Yves Bérubé
Encyclopedia
Yves Bérubé was a Quebec
engineer, politician and multiple-time minister.
. His father was a journalist. He studied at the Collège de Saint-Laurent (the modern Cégep Saint-Laurent), then at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
, where he graduated in 1966 with a doctorate in mining engineering
. In 1963 (the same year he had obtained his bachelor's degree) he had married Francine Leroux in Montreal.
His career started at the Iron Ore Company of Canada
. After obtaining his doctorate, he became assistant, then associate professor at Laval University. During this period, he also taught in France and regularly acted as consultant for several companies and the federal government.
In 1976, he defeated Marc-Yvan Côté
and was elected
in Matane
for the Parti Québécois
. He became Minister of Lands and Forests as well as Minister of Natural Resources , then Minister of Energy and Resources when these two ministries were combined in 1979 (it would become the modern Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife
).
He was easily re-elected in the 1981 election
. In the new government, he was Minister for Adminisration and President of the Treasury Board. In the March 1984 cabinet shuffle
, he was made Minister of Education
, a post he left in December upon the creation of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (resulting from a merger of the existing Ministry of Science and Technology and part of the Ministry of Education).
As Minister of Energy and Resources, he defended the interest of the Bas-Saint-Laurent
and Gaspésie region, eventually getting embroiled in a dispute with federal minister Pierre De Bané
over the funding for the establishment of a paper mill
in Matane. As Minister of Natural Resources, he presided over the creation of a state corporation for research, prospection and promotion of asbestos
, and as President of the Treasury Board, he was instrumental in salary reductions that affection the Quebec public service in the early 80s.
On October 16, 1985, shortly after the resignation of René Lévesque
as Prime Minister, Bérubé and two other ministers, Yves Duhaime
(Finances) and Clément Richard
(Cultural Affairs), resigned together. In the ensuing shuffle, four unelected ministers were named, the largest number since 1936 and the first time since 1970.
Following his resignation, he worked at SNC-Lavalin
, becoming executive vice-president in 1991. The following year, he became president of the Société d'habitation et de développement de Montréal before dying the next year, on December 5, from a brain tumor. He is buried in Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery
. He had two daughters at the time of his death.
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....
engineer, politician and multiple-time minister.
Biography
Bérubé was born in MontrealMontreal
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...
. His father was a journalist. He studied at the Collège de Saint-Laurent (the modern Cégep Saint-Laurent), then at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, where he graduated in 1966 with a doctorate in mining engineering
Mining engineering
Mining engineering is an engineering discipline that involves the practice, the theory, the science, the technology, and application of extracting and processing minerals from a naturally occurring environment. Mining engineering also includes processing minerals for additional value.Mineral...
. In 1963 (the same year he had obtained his bachelor's degree) he had married Francine Leroux in Montreal.
His career started at the Iron Ore Company of Canada
Iron Ore Company of Canada
Iron Ore Company of Canada is a Canadian-based producer of iron ore. The company was founded in 1949 from a partnership of Canadian and American M.A. Hanna Company...
. After obtaining his doctorate, he became assistant, then associate professor at Laval University. During this period, he also taught in France and regularly acted as consultant for several companies and the federal government.
In 1976, he defeated Marc-Yvan Côté
Marc-Yvan Côté
Marc-Yvan Côté is a former Quebec politician and Cabinet Minister for the Quebec Liberal Party...
and was elected
Quebec general election, 1976
The Quebec general election of 1976 was held on November 15, 1976 to elect members to National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. It was one of the most significant elections in Quebec history, rivalled only by the 1960 general election, and caused major repercussions in the rest of Canada...
in Matane
Matane (provincial electoral district)
Matane is a provincial electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that which elects members to the National Assembly of Quebec. It was created in 1890 from parts of Rimouski. -Geography:...
for the 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...
. He became Minister of Lands and Forests as well as Minister of Natural Resources , then Minister of Energy and Resources when these two ministries were combined in 1979 (it would become the modern Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife
Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife (Quebec)
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife is responsible for the protection of flora and fauna and manage natural resource extraction in the province of Quebec....
).
He was easily re-elected in the 1981 election
Quebec general election, 1981
The Quebec general election of 1981 was held on April 13, 1981, to elect members of the National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The incumbent Parti Québécois, led by René Lévesque, won re-election, defeating the Quebec Liberal Party, led by Claude Ryan.The PQ won re-election despite...
. In the new government, he was Minister for Adminisration and President of the Treasury Board. In the March 1984 cabinet shuffle
Cabinet shuffle
In the parliamentary system a cabinet shuffle or reshuffle is an informal term for an event that occurs when a head of government rotates or changes the composition of ministers in their cabinet....
, he was made Minister of Education
Ministry of Education, Recreation and Sports (Quebec)
The Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports is the individual who has the political responsibility for the regulation and oversight of educational services offered in the province of Quebec as well as for the Ministry of Education.The Quebec government abolished the Ministry of Public...
, a post he left in December upon the creation of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (resulting from a merger of the existing Ministry of Science and Technology and part of the Ministry of Education).
As Minister of Energy and Resources, he defended the interest of the Bas-Saint-Laurent
Bas-Saint-Laurent
The Bas-Saint-Laurent region is located along the south shore of the lower Saint Lawrence River in Quebec.It has a population of 200,653 and a land area of 22,232.11 km² .-Subdivisions:...
and Gaspésie region, eventually getting embroiled in a dispute with federal minister Pierre De Bané
Pierre de Bané
Pierre de Bané, PC, QC is a Canadian Senator. He was the first person of Arab descent to be elected to the Canadian House of Commons in Matane and next Matapédia—Matane, and is a former member of the Canadian Cabinet....
over the funding for the establishment of a paper mill
Paper mill
A paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags and other ingredients using a Fourdrinier machine or other type of paper machine.- History :...
in Matane. As Minister of Natural Resources, he presided over the creation of a state corporation for research, prospection and promotion of asbestos
Asbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
, and as President of the Treasury Board, he was instrumental in salary reductions that affection the Quebec public service in the early 80s.
On October 16, 1985, shortly after the resignation of René Lévesque
René Lévesque
René Lévesque was a reporter, a minister of the government of Quebec, , the founder of the Parti Québécois political party and the 23rd Premier of Quebec...
as Prime Minister, Bérubé and two other ministers, Yves Duhaime
Yves Duhaime
Yves Duhaime is a former politician in Quebec, Canada. He served as Cabinet Member and Member of the National Assembly of Quebec.-Early life:Duhaime was born in Chicoutimi, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and grew up in Shawinigan, Mauricie....
(Finances) and Clément Richard
Clément Richard
Clément Richard is a lawyer, businessman and former political figure in Quebec. He represented Montmorency in the Quebec National Assembly as a member of the Parti Québécois from 1976 to 1985.He was born in Quebec City, the son of J...
(Cultural Affairs), resigned together. In the ensuing shuffle, four unelected ministers were named, the largest number since 1936 and the first time since 1970.
Following his resignation, he worked at SNC-Lavalin
SNC-Lavalin
SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. is a large Canadian engineering firm. It is one of the ten largest engineering firms in the world and is based in Montreal, Quebec. It formed in 1991 from the merger of SNC and the failing Lavalin, another Quebec based engineering firm....
, becoming executive vice-president in 1991. The following year, he became president of the Société d'habitation et de développement de Montréal before dying the next year, on December 5, from a brain tumor. He is buried in Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery
Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery
Founded in 1854, Cimetière Notre-Dame-des-Neiges is a 343-acre cemetery located in the borough of Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The entrance and the grounds run along a part of chemin Côte-des-Neiges and up the slopes of Mount Royal...
. He had two daughters at the time of his death.