

Biography
Date of Birth:
Montréal, July 14, 1933
Date of Death:
Montréal, October 2, 1996
Elected Premier :
May 12, 1970 - November 25, 1976
Leader of the Official Opposition :
November 25, 1976 - January 1, 1977
Elected Premier :
December 12, 1985 - January 11, 1994
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Robert Bourassa
Leader of the Liberal Party of Québec (1970 - 1976 and 1983 - 1993)
Born in 1933 from a popular neighborhood of Montréal, Robert Bourassa has earned many bursaries, which allowed him to attend prestigious schools. Therefore, he obtains his degree at Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf, and then in 1955, gets his law license from the University of Montréal. Admitted to the Québec Bar in 1957, he continues his studies internationally. First in Oxford, in 1959, where he gets his Master’s degree in economic and political science and the next year he obtains a Master’s degree in taxation and law from Harvard University. Back in the country in 1960, he begins his career as a fiscal consultant for the federal government from 1960 to 1963, to which he adds a university teaching position in public finances.
Talented young economist and governance passionate , Robert Bourassa is interested by political life and brings his contribution to the economic reflection of Québec going through the Quiet Revolution within the Québec Liberal Party, whose values coincide with this vision. On January 17, 1970, he wins the leadership run at the head of the Québec Liberal Party, succeeding to Jean Lesage. Less than three months later, on April 29, 1970, Robert Bourassa brings his team to victory and, at 36 years old, becomes the youngest Prime Minister of Québec. Bourassa’s Liberal government gives a second life to the modernization of Québec by intensifying the elaboration and adoption of social measures destined to dial down the inequalities. For example, health insurance gives a free and universal access to health services from 1970, legal aid is put into place in 1973 and promotes a wide spread access to the justice system and, finally, the Charte québécoise des droits de la personne is adopted, an essential tool for the development of the population in a société de droit. Preoccupied by the promotion of individual rights and freedom, Bourassa’s Liberal government also tries to preserve the balance of collective rights with the adoption, in 1974, of the Law 22, which makes of French the official language of Québec. It is also in the wake of durably enriching Québec and tend to full employment that the Prime Minister creates, in 1972, his most powerful tool for economic growth: the development of the huge hydroelectric complex of the river La Grande. This “project of the century”, known as the biggest construction site in the world, will allow Robert Bourassa to be acknowledged as the “Father of the James Bay”. Even though the October Crisis overshadows the first months of his mandate, Robert Bourassa’s Liberal government will be reelected on October 29, 1973 with the biggest majority of history with 102 members on a possible 110.
After his loss against the Parti Québécois in 1976, Robert Bourassa concentrates on university teaching, first in Brussels, future European capital, then in the United-States and in Québec. His comeback as leader of the Québec Liberal Party, on October 15, 1983, is considered as one of the most important in Canadian history. Bourassa leads his troops to victory on the next election, in 1895. With a weak economy and a huge public debt left by the previous government, Bourassa’s second government adopts a budgetary austerity policy. In parallel, Robert Bourassa’s Liberal government is deep into the constitutional negotiations on Québec’s status. At the summer of 1990, Québec faces the Oka crisis. Despite an explosive situation, Robert Bourassa’s Liberal government manages to put a pacific end to the conflict.
Already weakened by a disease on the advent of the Oka crisis, the Prime Minister Robert Bourassa stays in power and refuses any medical treatment until the end of the crisis on September 26, 1990. It is only two years later, on September 14, 1993, that the Prime Minister Robert Bourassa resigns from his position, both as Prime Minister and Leader of the Liberal Party. He dies three years later in Montréal, on October 2, 1996.
Great achievements
Minister responsible for the Environement: first historical appointement - 13 November 1973 :
On November 13th, 1973, Victor Goldbloom becomes the first Minister responsible of the Environement, in Robert Bourassa's Liberal government.
Conseil du Trésor - 01 April 1971 :
Responsible for examining governement spending, the Conseil du Trésor is created on April 1st, 1970. Unlike its predecessor, which had no decisional power, the Conseil du Trésor is now responsible of the elaboration and application of legislation on finance and budget.
Régime des allocations familiales du Québec - 1974 :
In 1974, the Liberal governement led by Bourassa substitutes different social allocations programs by the Regime des allocations familiales du Québec. This new program allocates a certain amount of money to mothers of children under 18 years old, without discrimination.
Environment: adoption of the first law that aims towards protection - 21 December 1972 :
Before the appointment of a minister responsible for the environment, the Québec Liberal Party adopts the first enviromental law, the Loi sur la qualité de l'environnement. This law limits the polluting emissions and introduces the enviromental concept in the Québec mentality.
Tuition fees for universities: increase - December 1989 :
Claude Ryan, Minister of Education and Superior Studies in Bourassa's liberal governement, announces a tuition fee increase for universities, which had not been indexed to inflation for more than 20 years. This impopular measure reduces negative effects of the under-financing of Quebec universities.
Civil code of Québec: entry into force - 01 January 1994 :
The Bill 125, which works towards giving Quebec a new Civil Code replacing the Civil Code from Lower-Canada of 1866, comes into force on January 1st, 1994, under Robert Bourassa's Liberal governement.
Culture: adoption of a first cultural policy for Québec - 19 April 1992 :
Robert Bourassa's Liberal governement adopts a Cultural Policy, which aims to secure a vital Quebec culture. The minister, Liza Frulla, wants therefore to put emphasis on Québec's culture, its international recognition and importance in Quebecer's everyday life.
Immigration: complete autonomy of Québec (McDougall-Gagnon-Tremblay agreement) - 05 February 1991 :
Monique Gagnon-Tremblay, Minister of Cultural communities and immigration in Robert Bourassa's Liberal governement, signs a historical agreement symbolizing open federalism. The Canada-Quebec agreement relative to immigration recongnizes full competence of Quebec towards immigration and temporary admission matters, excluding political refugees.
Oka: peaceful resolution of the Crisis - 26 September 1990 :
Robert Bourassa's Liberal government manages to put and end to the Oka Crisis, which has lasted 2 months. The tension between aboriginal communities and the city of Oka reach a peak when the latter offers a territorial extension permit to a private golf club. This piece of land encroaches a mohwak cemetery which provokes the frustration of the community. The crisis, which will cost a policeman's life, ends peacefully after the intervention of the armed forces, following the demand of the government of Québec.
Artist's status: first legislation recongnising their status - 12 November 1987 :
After fifteen years of claims, Québec's artists finally obtain recongnition of their status by Bourassa's Liberal governement. This recognition ensures better work conditions to those who have an independant worker status.
French: it becomes Québec's official language (Law 22) - 19 July 1974 :
Robert Bourassa adopts the "Loi sur la langue officielle", or Law 22, the first to designate French as the official language in Quebec. It is adopted on July 31st at the National Assembly.
James Bay Agreement: signature of the territorial convention - 11 November 1975 :
Robert Bourassa's Liberal governement and the Inuits and Cris sign the James Bay and Northen Quebec Agreement, regarding James Bay territories.
Québec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms - 27 June 1975 :
Bourassa's governement adopts, by the National Assemby, Quebec's Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.
Conseil du statut de la femme - 15 March 1973 :
Two years before Women's International Year, declared by the United Nations in 1975, Robert Bourassa's liberal governement creates the Conseil du Statut de la femme.
Legal Aid - 02 June 1973 :
The Prime Minister Robert Bourassa puts into place the first Legal Aid program, destined to give the less fortunates access to the justice system.
James Bay: beginning of the works on the world bigget hydroelectric complex - May 1972 :
Start of the construction works on the giant hydro-electric complex of the James Bay, lauched by Robert Bourassa. It is the biggest construction site of Quebec's history, and the world's most important at the time.
Health insurance - 01 November 1970 :
Instaured by Bourassa's governement, Quebec's Health Insurance program comes into effect and aims to provide free access to health care services to all citizens.
Local community service centres (CLSC) - 15 December 1971 :
On December 15, 1971, Robert Bourassa's Liberal governement adopts the Bill 65 that aims a reorganisation of the health and social services. This will lead to the creation of 33 local community service centres (CLSC), which offer prevention services and basic medical treatments to communities.
Election dates
Election of Robert Bourassa
1966 (General) - Riding of Mercier
1970 (General) - Riding of Mercier
1973 (General) - Riding of Mercier
1976 (General) - Defeated in Mercier
1985 (By-Election) - Riding of Bertrand
1985 (General) - Defeated in Bertrand
1986 (By-Election) - Riding of St-Laurent
1989 (General) - Riding of St-Laurent
General elections in Quebec
April 29, 1970 – Victory of the Québec Liberal party
QLP Slogan: Québec au travail (Québec at work)
In the April 29, 1970 general election, the QLP leader, Robert Bourassa, became the youngest Premier in Québec’s history. The Liberal party of Québec won the general election with 45.4% of the vote. The Liberals returned 72 members to the National Assembly versus 17 for their closest rivals, Jean-Jacques Bertrand’s Unionistes and 12 for the Ralliement créditiste. In this general election, the Parti québécois first entered the National Assembly, electing 7 members.
-Québec Liberal Party: 72 seats
-Union nationale: 17 seats
-Ralliement créditiste: 12 seats
-Parti québécois: 7 seats
Total: 108 seats
October 29, 1973 – Victory of the Québec Liberal party
QLP Slogan: Bourassa construit (Bourassa builds)
Robert Bourassa’s Liberals won a second term, receiving 54.7% of the vote versus 30.2% for the Parti québécois. They returned 102 members out of 110 seats in the National Assembly. René Lévesque’s Péquistes returned 6. The Union nationale did not win any seats, a first since it was created in 1935. The other 2 seats went to the Créditistes, who elected 2 members, one of whom was Camil Samson.
-Québec Liberal Party: 102 seats
-Parti québécois: 6 seats
-Parti créditiste: 2 seats
Total: 110 seats
November 15, 1976 – Victory of the Parti québécois
Robert Bourassa’s Liberals lost power in the November 15th election. They only received 33.8% of the vote versus 41.4% for René Lévesque’s Parti québécois. The composition of the National Assembly stood at 26 Liberal members and 71 Péquiste members. The Union nationale took 11 seats, while the Ralliement créditiste and the Parti national populaire took one seat each.
-Parti québécois: 71 seats
-Québec Liberal Party: 26 seats
-Union nationale: 11 seats
-Ralliement créditiste: 1 seat
-Parti national populaire: 1 seat
Total: 110 seats
December 2, 1985 – Victory of the Québec Liberal party
QLP Slogan: Maîtrisons notre avenir (The strength of experience)
Robert Bourassa’s Liberals won the December 2, 1985 election with 56.0% of the vote. Pierre Marc Johnson’s Péquistes obtained 38.7% of the votes.
-Québec Liberal Party: 99 seats
-Parti québécois: 23 seats
Total: 122 seats
September 25, 1989 – Victory of the Québec Liberal party
QLP Slogan: Assurons notre avenir (Let’s guarantee our future)
Robert Bourassa’s Liberals won the general election with 49.9% of the vote. Jacques Parizeau’s Péquistes obtained 40.2% of the vote. A new political party, the Equality Party, took 4 seats – but would never win any more in subsequent elections.
-Québec Liberal Party: 92 seats
-Parti québécois: 29 seats
-Equality Party: 4 seats
Total: 125 seats






































