Gérard D. Levesque facts for kids
Gérard D. Levesque (born May 2, 1926 – died November 17, 1993) was an important politician in Quebec, Canada. He was a member of the government's top team, called the Cabinet, for many years. He also stepped in twice as the temporary leader of the Quebec Liberal Party.
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Early Political Career
Gérard Levesque was first chosen by voters to be a member of the Quebec National Assembly in 1956. This is like being a representative for a specific area, called a "riding." His riding was Bonaventure. He stayed in this role, representing his area, for the rest of his life.
Serving in Government
When Jean Lesage was the Premier (like a prime minister for Quebec), Levesque held important jobs. He was in charge of housing and fisheries, and later, trade. When Robert Bourassa became Premier in 1970, Levesque continued to serve. He was the Minister of Trade, the Minister of Justice (in charge of laws and courts), and even the Deputy Premier (second-in-command).
Leader of the Opposition
After the government changed in 1976, Levesque took on a new role. He became the Leader of the Opposition. This means he was the main voice for the party not in power, challenging the government's decisions. He held this job from 1976 to 1979. This happened because the main leaders of his party, Robert Bourassa and Claude Ryan, were not elected to the Assembly at that time.
Standing Up for Rights
Levesque was well-known for strongly disagreeing with a new law called Bill 1, which later became the Charter of the French Language. This law aimed to make French the main language in Quebec. Levesque used special rules in the Assembly to slow down the bill. Because of his actions, the government had to reintroduce it as Bill 101.
Temporary Party Leader
Levesque also stepped in as the temporary leader of the Quebec Liberal Party two times. The first time was after Robert Bourassa resigned and before Claude Ryan was chosen as the new leader. He served as temporary leader again from 1982 to 1983, after Claude Ryan resigned and until Robert Bourassa returned to lead the party once more.
Minister of Finance
When Robert Bourassa became Premier again in 1985, Gérard Levesque was given another very important job. He became the Minister of Finance. This meant he was in charge of Quebec's money and economy. He kept this role until he passed away in 1993 at the age of 67.
