Jean Charest

The Honourable John James "Jean" Charest, PC, MNA (born June 24, 1958) is a Quebecois lawyer and politician. He is a former leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party (1993 - 1998), the current leader of the Parti libéral du Québec (since 1998) and the Premier of Quebec, Canada (since 2003).

Profile

Born as John James Charest in the Eastern Townships central city of Sherbrooke to Claude Red Charest and Rita Leonard (an Irish Quebecer), he obtained a law degree from the University of Sherbrooke and was admitted to the Barreau du Quebec in 1981. He worked as a lawyer until he was elected Progressive Conservative member of the Canadian Parliament for the riding (electoral district) of Sherbrooke in the 1984 election. From 1984 to 1986, Charest served as Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons. In 1986, at age 28, he was appointed to the Cabinet of then-Prime Minister Brian Mulroney as Minister of State for Youth. He was the youngest cabinet minister in Canadian history. He was appointed Minister of State for Fitness and Amateur Sport in 1988, and Minister of the Environment in 1991.

Related Topics:
Eastern Townships - Sherbrooke - Irish Quebecer - University of Sherbrooke - Barreau du Quebec - Lawyer - Progressive Conservative - Canadian Parliament - Riding - 1984 election - House of Commons - 1986 - Cabinet - Prime Minister - Brian Mulroney - Minister of State - 1988 - 1991

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After Mulroney's retirement as PC leader and prime minister, Charest was a candidate for the leadership of the party at the 1993 Progressive Conservative leadership convention. He impressed many observers and party members, and placed a strong second to Defence Minister Kim Campbell, who had held a large lead going into the convention. Charest served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry, Science and Technology in Campbell's short-lived cabinet.

Related Topics:
1993 - Progressive Conservative leadership convention - Kim Campbell - Deputy Prime Minister

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In the 1993 election, the PCs were swept from power in one of the most lopsided elections in world history: only two of the party's 295 candidates were elected—Charest and Elsie Wayne. As the only surviving member of what would turn out to be the last PC Cabinet, Charest was appointed interim party leader and confirmed in the post in April 1995.

Related Topics:
1993 election - Elsie Wayne - 1995

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Even before being confirmed as leader, Charest launched an effort to re-build the party. In the 1997 election, the Tories received 19% of the vote, but won only 20 seats out of 301, mostly in Atlantic Canada. The party was back from the brink, but Charest considered the result a disappointment.

Related Topics:
1997 election - Tories - Atlantic Canada

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In April 1998, Charest gave into considerable public and political pressure to leave federal politics and become leader of the Quebec Liberal Party. Charest was considered by many to be the best hope for the federalist QLP to defeat the sovereigntist Parti Québécois government. (The QLP is not affiliated with the federal Liberals.)

Related Topics:
1998 - Quebec Liberal Party - Federalist - Sovereigntist - Parti Québécois - Federal Liberals

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In the 1998 election, the Quebec Liberals received more votes than the PQ, but because the Liberal vote was concentrated in fewer ridings, the PQ won enough seats to form another majority government. The two parties won almost the same number of seats in the National Assembly of Quebec as they had won in the previous election in 1994, in which the Liberals had been led by Daniel Johnson, Jr.

Related Topics:
1998 election - National Assembly of Quebec - Previous election in 1994 - Daniel Johnson, Jr.

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In the April 2003 election, Charest led the Quebec Liberals to a majority, ending nine years of PQ rule.

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Declaring that he had a mandate to reform health care, cut taxes, reduce spending and reduce the size of government, Charest's first two years of his mandate were marked by stiff and vocal opposition to his policies by Quebec labour unions. The antagonism and negativity shared between his government and public sector employees has left Charest relatively unpopular amongst the general public. Many have suggested however, that Charest may reenter national politics again before his provincial term is completed in April 2008, as a federal leadership challenger, if Stephen Harper, leader of the new Conservative Party of Canada, falters in the next federal election, widely expected to occur by Spring 2006.

Related Topics:
Labour unions - Stephen Harper - Conservative Party of Canada

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On June 15, 2005, Charest came under fire for calling Parti Québécois MNA Elsie Lefebvre a "bitch" ("chienne") after receiving a question regarding his wife. He apologized two days later.

Related Topics:
June 15 - 2005 - Parti Québécois - Elsie Lefebvre

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