Clément Gignac is 54 years old, husband of Jocelyne Duval, father of three and grandfather. He has a Master’s degree in economics from Université Laval.

He began his career at the Confédération des Caisses Desjardins and entered the Quebec public service in 1984. He held various positions in economic forecasting and federal transfers at the Finance ministry. He joined the National Bank Financial in 1988, rising in the ranks to become its chief economist in 2002. For five consecutive years, the group he led was named one of the country’s top three teams of economists in the annual survey conducted by the firm Brendan Wood International. In 2001, Clément Gignac was ranked top economist.

Mr. Gignac is recognized as one of Canada’s best economic strategists and the media, business leaders and governments have often sought his opinions.

From January to May 2009, he was principal adviser to the federal deputy minister of Finance, among other duties representing Canada on a G-20 task force. In 2008, Mr. Gignac was elected the 33 rd president of the Association des économistes québécois (ASDEQ).

He was voted MNA for the Marguerite-Bourgeoys riding in the June 22, 2009 by-election. The next day he became Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade, member of the Comité des priorités, Vice-Chair of the Comité des priorités économiques and member of the Comité de la prospérité économique et du développement durable.