President of the National Assembly of Quebec
Encyclopedia
The President of the National Assembly of Quebec (French; Le Président de l'Assemblée nationale) is the presiding officer of the National Assembly
of Quebec
, Canada, which is modeled after the Westminster
parliamentary system
. In other parliaments and legislatures the equivalent position is often called the "Speaker
", which is why from 1867 to 1968, the presiding officer of the Assembly was known in French as "orateur," a translation of the English term "speaker"
.
, after the Queen of Canada, the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec
, the Premier
, and the Deputy Premier. He or she is elected by his colleagues at the beginning of a legislature
, for the length of the legislature. The President is assisted by the Vice Presidents of the Assembly, who can also replace him or her in his or her absence. Parti Québécois
Member of the National Assembly (MNA
) Louise Harel
made history by being appointed as the first female President on March 12, 2002. The current President of the Assembly is the Libéral MNA Yvon Vallières
.
All but on speaker was born in the province (Valmore Bienvenue
was born in United States to Quebecois parents. Henri-Benjamin Rainville
died in the US and Cyrille Dumaine
died in Ottawa.
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...
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....
, Canada, which is modeled after the Westminster
Westminster System
The Westminster system is a democratic parliamentary system of government modelled after the politics of the United Kingdom. This term comes from the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
parliamentary system
Parliamentary system
A parliamentary system is a system of government in which the ministers of the executive branch get their democratic legitimacy from the legislature and are accountable to that body, such that the executive and legislative branches are intertwined....
. In other parliaments and legislatures the equivalent position is often called the "Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
", which is why from 1867 to 1968, the presiding officer of the Assembly was known in French as "orateur," a translation of the English term "speaker"
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
.
Description
The President of the National Assembly is fifth in the Quebec order of precedenceOrder of precedence in Quebec
The Quebec order of precedence is a nominal and symbolic hierarchy of important positions within the province of Quebec. It has no legal standing but is used to dictate ceremonial protocol at events of a provincial nature....
, after the Queen of Canada, the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec
Lieutenant Governor of Quebec
The Lieutenant Governor of Quebec : Lieutenant-gouverneur du Québec, or : Lieutenant-gouverneure du Québec) is the viceregal representative in Quebec of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions...
, the Premier
Premier of Quebec
The Premier of Quebec is the first minister of the Canadian province of Quebec. The Premier is the province's head of government and his title is Premier and President of the Executive Council....
, and the Deputy Premier. He or she is elected by his colleagues at the beginning of a legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
, for the length of the legislature. The President is assisted by the Vice Presidents of the Assembly, who can also replace him or her in his or her absence. 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...
Member of the National Assembly (MNA
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...
) Louise Harel
Louise Harel
Louise Harel is a Québec politician. In 2005 she served as interim leader of the Parti Québécois following the resignation of Bernard Landry. She was also interim leader of the opposition in the National Assembly of Quebec. She represented the riding of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve in the Montreal region...
made history by being appointed as the first female President on March 12, 2002. The current President of the Assembly is the Libéral MNA Yvon Vallières
Yvon Vallières
Yvon Vallières is a Quebec politician and teacher. He is the current Member of National Assembly of Quebec for the riding of Richmond in the Estrie region. Formerly the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food from 2003 to 2007, he is the current Chair of the Government Caucus...
.
Roles
The function of the President holds three major roles.- The presiding of the hearings of the Assembly.
- The administration of the services of the Assembly.
- The representation of the Assembly, notably in its relations with other parliaments.
List of Presidents of the National Assembly of Quebec
- Joseph-Godric Blanchet - December 27, 1867 - ConservateurParti conservateur du QuébecThe Parti conservateur du Québec was a political party in Quebec, Canada.-Origins:The party originated as the Parti bleu which was formed around 1850 by the followers of Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine...
- Pierre Fortin - November 4, 1875 - Conservateur
- Louis BeaubienLouis BeaubienLouis Beaubien was a Canadian politician.Born in Montreal, Lower Canada, the son of Pierre Beaubien, a physician and politician, and Marie-Justine Casgrain, he was one of the founders of Outremont....
- November 10, 1876 - Conservateur - Arthur TurcotteArthur TurcotteArthur Turcotte was a Quebec lawyer, journalist and political figure.He was born Arthur-Henri-René Turcotte in Montreal in 1845, the son of Joseph-Édouard Turcotte. He studied at the Jesuit Collège Sainte-Marie de Montréal and at Stonyhurst College in England...
- June 4, 1878 - Conservateur indépendant - Louis-Olivier TaillonLouis-Olivier TaillonSir Louis-Olivier Taillon, PC was born in Terrebonne, Quebec. He twice served as the eighth Premier of the Canadian province of Quebec....
- March 8, 1882 - Conservateur - Jonathan Saxton Campbell WürteleJonathan Saxton Campbell WürteleJonathan Saxton Campbell Würtele was a Quebec seigneur, lawyer, judge and political figure. He represented Yamaska in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec from 1875 to 1886....
- March 27, 1884 - Conservateur - Félix-Gabriel MarchandFélix-Gabriel MarchandFélix-Gabriel Marchand was a journalist, author, notary and politician in Quebec, Canada. He was the 11th Premier of Quebec from May 24, 1897 to September 25, 1900....
- January 27, 1887 - LibéralParti libéral du QuébecThe Quebec Liberal Party is a centre-right political party in Quebec. It has been independent of the federal Liberal Party of Canada since 1955.... - Pierre-Évariste LeblancPierre-Évariste LeblancSir Pierre-Évariste Leblanc, KCMG was born in Saint-Martin .He was a Quebec Conservative Party leader but never premier. First elected to the Legislative Assembly in a by-election in 1882 in the riding of Laval, he served as leader of the Opposition from 1905 to 1908, when he lost the 1908...
- April 26, 1892 - Conservateur - Jules TessierJules TessierJules Tessier was a Canadian lawyer and politician.He was born in Quebec City, Quebec, the son of Ulric-Joseph Tessier and Mariane Perrault. He was educated at the Quebec seminary and at the Jesuit college in Montreal, and was admitted to the Quebec Bar in 1874. He was created a Queen's Counsel in...
, November 23, 1897 - Libéral - Henri-Benjamin RainvilleHenri-Benjamin RainvilleHenri-Benjamin Rainville was a Canadian lawyer, politician and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Quebec....
- February 14, 1901 - Libéral - Auguste TessierAuguste TessierAuguste Tessier was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Quebec. He represented Rimouski in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec from 1889 to 1907 as a Liberal....
- March 2, 1905 - Libéral - William Alexander WeirWilliam Alexander WeirWilliam Alexander Weir was a Quebec lawyer, politician, and judge. He was the MLA for Argenteuil in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec from 1897–1910, held several ministries, and helped rewrite several provincial Codes.-Early life:William Alexander Weir was born in Montreal on October 15, 1858,...
- April 25, 1905 - Libéral - Philippe-Honoré RoyPhilippe-Honoré RoyPhilippe-Honoré Roy was a lawyer and political figure in Quebec. He represented Saint-Jean in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec from 1900 to 1908 as a Liberal....
- January 15, 1907 - Libéral - Jean-Marie-Joseph-Pantaléon PelletierJean-Marie-Joseph-Pantaléon PelletierJean-Marie-Joseph-Pantaléon Pelletier was a physician and political figure in Quebec. He represented Sherbrooke in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec from 1900 to 1911 as a Liberal. Francoeur was Speaker of the Legislative Assembly from 1909 to 1911.He was born in Rivière-Ouelle, Quebec, the son...
- March 2, 1909 - Libéral - Cyrille-Fraser DelâgeCyrille-Fraser DelâgeCyrille-Fraser Delâge was a notary and political figure in Quebec. He represented Quebec County in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec from 1901 to 1916 as a Liberal. Delâge was Speaker of the Legislative Assembly from 1912 to 1916.He was born in Notre-Dame de Québec, the son of Jean Baptiste...
- January 9, 1912 - Libéral - Antonin GalipeaultAntonin GalipeaultAntonin Galipeault was a Québécois politician, lawyer and judge .-Biography:Antonin Galipeault studied at a seminary in Joliette and at Université Laval, later being admitted to the Bar of Quebec in 1900.He worked as a lawyer alongside Joseph-Napoléon Francoeur and Louis Saint-Laurent and later...
- November 7, 1916 - Libéral - Joseph-Napoléon FrancoeurJoseph-Napoléon FrancoeurJoseph-Napoléon Francoeur was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Quebec. He represented Lotbinière in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec from 1908 to 1936 and Lotbinière in the Canadian House of Commons from 1937 to 1940 as a Liberal...
- December 10, 1919 - Libéral - Hector LafertéHector LafertéHector Laferté was a lawyer and political figure in Quebec. He represented Drummond in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec from 1919 to 1935 as a Liberal. Laferté was Speaker of the Legislative Assembly from 1924 to 1929.He was born in Saint-Germain-de-Grantham, Drummond County, Quebec, the son of...
- January 10, 1928 - Libéral - Télesphore-Damien BouchardTélesphore-Damien BouchardTélesphore-Damien Bouchard was a politician in Quebec, Canada.Born in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, he was the mayor of the municipality from 1917 to 1930 and from 1932 to 1944 and president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in 1918...
- January 7, 1930 - Libéral - Lucien DugasLucien DugasLucien Dugas was an educator, lawyer and political figure in Quebec. He represented Joliette in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec from 1927 to 1936 as a Liberal...
- March 24, 1936 - Libéral - Joseph-Mignault-Paul Sauvé - October 7, 1936 - Union Nationale
- Bernard BissonnetteBernard BissonnetteBernard Bissonnette was a lawyer, merchant, educator, judge and political figure in Quebec. He represented L'Assomption in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec from 1939 to 1944 as a Liberal...
- February 20, 1940 - Libéral - Valmore BienvenueValmore BienvenueValmore Bienvenue was a lawyer and political figure in Quebec. He represented Bellechasse in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec from 1939 to 1948 as a Liberal. Bienvenue was Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in 1942....
- May 12, 1942 - Libéral - Cyrille DumaineCyrille DumaineCyrille Dumaine was a Canadian politician from Quebec. He was born on July 8, 1897 in Saint-Hugues and was a notary.-Member of Parliament:...
- February 23, 1943 - Libéral - Alexandre TachéAlexandre Taché (politician)Alexandre Taché was a lawyer and political figure in Quebec. He represented Hull in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec from 1936 to 1939 and from 1944 to 1956 as a Union Nationale member...
- February 7, 1945 - Union nationale - Maurice TellierMaurice TellierMaurice Tellier was a lawyer and political figure in Quebec. He represented Montcalm in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec from 1936 to 1939 and from 1944 to 1962 as a Union Nationale member. Tellier was Speaker of the Legislative Assembly from 1955 to 1960.He was born in Joliette, Quebec, the son...
- December 15, 1955 - Union nationale - Lucien ClicheLucien ClicheLucien Cliche was a lawyer and political figure in Quebec. He represented Abitibi-Est in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec and then the Quebec National Assembly from 1960 to 1970 as a Liberal. Cliche was Speaker of the Legislative Assembly from 1960 to 1961.He was born in Vallée-Jonction, Quebec,...
- September 20, 1960 - Libéral - John Richard HydeJohn Richard HydeJohn Richard Hyde was a Canadian soldier, provincial politician and judge.-Education:Born in Montreal, Quebec, the son of George Gordon Hyde, a Quebec MNA and member of the Legislative Council of Quebec, and Lilian Boronow, he studied at the Royal Military College of Canada from 1930 to 1934...
- January 9, 1962 - Libéral - Guy LechasseurGuy LechasseurGuy Lechasseur was a Quebec politician. He represented the constituency of Verchères in the Quebec National Assembly from 1960 to 1970 as a member of the Quebec Liberal Party and served as Speaker of the Assembly from 1965 to 1966.Lechasseur served in the Canadian Army with the Les Voltigeurs de...
- October 22, 1965 - Libéral - Rémi PaulRémi PaulRémi Paul was a lawyer and politician from Quebec, Canada.-Member of the House of Commons:...
- December 1, 1966 - Union nationale - Gérard LebelGérard Lebel-Background:He was born on January 12, 1930 in Rivière-du-Loup, Bas-Saint-Laurent. He became an attorney.-Political career:Lebel ran as a Union Nationale candidate in the 1962 and 1966 elections against Liberal incumbent Alphonse Couturier in the district of Rivière-du-Loup...
- October 22, 1968 - Union nationale - Raynald FréchetteRaynald Fréchette-Background:He was born on October 13, 1933 in Asbestos, Quebec, the son of a miner, and studied at the Collège Saint-Aimé there and the Université de Sherbrooke. He was admitted to the Bar of Quebec in 1961 and set up practice in Sherbrooke.-House Speaker:...
- February 24, 1970 - Union nationale - Jean-Noël LavoieJean-Noël LavoieJean-Noël Lavoie is a notary and former political figure in Quebec. He represented Laval in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec and then the National Assembly of Quebec from 1960 to 1981 as a Liberal....
- June 9, 1970 - Libéral - Clément RichardClément RichardClément Richard is a lawyer, businessman and former political figure in Quebec. He represented Montmorency in the Quebec National Assembly as a member of the Parti Québécois from 1976 to 1985.He was born in Quebec City, the son of J...
- December 14, 1976 - Parti québécoisParti QuébécoisThe 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... - Claude VaillancourtClaude VaillancourtClaude Vaillancourt is a lawyer, judge and former political figure in Quebec. He represented Jonquière in the Quebec National Assembly from 1976 to 1983 as a member of the Parti Québécois....
- November 11, 1980 - Parti québécois - Richard GuayRichard Guay (politician)Richard Guay is a journalist, lawyer and former political figure in Quebec. He represented Taschereau in the Quebec National Assembly from 1976 to 1985 as a member of the Parti Québécois....
- March 23, 1983 - Parti québécois - Pierre Lorrain - December 16, 1985 - Libéral
- Jean-Pierre SaintongeJean-Pierre SaintongeJean-Pierre Saintonge is an educator, lawyer, judge and former political figure in Quebec. He represented La Prairie from 1981 to 1989 and La Pinière from 1989 to 1994 in the Quebec National Assembly as a Liberal.-Biography:...
- November 28, 1989 - Libéral - Roger BertrandRoger BertrandRoger Bertrand is an economist, civil servant and former political figure in Quebec. He represented Portneuf in the Quebec National Assembly as a Parti Québécois member from 1993 to 2003....
- November 29, 1994 - Parti québécois - Jean-Pierre CharbonneauJean-Pierre CharbonneauJean-Pierre Charbonneau is a journalist and a former Quebec politician. He was the Quebec MNA member under the Parti Québécois for the provincial ridings of Borduas and Verchères in the Montérégie region....
- March 12, 1996 - Parti québécois - Louise HarelLouise HarelLouise Harel is a Québec politician. In 2005 she served as interim leader of the Parti Québécois following the resignation of Bernard Landry. She was also interim leader of the opposition in the National Assembly of Quebec. She represented the riding of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve in the Montreal region...
- March 12, 2002 - Parti québécois - Michel BissonnetMichel BissonnetMichel Bissonnet, MNA is a Canadian politician who served as Liberal member and President of the National Assembly of Quebec.-Background:...
- June 4, 2003 - Libéral - François GendronFrançois GendronFrançois Gendron is a politician and teacher in Quebec, Canada. He is the current Member of National Assembly of Quebec for the riding of Abitibi-Ouest. He represents the Parti Québécois since 1976....
- October 21, 2008 - Parti Québécois - Yvon VallièresYvon VallièresYvon Vallières is a Quebec politician and teacher. He is the current Member of National Assembly of Quebec for the riding of Richmond in the Estrie region. Formerly the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food from 2003 to 2007, he is the current Chair of the Government Caucus...
- January 13, 2009 - Libéral
All but on speaker was born in the province (Valmore Bienvenue
Valmore Bienvenue
Valmore Bienvenue was a lawyer and political figure in Quebec. He represented Bellechasse in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec from 1939 to 1948 as a Liberal. Bienvenue was Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in 1942....
was born in United States to Quebecois parents. Henri-Benjamin Rainville
Henri-Benjamin Rainville
Henri-Benjamin Rainville was a Canadian lawyer, politician and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Quebec....
died in the US and Cyrille Dumaine
Cyrille Dumaine
Cyrille Dumaine was a Canadian politician from Quebec. He was born on July 8, 1897 in Saint-Hugues and was a notary.-Member of Parliament:...
died in Ottawa.