Réal Ménard
Encyclopedia
Réal Ménard is a Canadian
politician, who was a Bloc Québécois
member of the Canadian House of Commons
from 1993 to 2009. He was the second Canadian Member of Parliament to come out as gay
(the first being Svend Robinson
).
Ménard is a political scientist
with B.A. and M.A. degrees and also holds his law degree
from the University of Ottawa
.
as candidate for the small Parti nationaliste du Québec
in Hochelaga–Maisonneuve. Defeated in this first try, he contested the riding in the 1993 election
for the new and larger Bloc Québécois. He was elected, and re-elected in the riding in the 1997
and 2000
elections. Following redistricting, he was re-elected in the new riding of Hochelaga
in the 2004
, 2006
and 2008
federal elections.
Early in his parliamentary career, he served variously as Bloc critic for Health, for science, research and development, for Labour
, for National Defence
, and for the Federal Office of Regional Development-Quebec
. From 1998 to June 29, 1999, he was critic for Citizenship and Immigration and for public housing
.
The next day, he again became critic for health, in which capacity he has served since. During three sessions, Ménard has been vice-chair of the Standing Committee
on Health. On September 14, 2001, he took on additional critic responsibility for the Montreal region.
In March 2006 he was shuffled from the health critic position to become the Bloc Québécois justice critic.
candidate for borough mayor of Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve
in Montreal's 2009 municipal election
. Prior to his first election to the House of Commons, he was a political assistant to Louise Harel
, Vision Montreal's 2009 candidate for Mayor of Montreal
, when she was a provincial MNA
.
He won election to the borough mayoralty on November 1, 2009.
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...
politician, who was 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...
member of 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...
from 1993 to 2009. He was the second Canadian Member of Parliament to come out as gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
(the first being Svend Robinson
Svend Robinson
Svend Robinson is a former Canadian politician. He was a Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons from 1979 to 2004, representing the suburban Vancouver-area constituency of Burnaby for the New Democratic Party...
).
Ménard is a political scientist
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...
with B.A. and M.A. degrees and also holds his law degree
Bachelor of Civil Law
Bachelor of Civil Law is the name of various degrees in law conferred by English-language universities. Historically, it originated as a postgraduate degree in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, but many universities now offer the BCL as an undergraduate degree...
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...
.
Federal politics
He first stood for federal office in the 1984 federal electionCanadian federal election, 1984
The Canadian federal election of 1984 was held on September 4 of that year to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 33rd Parliament of Canada...
as candidate for the small Parti nationaliste du Québec
Parti nationaliste du Québec
-Origins:For decades, the Social Credit Party's Quebec wing, the Ralliement créditiste, attracted many Quebec nationalists as a party that could represent Quebec's interests in the Canadian House of Commons...
in Hochelaga–Maisonneuve. Defeated in this first try, he contested the riding in the 1993 election
Canadian federal election, 1993
The Canadian federal election of 1993 was held on October 25 of that year to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 35th Parliament of Canada. Fourteen parties competed for the 295 seats in the House at that time...
for the new and larger Bloc Québécois. He was elected, and re-elected in the riding in the 1997
Canadian federal election, 1997
The Canadian federal election of 1997 was held on June 2, 1997, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 36th Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's Liberal Party of Canada won a second majority government...
and 2000
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....
elections. Following redistricting, he was re-elected in the new riding of Hochelaga
Hochelaga (electoral district)
Hochelaga is a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1988 and since 2004...
in the 2004
Canadian federal election, 2004
The Canadian federal election, 2004 , was held on June 28, 2004 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 38th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal government of Prime Minister Paul Martin lost its majority, but was able to form a minority government after the elections...
, 2006
Canadian federal election, 2006
The 2006 Canadian federal election was held on January 23, 2006, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 39th Parliament of Canada. The Conservative Party of Canada won the greatest number of seats: 40.3% of seats, or 124 out of 308, up from 99 seats in 2004, and 36.3% of votes:...
and 2008
Canadian federal election, 2006
The 2006 Canadian federal election was held on January 23, 2006, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 39th Parliament of Canada. The Conservative Party of Canada won the greatest number of seats: 40.3% of seats, or 124 out of 308, up from 99 seats in 2004, and 36.3% of votes:...
federal elections.
Early in his parliamentary career, he served variously as Bloc critic for Health, for science, research and development, for Labour
Minister of Labour (Canada)
The Minister of Labour is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for setting national labour standards and federal labour dispute mechanisms...
, for National Defence
Department of National Defence (Canada)
The Department of National Defence , frequently referred to by its acronym DND, is the department within the government of Canada with responsibility for all matters concerning the defence of Canada...
, and for the Federal Office of Regional Development-Quebec
Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
The Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec is a Federal agency that has the responsibility of promoting economic expansion in Quebec by promoting small or medium-sized enterprises.Under its Act, which came into effect on October 5, 2005, the object of the Agency is to...
. From 1998 to June 29, 1999, he was critic for Citizenship and Immigration and for public housing
Public housing
Public housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority, which may be central or local. Social housing is an umbrella term referring to rental housing which may be owned and managed by the state, by non-profit organizations, or by a combination of the...
.
The next day, he again became critic for health, in which capacity he has served since. During three sessions, Ménard has been vice-chair of the Standing Committee
Standing Committee
In the United States Congress, standing committees are permanent legislative panels established by the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate rules. . Because they have legislative jurisdiction, standing committees consider bills and issues and recommend measures for...
on Health. On September 14, 2001, he took on additional critic responsibility for the Montreal region.
In March 2006 he was shuffled from the health critic position to become the Bloc Québécois justice critic.
Municipal politics
In June 2009, Ménard announced that he was resigning from the House of Commons, effective September 16, in order to run as a Vision MontrealVision 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:...
candidate for borough mayor of Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve
Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve
Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve is a borough of Montreal, Quebec.-History:In 1860, Hochelaga developed as a village counting a little more than 1000 inhabitants. In 1874, Hudon — a cotton factory- moved in...
in Montreal's 2009 municipal election
Montreal municipal election, 2009
The city of Montreal, Quebec, held a municipal election at the same time as numerous other municipalities in Quebec, on November 1, 2009. Voters elected the Mayor of Montreal, Montreal City Council, and the mayors and councils of each of the city's boroughs....
. Prior to his first election to the House of Commons, he was a political assistant to 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...
, Vision Montreal's 2009 candidate for Mayor of Montreal
Mayor of Montreal
The Mayor of Montreal is head of the executive branch of Montreal City Council.The Mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and provincial laws within Montreal....
, when she was a provincial 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...
.
He won election to the borough mayoralty on November 1, 2009.