Nicolas Tétrault
Encyclopedia
Nicolas Tétrault is a politician and entrepreneur in Montreal
, Quebec
, Canada
. He served on the Montreal city council
from 2001 to 2005, initially as a member of Vision Montreal
(VM) and later for the rival Montreal Island Citizens Union (MICU). Tétrault has also sought election to the Canadian House of Commons
and the National Assembly of Quebec
.
as a Parti Québécois
(PQ) candidate in the extremely safe Liberal seat of Robert-Baldwin
in west-end Montreal. The youngest candidate in the province at nineteen years of age, he was a CEGEP
student during the election. Although it was generally recognized that he had no chance of winning, Tétrault's campaign received a fair amount of media attention. Profiled by the Montreal Gazette in August 1994, he described himself as "the kind of nationalist who is open to discussion." He finished a distant second against Liberal Pierre Marsan
on election day.
Tétrault later ran as a Bloc Québécois
(BQ) candidate in the Montreal-area riding of Brossard—La Prairie
in the 2000 Canadian federal election
. He was twenty-five years old during the campaign and operated his own marketing company. In an interview with the Gazette, he said that Canada should adopt a new model of politics and economics based on that of the European Community. He finished second against Liberal Party of Canada
incumbent Jacques Saada
.
In 2002, Tétrault described the older wing of the Parti Québécois as having lost touch with modern Quebec. Two years later, he said that many people of his generation favoured "sovereignty if necessary but not necessarily sovereignty."
as a Vision Montreal candidate in the Plateau-Mont-Royal division. During the campaign, he called for a speed limit reduction in the Plateau, increased security in parks and at metro stations, more co-op housing and support for local artists, and more parking spots for businesses. Vision Montreal lost the election to Gérald Tremblay
's Montreal Island Citizens Union, and Tétrault served as a member of the official opposition. By virtue of his city council position, he also served on the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough council.
When Pierre Bourque
resigned as Vision Montreal leader to run for the National Assembly of Quebec in 2003, Tétrault said that he respected Bourque's decision but did not approve of it. He added that he would "have to look at the options" as to whether he would remain with the party.
During the 2003 provincial election
, Tétrault criticized the Quebec Liberal Party for its pledge to permit referendums on municipal demergers. He argued that the pledge would create instability for municipal government on the Island of Montreal
, where several municipalities had recently been merged to create a united city. Later in the same year, he supported Mayor Tremblay's compromise plan to devolve some powers to the city's borough councils.
Tétrault resigned from Vision Montreal to sit as an independent on March 4, 2004, and joined MICU on October 26 of the same year. In the 2005 municipal election
, he ran for re-election in the Louis-Riel division of the Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough
and was narrowly defeated by Vision Montreal incumbent Richer Dompierre
. Early reports suggested that Tétrault had won by twelve votes, but a more thorough scrutiny confirmed Dompierre as the winner.
degree in Political Science
from the Université de Montréal
. After leaving city council, he co-founded Groupe T & T Media with Paul Tietolman. The group is active in the radio sector.
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....
, 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 on the Montreal city council
Montreal City Council
The Montreal City Council is the governing body of Montreal, Quebec. The head of the city government in Montreal is the mayor, who is first among equals in the City Council. The mayor is Gérald Tremblay, who is a member of the Union des citoyens et des citoyennes de l'Île de Montréal...
from 2001 to 2005, initially as a member of Vision Montreal
Vision Montreal
Vision Montreal is a municipal political party in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It has been in existence since 1994 and presently forms the Official opposition on Montreal City Council under leader Louise Harel.-Origins:...
(VM) and later for the rival Montreal Island Citizens Union (MICU). Tétrault has also sought election to the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
and the National Assembly of Quebec
National Assembly of Quebec
The National Assembly of Quebec is the legislative body of the Province of Quebec. The Lieutenant Governor and the National Assembly compose the Parliament of Quebec, which operates in a fashion similar to those of other British-style parliamentary systems.The National Assembly was formerly the...
.
Early political campaigns
Tétrault sought election to the National Assembly of Quebec in the 1994 Quebec provincial electionQuebec general election, 1994
The Quebec general election of 1994 was held on September 12, 1994, to elect members of the National Assembly of Quebec, Canada. The Parti Québécois, led by Jacques Parizeau, defeated the incumbent Quebec Liberal Party, led by Daniel Johnson, Jr.....
as a 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) candidate in the extremely safe Liberal seat of Robert-Baldwin
Robert-Baldwin
Robert-Baldwin is a provincial electoral district in Quebec, Canada that elects members to the National Assembly of Quebec. The riding was created in 1965 from a part of Jacques-Cartier...
in west-end Montreal. The youngest candidate in the province at nineteen years of age, he was a CEGEP
Cégep
CEGEP is an acronym for , which is literally translated as "College of General and Vocational Education" but commonly called "General and Vocational College" in circles not influenced by Quebec English. It refers to the public post-secondary education collegiate institutions exclusive to the...
student during the election. Although it was generally recognized that he had no chance of winning, Tétrault's campaign received a fair amount of media attention. Profiled by the Montreal Gazette in August 1994, he described himself as "the kind of nationalist who is open to discussion." He finished a distant second against Liberal Pierre Marsan
Pierre Marsan
Pierre Marsan is a Quebec politician. He is the current Member of National Assembly of Quebec for the riding of Robert-Baldwin in the Montreal region...
on election day.
Tétrault later ran as a Bloc Québécois
Bloc Québécois
The Bloc Québécois is a federal political party in Canada devoted to the protection of Quebec's interests in the House of Commons of Canada, and the promotion of Quebec sovereignty. The Bloc was originally a party made of Quebec nationalists who defected from the federal Progressive Conservative...
(BQ) candidate in the Montreal-area riding of Brossard—La Prairie
Brossard—La Prairie
Brossard—La Prairie is a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1997. Its population in 2006 was 113,985.-Geography:...
in the 2000 Canadian federal election
Canadian federal election, 2000
The 2000 Canadian federal election was held on November 27, 2000, to elect 301 Members of Parliament of the Canadian House of Commons of the 37th Parliament of Canada....
. He was twenty-five years old during the campaign and operated his own marketing company. In an interview with the Gazette, he said that Canada should adopt a new model of politics and economics based on that of the European Community. He finished second against 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...
incumbent Jacques Saada
Jacques Saada
Jacques Saada, PC is a Canadian politician and former cabinet minister.Saada is a teacher and linguist by profession and was Chief Executive Officer of a translation firm, a consultant and a lecturer in translation prior to entering politics.He was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons...
.
In 2002, Tétrault described the older wing of the Parti Québécois as having lost touch with modern Quebec. Two years later, he said that many people of his generation favoured "sovereignty if necessary but not necessarily sovereignty."
City councillor
Tétrault was elected to the Montreal city council in the 2001 municipal electionMontreal municipal election, 2001
The 2001 Montreal municipal election took place on November 4, 2001, to elect a mayor and city councillors in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Gérald Tremblay defeated incumbent Pierre Bourque to become mayor of the newly amalgamated city....
as a Vision Montreal candidate in the Plateau-Mont-Royal division. During the campaign, he called for a speed limit reduction in the Plateau, increased security in parks and at metro stations, more co-op housing and support for local artists, and more parking spots for businesses. Vision Montreal lost the election to Gérald Tremblay
Gérald Tremblay
Gérald Tremblay is a Canadian politician and businessman currently serving his third term as mayor of Montreal and as president of the Montreal Metropolitan Community...
's Montreal Island Citizens Union, and Tétrault served as a member of the official opposition. By virtue of his city council position, he also served on the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough council.
When Pierre Bourque
Pierre Bourque
Pierre Bourque, CQ is a businessman and politician in Quebec, Canada. He founded the Vision Montreal political party and served as mayor of Montreal from 1994 to 2001.-Background:...
resigned as Vision Montreal leader to run for the National Assembly of Quebec in 2003, Tétrault said that he respected Bourque's decision but did not approve of it. He added that he would "have to look at the options" as to whether he would remain with the party.
During the 2003 provincial election
Quebec general election, 2003
The Quebec general election of 2003 was held on April 14, 2003, to elect members of the National Assembly of Quebec . The Parti libéral du Québec , led by Jean Charest, defeated the incumbent Parti Québécois, led by Bernard Landry.-Unfolding:...
, Tétrault criticized the Quebec Liberal Party for its pledge to permit referendums on municipal demergers. He argued that the pledge would create instability for municipal government on the Island of Montreal
Island of Montreal
The Island of Montreal , in extreme southwestern Quebec, Canada, is located at the confluence of the Saint Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers. It is separated from Île Jésus by the Rivière des Prairies....
, where several municipalities had recently been merged to create a united city. Later in the same year, he supported Mayor Tremblay's compromise plan to devolve some powers to the city's borough councils.
Tétrault resigned from Vision Montreal to sit as an independent on March 4, 2004, and joined MICU on October 26 of the same year. In the 2005 municipal election
Montreal municipal election, 2005
The 2005 Montreal municipal election was held on November 6, 2005, to elect a city mayor, borough mayors, city councillors, and borough councillors in Montreal, Quebec, Canada...
, he ran for re-election in the Louis-Riel division of the Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough
Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough council
The Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough council is the local governing body of Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, a borough in the City of Montreal...
and was narrowly defeated by Vision Montreal incumbent Richer Dompierre
Richer Dompierre
Richer Dompierre is a politician in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He served on the Montreal city council from 1998 to 2009, initially as a member of Vision Montreal and later for the rival Union Montreal ....
. Early reports suggested that Tétrault had won by twelve votes, but a more thorough scrutiny confirmed Dompierre as the winner.
Private career
Tétrault has a Master of ArtsMaster of Arts
A Master of Arts is a high academic degree offered at many universities in Europe and the United States.A Master of Arts, Magister Artium, or Magister in Artibus may also refer to:...
degree in 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...
from the Université de Montréal
Université de Montréal
The Université de Montréal is a public francophone research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It comprises thirteen faculties, more than sixty departments and two affiliated schools: the École Polytechnique and HEC Montréal...
. After leaving city council, he co-founded Groupe T & T Media with Paul Tietolman. The group is active in the radio sector.