Philippe Couillard
Encyclopedia
Philippe Couillard, PC
(born June 26, 1957 in Montreal
, Quebec
) was a politician
, and former university professor
and neurosurgeon in Quebec
, Canada
. Until June 25, 2008, he served as the Quebec Minister for Health and Social Services in the government of Jean Charest
. Couillard holds a medical degree and a certification in neurosurgery from the Université de Montréal
. He was the head of the department of neurosurgery at St-Luc hospital from 1989 to 1992 and again at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke from 1996 to 2003. From 1992 to 1996, he practised in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
. In 2003, he left the medical profession to run for a seat in the National Assembly representing the Quebec Liberal Party. He was elected MNA for Mont-Royal
in the 2003 election
and was appointed Minister of Health and Social Services on April 29, 2003.
Since taking office, he has proven skillful in the handling of his department's public relations and is regarded by a few people as the most popular minister in the Charest government. His accomplishments during his tenure have included a $4.2 billion dollar increase in the Quebec health budget, the prohibition of smoking in public places, and a reduction in the number of union local accreditations in the health sector.
Other projects that may possibly be realised in the future are the construction of two super-hospitals in the Montreal area, that of Université de Montréal and another one from the McGill University
. However, planning for these projects has been delayed for various reasons for over eight years (as of 1999) and to date construction has not begun on either super-hospital. Both of these projects were conceived long before Couillard came to power, and in fact Couillard himself has significantly contributed to their delay as he sought to decrease his government's funding of them through the creation of public-private partnerships.
In 2006 and 2007, there were rumours that Couillard would jump to federal politics and being a candidate for the Conservative Party of Canada
in a future federal election, but Couillard denied it. Meanwhile, Couillard announced his candidacy for the riding of Jean-Talon in the Quebec City
area, replacing Margaret Delisle who did not seek a re-election due to health reasons. Couillard won the 2007 elections
despite the Action democratique du Quebec
's (ADQ) strong performance in the region in which the party gained the majority of the seats. Pierre Arcand
succeeded Couillard in the Mont-Royal riding. He was renamed the Health and Social Services Minister
as well as the responsible for the Capitale-Nationale
(Quebec) region.
On June 25, 2008, Couillard officially announced his resignation as Minister and MNA. He was succeeded as Minister and Jean-Talon MNA by locally-known Alma
doctor Yves Bolduc
.
On June 23, 2010, Couillard was appointed to the Security Intelligence Review Committee
, and consequentially was appointed to the Privy Council
.
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 June 26, 1957 in 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...
, 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....
) was a politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and former university professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
and neurosurgeon in 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...
. Until June 25, 2008, he served as the Quebec Minister for Health and Social Services in the government of 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....
. Couillard holds a medical degree and a certification in neurosurgery from 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...
. He was the head of the department of neurosurgery at St-Luc hospital from 1989 to 1992 and again at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke from 1996 to 2003. From 1992 to 1996, he practised in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
. In 2003, he left the medical profession to run for a seat in the National Assembly representing the Quebec Liberal Party. He was elected MNA for Mont-Royal
Mont-Royal (provincial electoral district)
Mont-Royal is a provincial electoral district in Quebec, Canada that elects members to the National Assembly of Quebec. The riding was created in 1972 from parts of D'Arcy-McGee, Dorion and Outremont...
in the 2003 election
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:...
and was appointed Minister of Health and Social Services on April 29, 2003.
Since taking office, he has proven skillful in the handling of his department's public relations and is regarded by a few people as the most popular minister in the Charest government. His accomplishments during his tenure have included a $4.2 billion dollar increase in the Quebec health budget, the prohibition of smoking in public places, and a reduction in the number of union local accreditations in the health sector.
Other projects that may possibly be realised in the future are the construction of two super-hospitals in the Montreal area, that of Université de Montréal and another one from the McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
. However, planning for these projects has been delayed for various reasons for over eight years (as of 1999) and to date construction has not begun on either super-hospital. Both of these projects were conceived long before Couillard came to power, and in fact Couillard himself has significantly contributed to their delay as he sought to decrease his government's funding of them through the creation of public-private partnerships.
In 2006 and 2007, there were rumours that Couillard would jump to federal politics and being a candidate for 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...
in a future federal election, but Couillard denied it. Meanwhile, Couillard announced his candidacy for the riding of Jean-Talon in the 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...
area, replacing Margaret Delisle who did not seek a re-election due to health reasons. Couillard won 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...
despite the Action democratique du Quebec
Action 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....
's (ADQ) strong performance in the region in which the party gained the majority of the seats. Pierre Arcand
Pierre Arcand
Pierre Arcand is a politician, businessman, announcer and journalist in Quebec, Canada. He is the elected Member of the National Assembly of Quebec for the provincial riding of Mont-Royal in the Island of Montreal. He represents the Quebec Liberal Party...
succeeded Couillard in the Mont-Royal riding. He was renamed the Health and Social Services 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....
as well as the responsible for the Capitale-Nationale
Capitale-Nationale
Capitale-Nationale is one of 17 administrative regions of Quebec, Canada. Quebec City, Quebec's centre of government, is located in this region. It has a land area of 18,638.7 km2...
(Quebec) region.
On June 25, 2008, Couillard officially announced his resignation as Minister and MNA. He was succeeded as Minister and Jean-Talon MNA by locally-known Alma
Alma, Quebec
Alma is a town in the Canadian province of Quebec.-Geography:Alma is located on the southeast coast of Lac Saint-Jean where it flows into the Saguenay River, in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec, Canada, approximately 175 km north of Quebec City...
doctor Yves Bolduc
Yves Bolduc
Yves Bolduc is a doctor and politician in the Canadian province of Quebec. He was named the new Minister of Health and Social Services of Quebec on June 25, 2008 succeeding Philippe Couillard who resigned on the same day following five years as Minister for that portfolio...
.
On June 23, 2010, Couillard was appointed to the Security Intelligence Review Committee
Security Intelligence Review Committee
The Security Intelligence Review Committee is an independent agency of the government of Canada empowered to oversee and review the operations of Canada's security service, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and investigate complaints against CSIS...
, and consequentially was appointed to the Privy Council
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,...
.