Jean-Marc Fournier

Jean-Marc Fournier
Saint-Laurent MNA and interim leader Jean-Marc Fournier at the Quebec Liberal Party leadership convention.
Leader of the Official Opposition in Quebec
In office September 19, 2012 – December 18, 2013
Preceded by	Pauline Marois
Succeeded by	Philippe Couillard
MNA for Saint-Laurent
Incumbent
Assumed office September 13, 2010
Preceded by	Jacques Dupuis
MNA for Châteauguay
In office September 12, 1994 – November 5, 2008
Preceded by	Pierrette Cardinal
Succeeded by	Pierre Moreau
Personal details
Born	October 7, 1959 Châteauguay, Quebec
Political party	Quebec Liberal Party
Spouse(s)	Maryse Legault
Profession	Lawyer

Jean-Marc Fournier (born October 7, 1959) is a Quebec politician and a lawyer. He was the interim leader of the Quebec Liberal Party from 2012 to 2013.

He currently represents the riding of Saint-Laurent in the National Assembly, and previously represented the riding of Châteauguay from 1994 to 2008. He served as the Minister of Revenue, Government House Leader, Minister of Education, Minister of Municipal Affairs, and Attorney General in the Government of Jean Charest.

Early career

Fournier was born in Châteauguay, Quebec. He studied at the Université de Montréal and obtained a law degree and later a master's degree in public law. He was admitted to the Barreau du Québec in 1982. He was a lawyer for nearly ten years. He later worked at the offices of the Ministry of Governmental Affairs, Employment and Justice.

He was also a radio host at community radio station CHAI-FM and was an organizer of the 1986 Quebec Winter Games. He was also the president of the Chateauguay Chamber of Commerce and was named Outstanding Citizen in 1987 by the city.

Prior to his entry in provincial politics, Fournier was the defeated candidate of the Liberal Party of Canada in Châteauguay in 1988 and was also involved in the leadership campaign of Paul Martin for Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada in which Jean Chrétien eventually won.

Quebec National Assembly

Fournier won the 1994 elections and was subsequently re-elected in the 1998, 2003 and 2007 elections. Before the Quebec Liberal Party took power in the 2003 election, Fournier at various moments served as the chief whip of the official opposition, critic for Canadian intergovernmental affairs, as well as critic for health.

After his 2003 re-election, he was named the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Sports and Recreation and from 2005 to 2007, he was the Minister of Education, Leisure and Sports for Quebec, Canada. Fournier replaced Pierre Reid in the midst of the 2005 Quebec student protests in which over 200 000 college and university students protested the Liberals cuts in bursary funds in the 2004 budget. Fournier and the students groups settled a deal in April 2005 which included involvement from the federal government and its bursary program.

On October 31, 2008, Fournier announced he would retire from politics. On November 17, 2009, it was announced Fournier would join the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, Michael Ignatieff, as principal secretary.^[1]

Minister under Jean Charest

On August 9, 2010 it was announced that Fournier would run in a by-election in the district of Saint-Laurent to replace Jacques Dupuis, who was retiring from provincial politics.^[2] Two days later, Fournier was appointed the Minister of Justice and the Reform of Democratic Institutions by Premier Jean Charest as part of a wider cabinet shuffle, despite his not yet holding a seat in the National Assembly. He was reelected by a wide margin on September 13, 2010.^[3]

Civil disobedience a form of vandalism

Following large student protests opposing tuition increases, Fournier supported the passage of Bill 78, a Quebec law drafted in response to the protests. After student groups vowed civil disobedience to oppose the law, Fournier declared the practice "a nice word for vandalism."^[4]

Interim Liberal Leader

On September 12, 2012, Fournier was named interim Leader of the Quebec Liberal Party, replacing Jean Charest.^[5]

Electoral record (partial)

Quebec general election, 2003: Châteauguay
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal	Jean-Marc Fournier	20,434	51.80
	Parti Québécois	Éric Cardinal	13,751	34.86
	Action démocratique	Daniel Lapointe	4,399	11.15
	Bloc Pot	Gilles Lalumière	547	1.39
	UFP	Guylaine Sirard	222	0.56
	Equality	Robert Jason Morgan	93	0.24
Total valid votes			39,446	100.00
Rejected and declined votes			552
Turnout			39,998	74.33
Electors on the lists			53,810
Source: Official Results, Le Directeur général des élections du Québec.

References

1. Fournier joins Ignatieff office
2. "Search". Globe and Mail. Canada.
3. "Jean-Marc Fournier redevient député." La Presse, September 13, 2010.]
4. Jones, Keith (May 23, 2012). "Quebec: Huge protest supports striking students, denounces Bill 78". World Socialist Web Site. Montreal. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
5. "Jean-Marc Fournier named interim leader of Quebec Liberals", Toronto Star, September 12, 2012

External links

• "Biography". Dictionnaire des parlementaires du Québec de 1792 à nos jours (in French). National Assembly of Quebec.