Josée Legault
Encyclopedia
Josée Legault is a Canadian
journalist. She is currently a political columnist for the English-language Montreal
, Quebec
newspaper The Gazette
. She is known for her advocacy of Quebec independence
and her "pur et dur
" (hardline) opinions on the issue.
and political science
and subsequently taught at the Université du Québec à Montréal
(UQÀM). Before the 1995 Quebec referendum
, she published a report on the Charter of the French Language
(Bill 101). From 1995 to 1998, she was columnist for Le Devoir
.
For the Quebec general election of 1998
, she defied the party establishment and ran unsuccessfully for the PQ nomination in the Mercier
riding for the Parti Québécois
(PQ). Between 2001 and 2002, she was political counselor for PQ Premier of Quebec Bernard Landry
. The cessation of her employment at this post caused a minor controversy in sovereigntist
ranks. The rumours were that she had conflicts with members of the Landry team, notably on the strategy to achieve sovereignty.
Perhaps her greatest moment of notoriety came during the 1995 referendum, when Liberal Senator Jacques Hébert
called her a vache séparatiste or a separatist cow. Hébert was roundly criticized for the sexist and insulting remark, but efforts to galvanize separatist forces around this issue were unsuccessful.
Additionally to her present Gazette column, she is also heard on the airwaves of radio stations CKAC (French language) and CJAD (English language). Her articles have repeatedly and heavily criticized former PQ Premier of Quebec Lucien Bouchard
(Landry's predecessor) for a purported luke-warm approach on independence and for allegedly not governing enough to the left
.
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...
journalist. She is currently a political columnist for the English-language 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...
, 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....
newspaper The Gazette
The Gazette (Montreal)
The Gazette, often called the Montreal Gazette to avoid ambiguity, is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, with three other daily English newspapers all having shut down at different times during the second half of the 20th century.-History:In 1778,...
. She is known for her advocacy of Quebec independence
Quebec sovereignty movement
The Quebec sovereignty movement refers to both the political movement and the ideology of values, concepts and ideas that promote the secession of the province of Quebec from the rest of Canada...
and her "pur et dur
Pur et dur
Pur et dur is a term used in Quebec politics to refer to hardliners of the Parti Québécois and the Quebec independence movement. It is most commonly used in the media, where it was popularized. It is also used to criticize some members of the Parti Québécois...
" (hardline) opinions on the issue.
Biography
Legault earned a degree in historyHistory
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and subsequently taught at the Université du Québec à Montréal
Université du Québec à Montréal
The Université du Québec à Montréal is one of four universities in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.-Basic facts:The UQAM is the largest constituent element of the Université du Québec , a public university system with other branches in Gatineau , Rimouski, Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec City, Chicoutimi, and...
(UQÀM). Before the 1995 Quebec referendum
1995 Quebec referendum
The 1995 Quebec referendum was the second referendum to ask voters in the Canadian province of Quebec whether Quebec should secede from Canada and become an independent state, through the question:...
, she published a report on the Charter of the French Language
Charter of the French Language
The Charter of the French Language , also known as Bill 101 and Loi 101, is a law in the province of Quebec in Canada defining French, the language of the majority of the population, as the only official language of Quebec, and framing fundamental language rights for everyone in the province...
(Bill 101). From 1995 to 1998, she was columnist for Le Devoir
Le Devoir
Le Devoir is a French-language newspaper published in Montreal and distributed in Quebec and the rest of Canada. It was founded by journalist, politician, and nationalist Henri Bourassa in 1910....
.
For the Quebec general election of 1998
Quebec general election, 1998
The Quebec general election of 1998 was held on November 30, 1998, to elect members of the National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The incumbent Parti Québécois, led by Lucien Bouchard, won re-election, defeating the Quebec Liberal Party, led by Jean Charest.After the narrow defeat of...
, she defied the party establishment and ran unsuccessfully for the PQ nomination in the Mercier
Mercier
Mercier is a common family name in France, in French-speaking regions of Belgium, Canada and Switzerland, and is found elsewhere where French-speaking people have settled.-List of persons with the surname:...
riding 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...
(PQ). Between 2001 and 2002, she was political counselor for PQ Premier of Quebec Bernard Landry
Bernard Landry
Bernard Landry, is a Quebec lawyer, teacher, politician, who served as the 28th Premier of Quebec , leader of the Opposition and leader of the Parti Québécois .-Personal:...
. The cessation of her employment at this post caused a minor controversy in sovereigntist
Quebec sovereignty movement
The Quebec sovereignty movement refers to both the political movement and the ideology of values, concepts and ideas that promote the secession of the province of Quebec from the rest of Canada...
ranks. The rumours were that she had conflicts with members of the Landry team, notably on the strategy to achieve sovereignty.
Perhaps her greatest moment of notoriety came during the 1995 referendum, when Liberal Senator Jacques Hébert
Jacques Hébert
Jacques René Hébert was a French journalist, and the founder and editor of the extreme radical newspaper Le Père Duchesne during the French Revolution...
called her a vache séparatiste or a separatist cow. Hébert was roundly criticized for the sexist and insulting remark, but efforts to galvanize separatist forces around this issue were unsuccessful.
Additionally to her present Gazette column, she is also heard on the airwaves of radio stations CKAC (French language) and CJAD (English language). Her articles have repeatedly and heavily criticized former PQ Premier of Quebec Lucien Bouchard
Lucien Bouchard
Lucien Bouchard, is a Canadian lawyer, diplomat, politician and former Minister of the Environment of the Canadian Federal Government. He was the Leader of Opposition in the Canadian House of Commons from 1993 to 1996, and the 27th Premier of Quebec from January 29, 1996 to March 8, 2001...
(Landry's predecessor) for a purported luke-warm approach on independence and for allegedly not governing enough to the left
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
.
External links
- Article archive (1992 to 2004) at Vigile.net