Rémi Bujold
Encyclopedia
Joseph Roger Rémi Bujold, PC
, CM
(born October 18, 1944) is a lawyer and former Canadian
politician.
Bujold began his career in politics in the early 1970s as special assistant to the Minister of Financial Institutions in the Quebec cabinet
during the Bourassa
Liberal government. He then became chief of staff to Quebec's Minister of State for Social Affairs. In 1975, he moved to Ottawa
to became special assistant to the Prime Minister of Canada
, Pierre Trudeau
.
Bujold was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons
in the 1979 federal election
as the Liberal
Member of Parliament
for Bonaventure—Îles-de-la-Madeleine. The Liberal party was defeated in the election, and Bujold joined the Liberals on the opposition benches. He was re-elected in the 1980 election
that defeated the Progressive Conservative
government and returned the Liberals to power.
In 1981, he became Parliamentary Secretary
to the Minister of Employment and Immigration. He became Chairman of the federal Liberal caucus
in 1983. In June 1984, Trudeau's successor, John Turner brought Bujold into the Cabinet as Minister of State
for regional development. Both the Turner government and Bujold were defeated in the 1984 federal election
.
He returned to Quebec City
to become chief of staff to Robert Bourassa
while he was the provincial Leader of the Opposition
.
Bujold attempted to regain his seat in the 1988 federal election
but was unsuccessful.
Bujold founded Consilium, a public affairs consultancy in Quebec that merged with GPC Public Affairs in 1994. Today, he is senior counsel with GPC.
Bujold is Chair of the Canadian Landmine Foundation, and Past-Chairman of the Board of the Council for Canadian Unity, an organization that he joined in 1990.
In 1996, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada
.
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,...
, CM
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(born October 18, 1944) is a lawyer and 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.
Bujold began his career in politics in the early 1970s as special assistant to the Minister of Financial Institutions in the Quebec cabinet
Executive Council of Quebec
The Executive Council of Quebec is the cabinet of the government of Quebec, Canada....
during the 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...
Liberal government. He then became chief of staff to Quebec's Minister of State for Social Affairs. In 1975, he moved to Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
to became special assistant to the Prime Minister of Canada
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,...
.
Bujold was first elected to 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...
in the 1979 federal 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...
as the 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,...
for Bonaventure—Îles-de-la-Madeleine. The Liberal party was defeated in the election, and Bujold joined the Liberals on the opposition benches. He was re-elected 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...
that defeated 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....
government and returned the Liberals to power.
In 1981, he became Parliamentary Secretary
Parliamentary Secretary
A Parliamentary Secretary is a member of a Parliament in the Westminster system who assists a more senior minister with his or her duties.In the parliamentary systems of several Commonwealth countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, it is customary for the prime minister to...
to the Minister of Employment and Immigration. He became Chairman of the federal Liberal caucus
Caucus
A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement, especially in the United States and Canada. As the use of the term has been expanded the exact definition has come to vary among political cultures.-Origin of the term:...
in 1983. In June 1984, Trudeau's successor, John Turner brought Bujold into the Cabinet as 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 regional development. Both the Turner government and Bujold were defeated in the 1984 federal 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...
.
He returned to 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...
to become chief of staff to 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...
while he was the provincial Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Official Opposition (Quebec)
This is a list of the leaders of the opposition party of Quebec, Canada since Confederation .Note that the leader of the Opposition is not always the leader of the political party with the second-largest number of seats, in cases where the leader of that party does not have a seat.There was no...
.
Bujold attempted to regain his seat in the 1988 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1988
The Canadian federal election of 1988 was held November 21, 1988, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 34th Parliament of Canada. It was an election largely fought on a single issue: the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement ....
but was unsuccessful.
Bujold founded Consilium, a public affairs consultancy in Quebec that merged with GPC Public Affairs in 1994. Today, he is senior counsel with GPC.
Bujold is Chair of the Canadian Landmine Foundation, and Past-Chairman of the Board of the Council for Canadian Unity, an organization that he joined in 1990.
In 1996, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
.