Marc-André Bédard (politician) facts for kids
Marc-André Bédard (born August 15, 1935 – died November 25, 2020) was a Canadian lawyer and a very important politician from Quebec. He was born in a place called Lac-à-la-Croix, Quebec.
Mr. Bédard worked in the National Assembly of Quebec from 1973 to 1985. During this time, he held big jobs like Minister of Justice and Deputy Premier. He was also the father of another politician, Stéphane Bédard.
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Becoming a Member of the Legislature
Marc-André Bédard first tried to become a member of the National Assembly in 1970. He ran for the Parti Québécois in the area of Chicoutimi. He didn't win that time, coming in third place.
But he didn't give up! He ran again in 1973 and won. People in Chicoutimi liked his work, so they voted for him again in 1976 and 1981.
Working in the Government Cabinet
In 1976, Marc-André Bédard was chosen to be part of the government's special team, called the Cabinet. This team helps the Premier (like a governor or prime minister) run the province.
He became Quebec's Minister of Justice on November 26, 1976. He held this job for a long time, until March 5, 1984. This made him the longest-serving Minister of Justice in Quebec at that time.
After that, from 1984 to 1985, he became the Deputy Premier of Quebec. This is a very high position, like a vice-premier. He also led his party's team in the National Assembly. He decided not to run for election again in 1985.
As Minister of Justice, Mr. Bédard ordered an investigation in 1981. This investigation looked into the death of John Watkins, who was a Canadian Ambassador.
Supporting Quebec's Independence
Marc-André Bédard was a strong supporter of Quebec becoming an independent country. He helped convince Lucien Bouchard, who later became Premier of Quebec, to join the movement. In 1973, Mr. Bédard asked Mr. Bouchard to work for him.
As Justice Minister, Mr. Bédard also gave Mr. Bouchard important roles in special investigations. These roles helped Mr. Bouchard become very well-known.
Later, Mr. Bédard tried to get Lucien Bouchard to take his place as the candidate for Chicoutimi. But Mr. Bouchard decided to join a different political party at the national level instead.
In 1990, after a big political agreement called the Meech Lake Accord failed, Mr. Bédard worked with another politician, Bernard Landry. They encouraged Quebec politicians in Ottawa to form their own political group. This led to the creation of the Bloc Québécois, a party that supports Quebec's independence.
Life After Politics
Even after leaving politics, Marc-André Bédard continued to be involved in public life. He played a key role in getting a statue of former Premier René Lévesque placed at the Parliament of Quebec.
His son, Stéphane Bédard, followed in his footsteps. Stéphane was also a Member of the National Assembly for Chicoutimi from 1998 to 2015.
Marc-André Bédard passed away on November 25, 2020, in Chicoutimi. He died from COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec.
