Gaétan Cousineau
Encyclopedia
Gaétan Cousineau is an administrator and former politician in the Canadian
province of Quebec
. He was the mayor of Gatineau
from 1983 to 1988 and is now president of the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse
(known in English as the Quebec Human Rights Commission).
from the University of Ottawa
and a Master of Public Administration
degree from the École nationale d’administration publique. He ran a private law practice from 1968 to 1992. He was councillor for Gatineau's sixth ward from 1979 to 1983.
Cousineau was elected as mayor in 1983, in a landslide victory over incumbent John Luck. He was also chosen as chair of the Outaouais Regional Council in 1987, defeating Aylmer mayor Constance Provost in a vote among council members.
Cousineau released a plan for a new municipal downtown core in 1985, highlights of which included a new city hall, cultural and sports centres, and a new CEGEP community centre. The city earmarked $6.6 million for a cultural centre two years later.
Also in 1985, Cousineau signed an accord with other Outaouais
mayors to give each municipality control over its water system. The agreement followed years of jurisdictional conflict, during which time all municipalities had to have projects approved by the Outaouais Regional Council. Cousineau described the agreement as a compromise, without clear winners or losers. Gatineau ultimately received a water filtration plant during Cousineau's tenure as mayor.
He also expressed interest in a plan to have Canada's National Capital Region
become the country's eleventh province. He did not support a proposal to merge Gatineau with Hull
and Aylmer
, and he criticized Hull mayor Michel Légère's plan for a fourth bridge from Ottawa
over the Gatineau River
.
Cousineau lobbied the government of Quebec
for a community college
campus during the mid-1980s. The project was approved in 1986.
There were rumours that Cousineau would seek the Liberal Party of Canada
nomination for Gatineau
in the 1988 election
, although this came to nothing.
Second term
Cousineau was again challenged by John Luck in the 1987 municipal election
. The two candidates disagreed on many substantive issues; in particular, Cousineau maintained his opposition to a merger with Hull and Aylmer, while Luck supported the plan. Cousineau ultimately won by 179 votes following a recount.
After the election, local activist Sylvain Simard
charged that Cousineau should resign as mayor due to being in a conflict-of-interest over property he co-owned near the city's proposed downtown core. Cousineau responded that he was not in a conflict-of-interest and accused Simard of orchestrating a smear campaign
. This notwithstanding, he resigned as mayor in February 1988, saying that he had run an honest administration but no longer wanted to be a target for partisan attacks.
in Montreal
. He was not re-appointed in November 2006, amid suggestions that new prime minister
Stephen Harper
was attempting to pack the board its with ideological allies.
After leaving the Immigration and Refugee board, Cousineau was appointed to a five-year term as president of the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse
, which began in September 2007. The following year, he argued that Quebec's proposed legislation on gender equity should formalize the province's commitment to economic and social rights. He also supported the principle of "reasonable accommodation
" for minority ethnic and cultural groups in Quebec.
In March 2010, Cousineau issued a thirty-seven page document attacking the practice of racial profiling
in Quebec. He subsequently presided over six days of public hearings on the subject in Montreal and Quebec City
, and in August 2010 he accused the Montreal Police of "systematic" racial profiling against black men in the city. Cousineau has also accused Quebec medical schools of blocking advancement by qualified applicants trained in other countries.
Source: Jack Aubry, "Ex-mayor's 'victory' short-lived," Ottawa Citizen, 2 November 1987, A1.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
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....
. He was the mayor of Gatineau
Gatineau
Gatineau is a city in western Quebec, Canada. It is the fourth largest city in the province. It is located on the northern banks of the Ottawa River, immediately across from Ottawa, Ontario, and together they form Canada's National Capital Region. Ottawa and Gatineau comprise a single Census...
from 1983 to 1988 and is now president of the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse
Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse
The Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse is a government agency created by the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms in 1975....
(known in English as the Quebec Human Rights Commission).
Early life and career
Cousineau has a diploma in Civil LawCivil law
Civil law may refer to:* Civil law , a branch of continental law which is the general part of private law* Civil law , a branch of common law dealing with relations between individuals or organizations...
from the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
and a Master of Public Administration
Master of Public Administration
The Master of Public Administration is a professional post-graduate degree in Public Administration. The MPA program prepares individuals to serve as managers in the executive arm of local, state/provincial, and federal/national government, and increasingly in nongovernmental organization and...
degree from the École nationale d’administration publique. He ran a private law practice from 1968 to 1992. He was councillor for Gatineau's sixth ward from 1979 to 1983.
Mayor of Gatineau
First termCousineau was elected as mayor in 1983, in a landslide victory over incumbent John Luck. He was also chosen as chair of the Outaouais Regional Council in 1987, defeating Aylmer mayor Constance Provost in a vote among council members.
Cousineau released a plan for a new municipal downtown core in 1985, highlights of which included a new city hall, cultural and sports centres, and a new CEGEP community centre. The city earmarked $6.6 million for a cultural centre two years later.
Also in 1985, Cousineau signed an accord with other Outaouais
Outaouais
Outaouais is a region of western Quebec, Canada. It includes the city of Gatineau , the Pontiac region, and the town of Maniwaki, and is located on the north side of the Ottawa River opposite Canada's capital, Ottawa...
mayors to give each municipality control over its water system. The agreement followed years of jurisdictional conflict, during which time all municipalities had to have projects approved by the Outaouais Regional Council. Cousineau described the agreement as a compromise, without clear winners or losers. Gatineau ultimately received a water filtration plant during Cousineau's tenure as mayor.
He also expressed interest in a plan to have Canada's National Capital Region
National Capital Region (Canada)
The National Capital Region, also referred to as Canada's Capital Region, is an official federal designation for the Canadian capital of Ottawa, Ontario, the neighbouring city of Gatineau, Quebec, and surrounding urban and rural communities....
become the country's eleventh province. He did not support a proposal to merge Gatineau with Hull
Hull, Quebec
Hull is the central and oldest part of the city of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. It is located on the west bank of the Gatineau River and the north shore of the Ottawa River, directly opposite Ottawa. As part of the Canadian National Capital Region, it contains offices for twenty thousand...
and Aylmer
Aylmer, Quebec
Aylmer is a former city in Quebec, Canada. It became a sector of the City of Gatineau on January 1, 2002. Located on the Ottawa River and Route 148 it is a part of the National Capital Region. The population in 2006 was 41 882 — approx. 16% of Gatineau...
, and he criticized Hull mayor Michel Légère's plan for a fourth bridge from Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
over the Gatineau River
Gatineau River
The Gatineau River is a river in western Quebec, Canada, which rises in lakes north of the Baskatong Reservoir and flows south to join the Ottawa River at the city of Gatineau, Quebec...
.
Cousineau lobbied the government of Quebec
Government of Quebec
The Government of Quebec refers to the provincial government of the province of Quebec. Its powers and structure are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867....
for a community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
campus during the mid-1980s. The project was approved in 1986.
There were rumours that Cousineau would seek the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
nomination for Gatineau
Gatineau (electoral district)
Gatineau is a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1949 to 1988 and since 1997. Its population in 2006 was 108,742....
in the 1988 election
Canadian federal election, 1988
The Canadian federal election of 1988 was held November 21, 1988, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 34th Parliament of Canada. It was an election largely fought on a single issue: the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement ....
, although this came to nothing.
Second term
Cousineau was again challenged by John Luck in the 1987 municipal election
Gatineau municipal election, 1987
The 1987 Gatineau municipal election was held on November 1, 1987, to elect a mayor and councillors in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. Incumbent mayor Gaétan Cousineau was narrowly re-elected over a challenge from former mayor John Luck.-Council:...
. The two candidates disagreed on many substantive issues; in particular, Cousineau maintained his opposition to a merger with Hull and Aylmer, while Luck supported the plan. Cousineau ultimately won by 179 votes following a recount.
After the election, local activist Sylvain Simard
Sylvain Simard
Sylvain Simard is a politician and academic based in the Canadian province of Quebec. He has represented Richelieu in the National Assembly of Quebec since 1994 and was a cabinet minister in the governments of Lucien Bouchard and Bernard Landry. Simard is a member of the Parti Québécois .-Early...
charged that Cousineau should resign as mayor due to being in a conflict-of-interest over property he co-owned near the city's proposed downtown core. Cousineau responded that he was not in a conflict-of-interest and accused Simard of orchestrating a smear campaign
Smear campaign
A smear campaign, smear tactic or simply smear is a metaphor for activity that can harm an individual or group's reputation by conflation with a stigmatized group...
. This notwithstanding, he resigned as mayor in February 1988, saying that he had run an honest administration but no longer wanted to be a target for partisan attacks.
Public administration
Cousineau worked for the Commission municipale du Québec from 1992 to 1998, when was appointed by the Canadian government to the Immigration and Refugee Board of CanadaImmigration and Refugee Board of Canada
The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada is an independent administrative tribunal. The IRB is responsible for applying the Canadian federal Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and for making decisions on immigration and refugee matters...
in Montreal
Montreal
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...
. He was not re-appointed in November 2006, amid suggestions that new prime minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
was attempting to pack the board its with ideological allies.
After leaving the Immigration and Refugee board, Cousineau was appointed to a five-year term as president of the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse
Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse
The Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse is a government agency created by the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms in 1975....
, which began in September 2007. The following year, he argued that Quebec's proposed legislation on gender equity should formalize the province's commitment to economic and social rights. He also supported the principle of "reasonable accommodation
Reasonable accommodation
A reasonable accommodation is an adjustment made in a system to "accommodate" or make fair the same system for an individual based on a proven need. Accommodations can be religious, academic, or employment related and are often mandated by law. Each country has its own system of reasonable...
" for minority ethnic and cultural groups in Quebec.
In March 2010, Cousineau issued a thirty-seven page document attacking the practice of racial profiling
Racial profiling
Racial profiling refers to the use of an individual’s race or ethnicity by law enforcement personnel as a key factor in deciding whether to engage in enforcement...
in Quebec. He subsequently presided over six days of public hearings on the subject in Montreal and 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...
, and in August 2010 he accused the Montreal Police of "systematic" racial profiling against black men in the city. Cousineau has also accused Quebec medical schools of blocking advancement by qualified applicants trained in other countries.
Electoral record
Source: "Cousineau wins, Luck continues to contest result" [mayoral recount], Ottawa Citizen, 16 November 1987, C1.Source: Jack Aubry, "Ex-mayor's 'victory' short-lived," Ottawa Citizen, 2 November 1987, A1.