Ray Perrault
Encyclopedia
Raymond Joseph Perrault, PC
(February 6, 1926 – November 24, 2008) was a Canadian
politician. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
and of the Canadian Senate
.
Perrault was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. After graduating from the University of British Columbia
, he became a communications consultant. He entered politics in his thirties, becoming leader of the British Columbia Liberal Party
in 1959. He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
in the 1960 provincial election
in which the Liberals won fours seats in the legislature (an increase from two in the previous election), and won 20.9% of the popular vote.
In the 1963 election
, the Liberals gained one more Member of the Legislative Assembly
(MLA), for a total of five, while their share of the popular vote fell to 19.98%. In Perrault's final election as leader
in 1966, the party won an additional seat, and a modest increase in the vote to 20.24%.
He remained an MLA until he resigned in 1968 to entered federal politics in the 1968 federal election
. He won a seat in the Canadian House of Commons
as a Liberal
Member of Parliament
(MP), defeating New Democratic Party
leader Tommy Douglas
. He was defeated in the next election in 1972
.
Perrault was appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister
Pierre Trudeau
in October 1973. A year later, he joined the cabinet as Leader of the Government in the Senate
.
When the Liberals lost power in the 1979 election
, Perrault became Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
. He resumed his position as government leader when the Liberals returned to power in the 1980 election
. In 1982, he was reassigned to the position of Minister of State
for Fitness and Amateur Sport, and served in that position until leaving cabinet in August 1983.
He remained in the Senate until his retirement in 2001.
He died on November 24, 2008 at the age of 82, leaving behind his wife Barbara and their three children.
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,...
(February 6, 1926 – November 24, 2008) was a 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. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is one of two components of the Parliament of British Columbia, the provincial parliament ....
and of the Canadian Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
.
Perrault was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. After graduating from the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
, he became a communications consultant. He entered politics in his thirties, becoming leader of the British Columbia Liberal Party
British Columbia Liberal Party
The British Columbia Liberal Party is the governing political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected for government in 1916, the party went into decline after 1952, with its rump caucus merging with the Social Credit Party for the 1975 election...
in 1959. He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is one of two components of the Parliament of British Columbia, the provincial parliament ....
in the 1960 provincial election
British Columbia general election, 1960
The British Columbia general election of 1960 was the 26th general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on August 3, 1960, and held on September 12, 1960. The new legislature met...
in which the Liberals won fours seats in the legislature (an increase from two in the previous election), and won 20.9% of the popular vote.
In the 1963 election
British Columbia general election, 1963
The British Columbia general election of 1963 was the 27th general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on August 22, 1963, and held on September 30, 1963...
, the Liberals gained one more Member of the Legislative Assembly
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
(MLA), for a total of five, while their share of the popular vote fell to 19.98%. In Perrault's final election as leader
British Columbia general election, 1966
The British Columbia general election of 1966 was the 28th general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on August 5, 1966 and held on September 12, 1966...
in 1966, the party won an additional seat, and a modest increase in the vote to 20.24%.
He remained an MLA until he resigned in 1968 to entered federal politics in the 1968 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1968
The Canadian federal election of 1968 was held on June 25, 1968, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 28th Parliament of Canada...
. He won a seat in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
as a Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
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,...
(MP), defeating New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
leader Tommy Douglas
Tommy Douglas
Thomas Clement "Tommy" Douglas, was a Scottish-born Baptist minister who became a prominent Canadian social democratic politician...
. He was defeated in the next election in 1972
Canadian federal election, 1972
The Canadian federal election of 1972 was held on October 30, 1972 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 29th Parliament of Canada. It resulted in a slim victory for the governing Liberal Party, which won 109 seats, compared to 107 seats for the opposition Progressive...
.
Perrault was appointed to the Senate by 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...
Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
in October 1973. A year later, he joined the cabinet as Leader of the Government in the Senate
Leader of the Government in the Senate (Canada)
The Leader of the Government in the Senate is a Canadian cabinet minister who leads the government side in the Canadian Senate and is chiefly responsible for promoting and defending the government's program in the Upper House. The government leader's counterpart on the Opposition benches is the...
.
When the Liberals lost power in the 1979 election
Canadian federal election, 1979
The Canadian federal election of 1979 was held on May 22, 1979 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 31st Parliament of Canada. It resulted in the defeat of Liberal Party of Canada after 11 years in power under Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. Joe Clark led the Progressive...
, Perrault became Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (Canada)
In Canada, the Leader of the Official Opposition in the Senate is the leader of the senate caucus of the largest party in the Senate that is not in government. The position is appointed by the leader of the party that forms the opposition in the Senate...
. He resumed his position as government leader when the Liberals returned to power in the 1980 election
Canadian federal election, 1980
The Canadian federal election of 1980 was held on February 18, 1980 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 32nd Parliament of Canada...
. In 1982, he was reassigned to the position of 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....
for Fitness and Amateur Sport, and served in that position until leaving cabinet in August 1983.
He remained in the Senate until his retirement in 2001.
He died on November 24, 2008 at the age of 82, leaving behind his wife Barbara and their three children.