit union organization) in her region, and joined the executive of the Quebec-wide Mouvement Desjardins
. From 1978 to 1982, she served as a member of the Conseil supérieur de l’éducation and as Vice-President of the Régie de l’assurance automobile du Québec.
Vézina entered politics in the 1984 general election
being elected as the Progressive Conservative
Member of Parliament
for Rimouski—Témiscouata
. She was one of a number of Quebec nationalists
recruited to the PC Party as part of the creation of a coalition that could win power. She was appointed to the first Cabinet of Prime Minister
Brian Mulroney
as Minister of External Relations (a junior portfolio to the Secretary of State for External Affairs
), and as Minister responsible for La Francophonie. Her focus in Cabinet was in the field of international development.
In 1986, she became Minister of Supply and Services. From 1987 to 1993, she held a succession of junior portfolios as a Minister of State
first for Transport (1987-1988), for Employment and Immigration (1988-1993), and for Seniors (1988-1993). From January to June 1993, she again served as Minister for External Relations and Minister responsible for la Francophonie
. She decided not to remain in politics following Mulroney's retirement, and left Cabinet in June 1993 when Kim Campbell
became PC leader and prime minister. Vézina did not run in the 1993 general election
.
After leaving politics, Vézina remained active in the field of international development as a member of the Board of Directors of the Montreal
-based Centre d’éducation et de coopération internationale from 1994 to 1997. In 1995, she chaired the Commission des aînés and the Commission nationale sur l’avenir du Québec, bodies set up by the Parti Québécois
government of Quebec in preparation for the 1995 Quebec referendum
. The next year, she was elected Patriote de l’année by the Quebec nationalist Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Montréal, and was named a member of l’Ordre du mérite coopératif québécois.
In 1998, Vézina caused controversy in English Canada
by stating that she had never been a Canadian federalist
http://www.parl.gc.ca/36/1/parlbus/chambus/house/debates/061_1998-02-17/han061_1410-e.htm.
Vézina currently serves as vice-president of the 'Conseil des relations internationales de Montréal, president of the Mouvement national des Québécoises et Québécois and of the Conférence des peuples de langue française.
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 July 13, 1935) is a former Canadian
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...
politician. She now works with a Non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
in the field of international development.
Prior to entering politics, Vézina worked for numerous community agencies in the fields of education, family services and women's rights in the Lower Saint Lawrence River
Saint Lawrence River
The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
valley region 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....
. In 1976, she became chair of the Federation of the Caisses Populaires Desjardins (a credit union organization) in her region, and joined the executive of the Quebec-wide Mouvement Desjardins
Mouvement Desjardins
The Desjardins Group is the largest association of credit unions in North America. It was founded in 1900 in Lévis, Quebec by Alphonse Desjardins....
. From 1978 to 1982, she served as a member of the Conseil supérieur de l’éducation and as Vice-President of the Régie de l’assurance automobile du Québec.
Vézina entered politics in the 1984 general election
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...
being elected as the 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
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Rimouski—Témiscouata
Rimouski—Témiscouata
Rimouski—Témiscouata was a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1984 to 1997, and from 2004 to 2006.For information on Rimouski—Témiscouata 1984-1997, see Rimouski ....
. She was one of a number of Quebec nationalists
Quebec nationalism
Quebec nationalism is a nationalist movement in the Canadian province of Quebec .-1534–1774:Canada was first a french colony. Jacques Cartier claimed it for France in 1534, and permanent French settlement began in 1608. It was part of New France, which constituted all French colonies in North America...
recruited to the PC Party as part of the creation of a coalition that could win power. She was appointed to the first 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...
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...
as Minister of External Relations (a junior portfolio to the Secretary of State for External Affairs
Secretary of State for External Affairs (Canada)
Canada's Secretary of State for External Affairs was, from 1909 to 1993, the member of the Cabinet of Canada responsible for overseeing the federal government's international relations and the former Department of External Affairs...
), and as Minister responsible for La Francophonie. Her focus in Cabinet was in the field of international development.
In 1986, she became Minister of Supply and Services. From 1987 to 1993, she held a succession of junior portfolios as a Minister of State
Minister of state (Canada)
A Minister of State is a junior cabinet minister in the Canadian Cabinet, usually given specific responsibilities to assist a senior cabinet minister in a specific area....
first for Transport (1987-1988), for Employment and Immigration (1988-1993), and for Seniors (1988-1993). From January to June 1993, she again served as Minister for External Relations and Minister responsible for la Francophonie
La Francophonie
Francophonie is an international organization of politics and governments with French as the mother or customary language, where a significant proportion of people are francophones , or where there is a notable affiliation with the French language or culture.Formally known as the Organisation...
. She decided not to remain in politics following Mulroney's retirement, and left Cabinet in June 1993 when Kim Campbell
Kim Campbell
Avril Phædra Douglas "Kim" Campbell, is a Canadian politician, lawyer, university professor, diplomat, and writer. She served as the 19th Prime Minister of Canada, serving from June 25, 1993, to November 4, 1993...
became PC leader and prime minister. Vézina did not run in the 1993 general election
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...
.
After leaving politics, Vézina remained active in the field of international development as a member of the Board of Directors of the Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
-based Centre d’éducation et de coopération internationale from 1994 to 1997. In 1995, she chaired the Commission des aînés and the Commission nationale sur l’avenir du Québec, bodies set up 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...
government of Quebec in preparation for the 1995 Quebec referendum
1995 Quebec referendum
The 1995 Quebec referendum was the second referendum to ask voters in the Canadian province of Quebec whether Quebec should secede from Canada and become an independent state, through the question:...
. The next year, she was elected Patriote de l’année by the Quebec nationalist Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Montréal, and was named a member of l’Ordre du mérite coopératif québécois.
In 1998, Vézina caused controversy in English Canada
English Canada
English Canada is a term used to describe one of the following:# English-speaking Canadians, as opposed to French-speaking Canadians. It is employed when comparing English- and French-language literature, media, or art...
by stating that she had never been a Canadian 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...
http://www.parl.gc.ca/36/1/parlbus/chambus/house/debates/061_1998-02-17/han061_1410-e.htm.
Vézina currently serves as vice-president of the 'Conseil des relations internationales de Montréal, president of the Mouvement national des Québécoises et Québécois and of the Conférence des peuples de langue française.