Pierre Bourque (politician)
Encyclopedia
Pierre Bourque, CQ
(born 29 May 1942) is a businessman and politician in Quebec
, Canada
. He founded the Vision Montreal political party and served as mayor of Montreal
from 1994 to 2001.
from 1980 to 1994.
of Montreal
, Quebec from 1994 to 2001 (as the leader of the Vision Montreal
party).
Bourque proved eccentric and sometimes controversial as mayor. Known as a greenspace aficionado, he supported the creation of parks, implemented tree-planting initiatives, as well as creating Eco-Centres (reusable materials) and Eco-Quartier program (recycling
). He was also responsible for the revitalization of many important districts of Montreal (Saint Catherine Street
, Old Montreal
and the Multimedia City) as well as the reopening of the Lachine Canal
.
In 1998, responding to critics who denounced him for not fighting poverty, he spent the night with a working-class family. He was also well-known for his close ties to cultural communities.
At one time, Bourque was a moderate supporter of the sovereignist Parti Québécois
. Bourque's successful attempt, with provincial support, at merging all of Montreal’s 28 municipalities into a megacity of 1.8 million people and 27 boroughs cost him the election in 2001. Although he gathered a majority of votes in what was until then the city of Montreal, protest votes against the very principle of the merger in the former suburbs ensured a solid victory to his rival Gérald Tremblay
. Pierre Bourque still seated on the municipal council, taking his running mate (Kettly Beauregard) spot.
candidate in the 2003 Quebec election
, but was defeated. Pierre Bourque finished third, behind then minister Diane Lemieux (Parti Québécois) and also behing the Liberal candidate. He then returned to municipal politics, but was unable to win re-election as mayor.
-mayor Gérald Tremblay
in his fight to regain control of city hall in the Montreal municipal elections held on November 6, 2005, this time by a 74,646 vote margin. The voter turnout was estimated at 39.13%, the lowest ever in the history of Montreal municipal elections. (See Quebec municipal elections, 2005
).
On 3 May 2006, Bourque stepped down as Leader of the Opposition on Montreal's city council.
. Bourque wants to develop further economic links between the country and the province. http://lcn.canoe.com/lcn/infos/regional/archives/2007/01/20070110-171019.html
National Order of Quebec
The National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as l'Ordre national du Québec, and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Quebec...
(born 29 May 1942) is a businessman and politician 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...
. He founded the Vision Montreal political party and served as mayor of Montreal
Mayor of Montreal
The Mayor of Montreal is head of the executive branch of Montreal City Council.The Mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and provincial laws within Montreal....
from 1994 to 2001.
Background
He was director of the Montreal Botanical GardensJardin botanique de Montréal
The Montreal Botanical Garden is a large botanical garden in Montreal, Quebec, Canada comprising of thematic gardens and greenhouses. It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2008 as it is considered to be one of the most important botanical gardens in the world due to the extent...
from 1980 to 1994.
Mayor of Montreal
Bourque was the mayorMayor of Montreal
The Mayor of Montreal is head of the executive branch of Montreal City Council.The Mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and provincial laws within Montreal....
of 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 from 1994 to 2001 (as the leader of the Vision Montreal
Vision Montreal
Vision Montreal is a municipal political party in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It has been in existence since 1994 and presently forms the Official opposition on Montreal City Council under leader Louise Harel.-Origins:...
party).
Bourque proved eccentric and sometimes controversial as mayor. Known as a greenspace aficionado, he supported the creation of parks, implemented tree-planting initiatives, as well as creating Eco-Centres (reusable materials) and Eco-Quartier program (recycling
Recycling
Recycling is processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution and water pollution by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse...
). He was also responsible for the revitalization of many important districts of Montreal (Saint Catherine Street
Saint Catherine Street
This article is about the street in Montreal called the rue Sainte-Catherine in French. For other streets of this name, see Rue Sainte-Catherine ....
, Old Montreal
Old Montreal
Old Montreal is the oldest area in the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, dating back to New France. Located in the borough of Ville-Marie, the area is bordered on the west by McGill St., on the north by Ruelle des Fortifications, on the east by Berri St. and on the south by the Saint Lawrence River...
and the Multimedia City) as well as the reopening of the Lachine Canal
Lachine Canal
The Lachine Canal is a canal passing through the southwestern part of the Island of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, running 14.5 kilometres from the Old Port of Montreal to Lake Saint-Louis, through the boroughs of Lachine, Lasalle and Sud-Ouest.The canal gets its name from the French word for China...
.
In 1998, responding to critics who denounced him for not fighting poverty, he spent the night with a working-class family. He was also well-known for his close ties to cultural communities.
At one time, Bourque was a moderate supporter of the sovereignist 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...
. Bourque's successful attempt, with provincial support, at merging all of Montreal’s 28 municipalities into a megacity of 1.8 million people and 27 boroughs cost him the election in 2001. Although he gathered a majority of votes in what was until then the city of Montreal, protest votes against the very principle of the merger in the former suburbs ensured a solid victory to his rival Gérald Tremblay
Gérald Tremblay
Gérald Tremblay is a Canadian politician and businessman currently serving his third term as mayor of Montreal and as president of the Montreal Metropolitan Community...
. Pierre Bourque still seated on the municipal council, taking his running mate (Kettly Beauregard) spot.
Provincial politics
He subsequently attempted to enter provincial politics, running as an 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....
candidate in the 2003 Quebec 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:...
, but was defeated. Pierre Bourque finished third, behind then minister Diane Lemieux (Parti Québécois) and also behing the Liberal candidate. He then returned to municipal politics, but was unable to win re-election as mayor.
Leader of the Opposition
Bourque lost for a second time to incumbentIncumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
-mayor Gérald Tremblay
Gérald Tremblay
Gérald Tremblay is a Canadian politician and businessman currently serving his third term as mayor of Montreal and as president of the Montreal Metropolitan Community...
in his fight to regain control of city hall in the Montreal municipal elections held on November 6, 2005, this time by a 74,646 vote margin. The voter turnout was estimated at 39.13%, the lowest ever in the history of Montreal municipal elections. (See Quebec municipal elections, 2005
Quebec municipal elections, 2005
The Canadian province of Quebec held municipal elections in its municipalities on November 6, 2005.The municipalities in Quebec for the 2005 election were different than the previous 2001 election, as many municipalities have voted to de-amalgamate....
).
On 3 May 2006, Bourque stepped down as Leader of the Opposition on Montreal's city council.
Retirement from public office
He currently runs a company called Constellation Monde Inc. which operates in ChinaChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Bourque wants to develop further economic links between the country and the province. http://lcn.canoe.com/lcn/infos/regional/archives/2007/01/20070110-171019.html
Honours
- 1993 – National Order of QuebecNational Order of QuebecThe National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as l'Ordre national du Québec, and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Quebec...
. - 2007 – Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck RibbonOrder of the Rising SunThe is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese Government, created on April 10, 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight from the rising sun...
(Japan).
Municipal election history
| Candidate | Party | Vote | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gérald Tremblay Gérald Tremblay Gérald Tremblay is a Canadian politician and businessman currently serving his third term as mayor of Montreal and as president of the Montreal Metropolitan Community... (X) |
Montreal Island Citizens Union | 227,208 | 53.9 | |
| Pierre Bourque | Vision Montreal Vision Montreal Vision Montreal is a municipal political party in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It has been in existence since 1994 and presently forms the Official opposition on Montreal City Council under leader Louise Harel.-Origins:... |
152,562 | 36.2 | |
| Richard Bergeron Richard Bergeron Richard Bergeron is a Canadian politician from Montreal and a previous Mayoral candidate. Bergeron is the leader of Projet Montréal, a municipal political party. He was its mayoralty candidate during the 2009 Montreal municipal election... |
Project Montreal | 35,889 | 8.5 | |
| Michel Bédard | White Elephant Party of Montreal | 5,966 | 1.4 |