Jean Marchand facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honourable Jean Marchand PC CC
Marchand, c. 1973
Minister of the Environment
In office January 22, 1976 – June 30, 1976
Prime Minister	Pierre Trudeau
Preceded by	Jeanne Sauvé
Succeeded by	Roméo LeBlanc (Acting)
Minister of Transport
In office November 27, 1972 – September 25, 1975
Prime Minister	Pierre Trudeau
Preceded by	Don Jamieson
Succeeded by	Otto Lang
Minister of Regional Economic Expansion
In office April 1, 1969 – November 26, 1972
Prime Minister	Pierre Trudeau
Preceded by	Office Established
Succeeded by	Don Jamieson
Minister of Forestry and Rural Development
In office July 6, 1968 – March 31, 1969
Prime Minister	Pierre Trudeau
Preceded by	Maurice Sauvé
Succeeded by	Office Abolished
Secretary of State for Canada
In office April 20, 1968 – July 5, 1968
Prime Minister	Pierre Trudeau
Preceded by	John Joseph Connolly (Acting)
Succeeded by	Gérard Pelletier
Minister of Manpower and Immigration
In office October 1, 1966 – July 5, 1968
Prime Minister	Lester B. Pearson Pierre Trudeau
Preceded by	Office Established
Succeeded by	Allan MacEachen
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
In office December 18, 1965 – September 30, 1966
Prime Minister	Lester B. Pearson
Preceded by	John Robert Nicholson
Succeeded by	Office Abolished
Senator for De la Vallière, Quebec
In office December 9, 1976 – December 15, 1983
Appointed by	Pierre Trudeau
Preceded by	Romuald Bourque
Succeeded by	Pierre de Bané
Member of Parliament for Langelier
In office June 25, 1968 – October 25, 1976
Preceded by	Riding created
Succeeded by	Gilles Lamontagne
Member of Parliament for Quebec West
In office November 8, 1965 – June 24, 1968
Preceded by	Lucien Plourde
Succeeded by	Riding dissolved
Personal details
Born	(1918-12-20)December 20, 1918 Champlain, Quebec, Canada
Died	August 28, 1988(1988-08-28) (aged 69) Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Quebec, Canada
Political party	Liberal
Spouse	Georgette Guertin ​ (m. 1942)​
Alma mater	Université Laval
Occupation	Unionist
Signature

Jean Marchand PC CC (December 20, 1918 – August 28, 1988) was an important French Canadian public figure. He was a trade union leader and a politician in Quebec, Canada.

Jean Marchand: A Canadian Leader

Jean Marchand played a big role in Canadian politics. He started his career helping workers and later became a key member of the Canadian government. He was known for his strong beliefs and his dedication to Quebec and Canada.

Early Life and Union Work

Jean Marchand was born in Champlain, Quebec, in 1918. He grew up to become a leader for workers. In 1949, he led a major strike called the Asbestos Strike in Quebec. At that time, he was the secretary of the Catholic Workers Confederation of Canada (CCCL). This strike was a big event in Quebec's history. During this time, he met Pierre Trudeau, who would later become a famous Prime Minister.

Entering Politics

Jean Marchand was asked to join politics in 1963, but it didn't work out then. However, in the 1965 federal election, he decided to run as a candidate for the Liberal Party. He ran alongside Gérard Pelletier and Pierre Trudeau. These three men were often called the "Three Wise Men" in English or les trois colombes (the three doves) in French. People believed they would bring big changes to Canadian politics.

While Trudeau and Pelletier ran in easier areas, Marchand won a tough election in Quebec City. After winning, he quickly became a minister in the government of Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson. He served as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and later as Minister of Manpower and Immigration.

Important Roles in Government

When Prime Minister Pearson retired in 1968, many thought Jean Marchand would be the next leader of the Liberal Party and Prime Minister. He was seen as the strongest candidate from Quebec. However, he decided not to run, saying his English wasn't good enough. This opened the door for Pierre Trudeau to become the leader. Trudeau won the Liberal leadership and the 1968 federal election.

Under Prime Minister Trudeau, Jean Marchand held many important jobs. He was:

• Minister of Forestry and Rural Development (1968-1969)
• Minister of Regional Economic Expansion (1969-1972)
• Minister of Transport (1972-1975)
• A Minister without a specific department (1975-1976)
• Minister of the Environment (1976)

Later Career

In October 1976, Jean Marchand resigned from his seat in the House of Commons. This happened because he disagreed with the government's decision about using the French language for air traffic controllers in Quebec. He then ran in the 1976 Quebec provincial election as a candidate for the Quebec Liberal Party. He was against the idea of Quebec separating from Canada. However, he lost that election to Claude Morin from the Parti Québécois. The Parti Québécois went on to form the provincial government for the first time.

One month after his defeat, Prime Minister Trudeau appointed Marchand to the Senate. The Senate is like an "upper house" of Canada's Parliament. In 1980, he became the Speaker of the Senate of Canada, which means he led the meetings in the Senate. He left the Senate in December 1983 to become the president of the Canadian Transport Commission. In 1986, Jean Marchand was given a high honor: he was appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada.

Jean Marchand passed away on August 28, 1988. He is remembered as a dedicated public servant who worked hard for workers' rights and for Canada.