Sam Hamad
Encyclopedia
Sam Hamad is a Syrian
-born Quebec
politician
. He is the current Member of National Assembly
(MNA) for the riding of Louis-Hebert
in the Quebec City
region. Member of the Quebec Liberal Party, he is the current Minister for Transports and he was also the Minister
of Employment
and Social Solidarity, Minister of Labour and Minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale region
Born in Damascus
, Syria
, Hamad moved to Quebec city and studied civil engineering
at Université Laval where he received both a bachelor's and master's degree
. He also studied at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
where he obtained a master's degree in management
. His birth name was Samer Hamad-Allah but he changed it when he moved to Quebec, saying that Samer sounded too much like French words "sa mère" (meaning "his mother").
He was an administration member for the Ordre des Ingénieurs du Québec
for nine years, while he was also a lecturer at Université Laval
and the Université du Québec à Rimouski
and the President of the Quebec Board of Trade and Industry.
He was also involved in the community, being the vice-president of Centraide
-Quebec a board member of the Laval Hospital Fondation. He was also part of several associations promoting development in the region including the GATIQ which promoted advance technologies and innovations for the region.
Hamad entered politics in 2003
, where he became the MNA for Louis-Hebert as the Liberals led by Jean Charest
defeated the Parti Québécois. He would be named Minister of Wildlife
, Natural Resources
and Parks and the Minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale
(Quebec) region. He was removed from Cabinet
in 2005 after he was criticized in regards to a project which would have added a new thermo plant in the Suroit region.
Hamad was narrowly re-elected in 2007
. Initially, it was thought that the Action démocratique du Québec
won the seat but late ballots pushed Hamad to a late-victory and no recounts were made. As he was only one of two Liberal MNAs elected in the Quebec City region (the other being Philippe Couillard
), Hamad was named the Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity until where he was named Minister of Transports, swapping portfolios with Julie Boulet
. Briefly in 2010, he also held the Labour portfolio after David Whissell
resigned of his position following conflict of interest allegations.
Demographics of Syria
Syrians today are an overall indigenous Levantine people. While modern-day Syrians are commonly described as Arabs by virtue of their modern-day language and bonds to Arab culture and history...
-born 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....
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He is the current Member of National Assembly
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...
(MNA) for the riding of Louis-Hebert
Louis-Hébert (provincial electoral district)
Louis-Hébert is a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of Quebec. Located in the Capitale-Nationale region, the riding was formed in 1965 and includes mostly central and western portions of Quebec City west of Autoroute 73 and Autoroute 740...
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...
region. Member of the Quebec Liberal Party, he is the current Minister for Transports and he was also the 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....
of Employment
Employment
Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. An employee may be defined as:- Employee :...
and Social Solidarity, Minister of Labour and Minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale region
Born in Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, Hamad moved to Quebec city and studied civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
at Université Laval where he received both a bachelor's and master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
. He also studied at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
The Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières , established in 1969 is a campus of the Université du Québec, located in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. The university has 12,500 students in 8 different campuses, including the main one in Trois-Rivières. About 1000 of them come from overseas, from 60...
where he obtained a master's degree in management
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
. His birth name was Samer Hamad-Allah but he changed it when he moved to Quebec, saying that Samer sounded too much like French words "sa mère" (meaning "his mother").
He was an administration member for the Ordre des Ingénieurs du Québec
Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec
The Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec is the self-regulatory body that governs Quebec's 55,000 professional engineers. In Quebec, the OIQ carefully monitors compliance with rules of this trade and with the professional integrity of members, while also overseeing the development of the engineering...
for nine years, while he was also a lecturer at Université Laval
Université Laval
Laval University is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French...
and the Université du Québec à Rimouski
Université du Québec à Rimouski
The Université du Québec à Rimouski is a branch of the Université du Québec in Rimouski, Quebec. There is also a campus of the university in Lévis, Quebec, recently moved to a newly constructed building. Founded in 1969, UQAR is one of the most modern in Quebec.This university is well-known for its...
and the President of the Quebec Board of Trade and Industry.
He was also involved in the community, being the vice-president of Centraide
United Way of Canada
United Way of Canada is the national organization for the 117 autonomous, volunteer-based United Ways across Canada. United Way campaigns raise money for local groups that address community issues and problems, and the national organization provides leadership, services and coordination to the...
-Quebec a board member of the Laval Hospital Fondation. He was also part of several associations promoting development in the region including the GATIQ which promoted advance technologies and innovations for the region.
Hamad entered politics in 2003
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:...
, where he became the MNA for Louis-Hebert as the Liberals led by 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....
defeated the Parti Québécois. He would be named Minister of Wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
, Natural Resources
Natural Resources
Natural Resources is a soul album released by Motown girl group Martha Reeves and the Vandellas in 1970 on the Gordy label. The album is significant for the Vietnam War ballad "I Should Be Proud" and the slow jam, "Love Guess Who"...
and Parks and the Minister 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. He was removed from Cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
in 2005 after he was criticized in regards to a project which would have added a new thermo plant in the Suroit region.
Hamad was narrowly re-elected in 2007
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...
. Initially, it was thought that the Action démocratique du Québec
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....
won the seat but late ballots pushed Hamad to a late-victory and no recounts were made. As he was only one of two Liberal MNAs elected in the Quebec City region (the other being Philippe Couillard
Philippe Couillard
Philippe Couillard, PC 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...
), Hamad was named the Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity until where he was named Minister of Transports, swapping portfolios with Julie Boulet
Julie Boulet
Julie Boulet is the current Member of National Assembly for the provincial riding of Laviolette in the Mauricie region. Member of the Quebec Liberal Party, she is the current Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity.Boulet went the Université Laval and obtained a bachelor's degree in pharmacy...
. Briefly in 2010, he also held the Labour portfolio after David Whissell
David Whissell
David Whissell, B.Eng. is a Canadian politician, businessman, engineer and, until September 9, Quebec's Minister of Labour....
resigned of his position following conflict of interest allegations.