Yolande James
Encyclopedia
Yolande James is a Quebec
provincial politician. She is the first black female MNA
and the youngest, as well as the first black cabinet minister
in Quebec
history. A member of the Quebec Liberal Party, she represents the multicultural riding of Nelligan
in the Island of Montreal.
, respectively. She grew up in Montreal's West Island
area, and went to a francophone
primary school. James says she first got involved in politics and with the Quebec Liberal Party during the 1995 sovereignty referendum campaign.
James received a Bachelor's degree
in civil law
in 2000 from Université de Montréal
and a Bachelor's degree in common law
from Queen's University
in 2003. She was called to the Bar of Quebec in 2004.
She was a political adviser at the Ministry of Health and Social Services and was the political aid of a former MNA for the Nelligan riding. She also collaborated in a local program which helped youths with learning difficulties.
She was first elected to the National Assembly of Quebec for the riding of Nelligan in a by-election
held on September 20, 2004. She was re-elected in the 2007 Quebec general election
.
She was appointed Minister
of Immigration and Cultural Communities in the minority government
cabinet of Quebec Premier Jean Charest
in 2007 following the initiative of Jean Charest to represent Anglophones and Cultural Communities in his Cabinet. After Tony Tomassi's sudden resignation in 2010, she was also given the Family portfolio which she kept during a Cabinet Shuffle in 2010 while losing her culture and immigration duties to Kathleen Weil
.
leader Pauline Marois
demanded that the province of Quebec
have full control over its immigration, Ms. James replied that under a bilateral agreement with the national government, Quebec already has all the power it needs to select the economic immigrants it wants.
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....
provincial politician. She is the first black female MNA
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...
and the youngest, as well as the first black cabinet minister
Executive Council of Quebec
The Executive Council of Quebec is the cabinet of the government of Quebec, Canada....
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....
history. A member of the Quebec Liberal Party, she represents the multicultural riding of Nelligan
Nelligan (electoral district)
Nelligan is a provincial electoral district in Quebec, Canada that elects members to the National Assembly of Quebec. The riding was created in 1980 from parts of Pointe-Claire and Robert-Baldwin. It includes portions of the Montreal Island including Île Bizard, Kirkland and Senneville...
in the Island of Montreal.
Biography
Yolande James' father and mother are Canadian citizens who emigrated from St. Lucia and St. VincentSaint Vincent and the Grenadines
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an island country in the Lesser Antilles chain, namely in the southern portion of the Windward Islands, which lie at the southern end of the eastern border of the Caribbean Sea where the latter meets the Atlantic Ocean....
, respectively. She grew up in Montreal's West Island
West Island
The West Island is the unofficial name given to the western cities and boroughs of the Island of Montreal, in Quebec, Canada...
area, and went to a francophone
Francophone
The adjective francophone means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals, groups, or places. Often, the word is used as a noun to describe a natively French-speaking person....
primary school. James says she first got involved in politics and with the Quebec Liberal Party during the 1995 sovereignty referendum campaign.
James received a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in civil law
Civil law (legal system)
Civil law is a legal system inspired by Roman law and whose primary feature is that laws are codified into collections, as compared to common law systems that gives great precedential weight to common law on the principle that it is unfair to treat similar facts differently on different...
in 2000 from 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...
and a Bachelor's degree in common law
Common law
Common law is law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive branch action...
from Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
in 2003. She was called to the Bar of Quebec in 2004.
She was a political adviser at the Ministry of Health and Social Services and was the political aid of a former MNA for the Nelligan riding. She also collaborated in a local program which helped youths with learning difficulties.
She was first elected to the National Assembly of Quebec for the riding of Nelligan in a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
held on September 20, 2004. She was re-elected in the 2007 Quebec general election
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...
.
She was appointed 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 Immigration and Cultural Communities in the minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
cabinet of Quebec Premier 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....
in 2007 following the initiative of Jean Charest to represent Anglophones and Cultural Communities in his Cabinet. After Tony Tomassi's sudden resignation in 2010, she was also given the Family portfolio which she kept during a Cabinet Shuffle in 2010 while losing her culture and immigration duties to Kathleen Weil
Kathleen Weil
Kathleen Weil is a politician in the Canadian province of Quebec, who was elected to represent the riding of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce in the National Assembly of Quebec in the 2008 provincial election...
.
Political Issues
When Parti QuébécoisParti 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...
leader Pauline Marois
Pauline Marois
Pauline Marois is the current leader of the Parti Québécois in the province of Quebec, since June 27, 2007 and current Leader of the Official Opposition of the National Assembly of Quebec, representing the riding of Charlevoix...
demanded that the province of 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....
have full control over its immigration, Ms. James replied that under a bilateral agreement with the national government, Quebec already has all the power it needs to select the economic immigrants it wants.