Normand Cherry
Encyclopedia
Normand Cherry is a former politician and union leader in the Canadian
province of Quebec
. He was a Liberal member of the National Assembly of Quebec
from 1989 to 1998 and served as a cabinet minister in the governments of Robert Bourassa
and Daniel Johnson.
and received his early education in the Rosemont area of the city. He worked for Canadair
from 1954 to 1989 and became a prominent labour activist, serving as president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
(IAWAW) Local 712 from 1969 to 1989. From 1985, he also lectured at the IAMAW Training and Conference Center in Maryland
.
Cherry formed a "Canadair Survival Committee" in late 1985, after the government of Canada
announced that it was planning to sell the company to a private investor. Cherry's group sought to ensure that Canadair would remain publicly owned, stay in Montreal, and protect the jobs of its employees. Cherry nonetheless supported Bombardier's successful offer to purchase the company in 1986, saying that the terms of the deal were favourable.
In September 1986, Cherry argued that a federal contract to maintain CF-18 fighter jets should be given to Canadair rather than to a competing bid led by foreign-owned firms in Manitoba
and Ontario
. He said that it was not his intent to promote Quebec's interests at the expense of other provinces and that his primary concern was to ensure the CF-18 technology would remain under Canadian control. The government of Brian Mulroney
ultimately awarded the contract to Canadair.
. The party fared poorly in the election, losing all of its seats in the legislature.
Cherry ran as a star candidate
for the Liberal Party in the 1989 provincial election
and was narrowly elected in the Montreal division of Sainte-Anne
. He was appointed to the Bourassa ministry on October 11, 1989, serving as the junior minister responsible for cultural communities.
In early 1990, Cherry took part in plans to modernize the manufacturing firm Valmet-Dominion Inc. (a unit of the Finnish
company Valmet
) and relaunch its corporate office in Montreal. He spoke at the opening ceremonies and announced that Quebec would provide $11.1 million in development assisance. Less than a month later, Valmet-Dominion issued layoff notices to one third of its workforce; company officials said that the layoffs were cyclical, resulting from a downturn in the sector, though others expressed concern about the timing of the announcement.
Labour minister
Cherry was promoted to minister of labour on October 5, 1990, while retaining ministerial responsibility for cultural communities. In late 1991, he took part in a ceremony that launched the Canadair CL-415 and announced that Quebec would purchase eight of the new amphibious aircrafts. In the same time period, Cherry appointed a business-labor advisory panel to suggest amendments to Quebec's 1981 law on workers' compensation that some critics believed was overly generous.
In 1993, Cherry took part in negotiations with officials from Ontario and New Brunswick
in an effort to resolve long-standing differences in the construction sector. In October 1993, he announced that Quebec would continue to require that out-of-province workers earn a "certificate of competence" before being allowed to work on Quebec sites. The following month, however, he introduced legislation to deregulate home-building sites and permit the use of non-union labour. Construction workers organized several protests and strikes in a bid to defeat the legislation; the government responded with harsh back-to-work legislation, which Cherry himself described as "probably the most severe legislation ever introduced" on the matter. Despite the protests, the legislation was approved by the assembly and brought into law. Cherry was expelled from his IAWAW local at around the same time.
Transport minister
Robert Bourassa announced his resignation as Liberal Party leader and premier in late 1993, and Cherry supported Daniel Johnson's bid to become the party's new leader. When Johnson became premier on January 11, 1994, he appointed Cherry as transport minister. In this position, Cherry initiated fifty million dollars worth of road repairs and introduced a camera system to review congestion on Montreal roads. He also sought to co-ordinate better links between Quebec's road, rail, and ship transportation lines. In September 1994, he launched a thirty-six million dollar project to link Saint-Bruno
with the Jacques Cartier Bridge
.
Opposition member
Cherry's Sainte-Anne division was eliminated by redistribution before the 1994 provincial election
, and he was re-elected in Saint-Laurent
, a safe Liberal seat in Montreal. The Parti Québécois
defeated the Liberals in this election, and Cherry resigned from cabinet with the rest of the Johnson ministry on September 26, 1994. He served as a member of the official opposition for the next four years and was his party's critic for transport issues.
An ardent Canadian federalist, Cherry spoke against Quebec separatism in the 1994 election and campaigned for the "non" side in the 1995 Quebec referendum on sovereignty.
When Daniel Johnson resigned as Liberal Party leader in 1998, Cherry was among the first Liberals to suggest that Jean Charest
become his successor. Charest was subsequently chosen as party leader.
Cherry was not a candidate in the 1998 election
.
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...
province 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....
. He was a Liberal member of 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...
from 1989 to 1998 and served as a cabinet minister in the governments of 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...
and Daniel Johnson.
Early life and union career
Cherry was born in MontrealMontreal
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...
and received his early education in the Rosemont area of the city. He worked for Canadair
Canadair
Canadair Ltd. was a civil and military aircraft manufacturer in Canada. It was a subsidiary of other aircraft manufacturers, then a nationalized corporation until privatized in 1986, and became the core of Bombardier Aerospace....
from 1954 to 1989 and became a prominent labour activist, serving as president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers is an AFL-CIO/CLC trade union representing approx. 646,933 workers as of 2006 in more than 200 industries.-Formation and early history:...
(IAWAW) Local 712 from 1969 to 1989. From 1985, he also lectured at the IAMAW Training and Conference Center in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
.
Cherry formed a "Canadair Survival Committee" in late 1985, after the government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
announced that it was planning to sell the company to a private investor. Cherry's group sought to ensure that Canadair would remain publicly owned, stay in Montreal, and protect the jobs of its employees. Cherry nonetheless supported Bombardier's successful offer to purchase the company in 1986, saying that the terms of the deal were favourable.
In September 1986, Cherry argued that a federal contract to maintain CF-18 fighter jets should be given to Canadair rather than to a competing bid led by foreign-owned firms in Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
and Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. He said that it was not his intent to promote Quebec's interests at the expense of other provinces and that his primary concern was to ensure the CF-18 technology would remain under Canadian control. The government of 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...
ultimately awarded the contract to Canadair.
Political career
Cherry served as chief organizer for the opposition Union Nationale in the 1973 provincial electionQuebec 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...
. The party fared poorly in the election, losing all of its seats in the legislature.
Legislator
Minister of cultural communitiesCherry ran as a star candidate
Star candidate
A star candidate refers to a high profile individual who has been recruited as a candidate by a political party. Star candidates have usually excelled in fields outside of politics such as academia, business, the media, journalism and/or sports...
for the Liberal Party in the 1989 provincial election
Quebec general election, 1989
The Quebec general election of 1989 was held on September 25, 1989, to elect members of the National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada...
and was narrowly elected in the Montreal division of Sainte-Anne
Sainte-Anne (provincial electoral district)
Sainte-Anne was a provincial electoral district in the province of Quebec, Canada. Located in the Greater Montreal Area, it was formed in 1890 from parts of Montreal-Centre. In 1994, it became part of Saint-Henri—Sainte-Anne after a merger with Saint-Henri. From 1890 to 1912 it was also known as...
. He was appointed to the Bourassa ministry on October 11, 1989, serving as the junior minister responsible for cultural communities.
In early 1990, Cherry took part in plans to modernize the manufacturing firm Valmet-Dominion Inc. (a unit of the Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
company Valmet
Valmet
' was a Finnish state-owned conglomerate. Valmet was formed in 1951, when the state of Finland decided to group their various factories working on war reparations to the Soviet Union under one company...
) and relaunch its corporate office in Montreal. He spoke at the opening ceremonies and announced that Quebec would provide $11.1 million in development assisance. Less than a month later, Valmet-Dominion issued layoff notices to one third of its workforce; company officials said that the layoffs were cyclical, resulting from a downturn in the sector, though others expressed concern about the timing of the announcement.
Labour minister
Cherry was promoted to minister of labour on October 5, 1990, while retaining ministerial responsibility for cultural communities. In late 1991, he took part in a ceremony that launched the Canadair CL-415 and announced that Quebec would purchase eight of the new amphibious aircrafts. In the same time period, Cherry appointed a business-labor advisory panel to suggest amendments to Quebec's 1981 law on workers' compensation that some critics believed was overly generous.
In 1993, Cherry took part in negotiations with officials from Ontario and New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
in an effort to resolve long-standing differences in the construction sector. In October 1993, he announced that Quebec would continue to require that out-of-province workers earn a "certificate of competence" before being allowed to work on Quebec sites. The following month, however, he introduced legislation to deregulate home-building sites and permit the use of non-union labour. Construction workers organized several protests and strikes in a bid to defeat the legislation; the government responded with harsh back-to-work legislation, which Cherry himself described as "probably the most severe legislation ever introduced" on the matter. Despite the protests, the legislation was approved by the assembly and brought into law. Cherry was expelled from his IAWAW local at around the same time.
Transport minister
Robert Bourassa announced his resignation as Liberal Party leader and premier in late 1993, and Cherry supported Daniel Johnson's bid to become the party's new leader. When Johnson became premier on January 11, 1994, he appointed Cherry as transport minister. In this position, Cherry initiated fifty million dollars worth of road repairs and introduced a camera system to review congestion on Montreal roads. He also sought to co-ordinate better links between Quebec's road, rail, and ship transportation lines. In September 1994, he launched a thirty-six million dollar project to link Saint-Bruno
Saint-Bruno, Quebec
Saint-Bruno is a municipality in Quebec, located within the regional county municipality of Lac-Saint-Jean-Est.The municipality had a population of 2,353 in the Canada 2006 Census.-References:...
with the Jacques Cartier Bridge
Jacques Cartier Bridge
The Jacques Cartier Bridge is a steel truss cantilever bridge crossing the Saint Lawrence River from Montreal Island, Montreal, Quebec to the south shore at Longueuil, Quebec, Canada...
.
Opposition member
Cherry's Sainte-Anne division was eliminated by redistribution before the 1994 provincial election
Quebec general election, 1994
The Quebec general election of 1994 was held on September 12, 1994, to elect members of the National Assembly of Quebec, Canada. The Parti Québécois, led by Jacques Parizeau, defeated the incumbent Quebec Liberal Party, led by Daniel Johnson, Jr.....
, and he was re-elected in Saint-Laurent
Saint-Laurent (provincial electoral district)
Saint-Laurent is a provincial electoral district in Quebec, Canada that elects members to the National Assembly of Quebec. The district is located in Montreal...
, a safe Liberal seat in Montreal. 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...
defeated the Liberals in this election, and Cherry resigned from cabinet with the rest of the Johnson ministry on September 26, 1994. He served as a member of the official opposition for the next four years and was his party's critic for transport issues.
An ardent Canadian federalist, Cherry spoke against Quebec separatism in the 1994 election and campaigned for the "non" side in the 1995 Quebec referendum on sovereignty.
When Daniel Johnson resigned as Liberal Party leader in 1998, Cherry was among the first Liberals to suggest that 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....
become his successor. Charest was subsequently chosen as party leader.
Cherry was not a candidate in the 1998 election
Quebec general election, 1998
The Quebec general election of 1998 was held on November 30, 1998, to elect members of the National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The incumbent Parti Québécois, led by Lucien Bouchard, won re-election, defeating the Quebec Liberal Party, led by Jean Charest.After the narrow defeat of...
.