Gilles Pouliot
Encyclopedia
Gilles Pouliot is a retired politician
in Ontario
, Canada
. He served as a member of the Ontario legislature from 1985 to 1999, representing the Northern Ontario
riding
of Lake Nipigon for the New Democratic Party
.
He was first elected in the 1985 provincial election
, defeating Progressive Conservative
Jim Files
by over 1,200 votes. He was re-elected by greater margins in the provincial elections of 1987
and 1990
. He supported Dave Barrett
for the leadership of the federal New Democratic Party
in 1989.
The NDP won a majority government in the 1990 election, and Pouliot was named as Minister of Mines and Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs in Bob Rae
's government on October 1, 1990. In early 1991, he introduced legislation allowing mining companies to expropriate unused resource land from private ownership.
He retained responsibility for Francophone Affairs throughout the Rae government. On July 31, 1991, he was transferred from Mines to the Ministry of Transportation. On October 21, 1994, near the end of the Rae government's time in office, he was shifted back to Northern Development and Mines.
The NDP were defeated in the 1995 election
, although Pouliot retained the Lake Nipigon riding without too much difficulty. In 1996, he supported Howard Hampton
's successful campaign to replace Rae as party leader.
Pouliot's riding was eliminated by redistribution in 1996. He rarely spoke in the legislature thereafter, and he chose not to run again in the 1999 election
. He lived in Manitouwadge
during his time in office.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
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...
. He served as a member of the Ontario legislature from 1985 to 1999, representing the Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario is a region of the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north of Lake Huron , the French River and Lake Nipissing. The region has a land area of 802,000 km2 and constitutes 87% of the land area of Ontario, although it contains only about 6% of the population...
riding
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
of Lake Nipigon for the New Democratic Party
Ontario New Democratic Party
The Ontario New Democratic Party or , formally known as New Democratic Party of Ontario, is a social democratic political party in Ontario, Canada. It is a provincial section of the federal New Democratic Party. It was formed in October 1961, a few months after the federal party. The ONDP had its...
.
He was first elected in the 1985 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1985
The Ontario general election of 1985 was held on May 2, 1985, to elect members of the 33rd Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada...
, defeating Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
Jim Files
Jim Files
James Dale "Jim" Files is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Giants 13th overall in the 1970 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oklahoma....
by over 1,200 votes. He was re-elected by greater margins in the provincial elections of 1987
Ontario general election, 1987
The Ontario general election of 1987 was held on September 10, 1987, to elect members of the 34th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada.The governing Ontario Liberal Party, led by David Peterson, was returned to power with a large majority...
and 1990
Ontario general election, 1990
The Ontario general election of 1990 was held on September 6, 1990, to elect members of the 35th Legislative Assembly of the province of Ontario, Canada....
. He supported Dave Barrett
Dave Barrett
David Barrett, OC , commonly known as Dave Barrett, is a retired politician and social worker in British Columbia, Canada...
for the leadership of the federal New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
in 1989.
The NDP won a majority government in the 1990 election, and Pouliot was named as Minister of Mines and Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs in Bob Rae
Bob Rae
Robert Keith "Bob" Rae, PC, OC, OOnt, QC, MP is a Canadian politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre and interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
's government on October 1, 1990. In early 1991, he introduced legislation allowing mining companies to expropriate unused resource land from private ownership.
He retained responsibility for Francophone Affairs throughout the Rae government. On July 31, 1991, he was transferred from Mines to the Ministry of Transportation. On October 21, 1994, near the end of the Rae government's time in office, he was shifted back to Northern Development and Mines.
The NDP were defeated in the 1995 election
Ontario general election, 1995
The Ontario general election of 1995 was held on June 8, 1995, to elect members of the 36th Legislative Assembly of the province of Ontario, Canada...
, although Pouliot retained the Lake Nipigon riding without too much difficulty. In 1996, he supported Howard Hampton
Howard Hampton
Howard George Hampton, MPP is a Canadian lawyer and politician. He has served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Canada, since 1987 as the Member of Provincial Parliament from the northern riding of Kenora—Rainy River. A member of the Ontario New Democratic Party, he was also the party's...
's successful campaign to replace Rae as party leader.
Pouliot's riding was eliminated by redistribution in 1996. He rarely spoke in the legislature thereafter, and he chose not to run again in the 1999 election
Ontario general election, 1999
An Ontario general election was held on June 3, 1999, to elect members of the 37th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
. He lived in Manitouwadge
Manitouwadge, Ontario
Manitouwadge is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is located in the Thunder Bay District, at the north end of Highway 614, east of Thunder Bay and west of Sault Ste. Marie.-History:...
during his time in office.