Michel Gauthier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michel Gauthier
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| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office February 17, 1996 – March 14, 1997 |
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| Preceded by | Gilles Duceppe |
| Succeeded by | Gilles Duceppe |
| Leader of the Bloc Québécois | |
| In office February 17, 1996 – March 14, 1997 |
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| Preceded by | Gilles Duceppe (interim) |
| Succeeded by | Gilles Duceppe |
| Member of Parliament for Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean |
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| In office January 17, 1994 – July 29, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Benoit Bouchard |
| Succeeded by | Denis Lebel |
| Member of the Quebec National Assembly for Roberval |
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| In office 1981–1988 |
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| Preceded by | Robert Lamontagne |
| Succeeded by | Gaston Blackburn |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 18, 1950 Quebec City, Quebec, Canada |
| Died | May 30, 2020 (aged 70) |
| Political party | Conservative (2018–2020) |
| Other political affiliations |
Bloc Québécois (1993–2007) Parti Québécois (1981–1988) |
| Residence | Roberval, Quebec |
| Profession | Teacher, educational administrator, political advisor, broadcaster |
Michel Gauthier (February 18, 1950 – May 30, 2020) was a Canadian politician. He was the leader of the Bloc Québécois political party from 1996 to 1997. During this time, his party was the Official Opposition in the Canadian Parliament. This meant Gauthier was also the Leader of the Opposition. This role is held by the leader of the second-largest party in the Parliament of Canada. Later in his life, he changed his mind about Quebec becoming a separate country and joined the Conservative Party of Canada.
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Early Life and Education
Michel Gauthier was born in Quebec City on February 18, 1950. He grew up in a town called Chambord. His father worked with engines, and his mother was a homemaker.
Gauthier started his career as a school teacher from 1970 to 1975. After that, he worked as an educational advisor. From 1979 to 1981, he was the director of education services for the Roberval school board. He also served as president of the Tourism Corporation of Chambord in 1975. In 1977 and 1978, he was the president of the Chambord Chamber of Commerce.
Michel Gauthier's Political Career
Michel Gauthier began his political journey in Quebec. He was first elected as a Member of the National Assembly of Quebec in 1981. He represented the area of Roberval for the Parti Québécois. From 1983 to 1985, he helped the finance minister as a parliamentary secretary. He was re-elected in 1985 and served until 1988. He then left his seat to become the director-general of the Roberval school board.
Joining the House of Commons
In 1993, Gauthier won a seat in the House of Commons of Canada. This is where Canada's main laws are made. He was a candidate for the Bloc Québécois party.
Leading the Bloc Québécois
Michel Gauthier was not one of the most famous members of Parliament for the Bloc Québécois. However, when Lucien Bouchard left to become the Premier of Quebec, Gauthier ran for party leader. He won the leadership election in 1996. The party's main leaders voted for him, not all the members. This made some people question his leadership.
Because he was not very well-known, some people called him the "faceless leader." He was not recognized by many people in Canada or even in Quebec. Some members of his own party also found his leadership style difficult. They felt he lacked the strong presence of the previous leader.
Resignation and Later Roles
Facing disagreements from within his party, Gauthier resigned in March 1997. Gilles Duceppe took over as leader.
After his leadership, Gauthier continued to serve in important roles. He was the Bloc Québécois's House Leader from 1997 until 2007. He also helped organize the party's election campaigns. In March 2007, he announced he would not run in the next federal election due to health issues. He officially left his seat on July 29, 2007. After politics, he hosted a TV news show called Gauthier on TQS.
On May 12, 2018, Michel Gauthier joined the Conservative Party of Canada. He had not been part of any political party for eleven years. He also stated that he no longer supported Quebec becoming a separate country. However, he still believed in Quebec nationalism, which means he supported the unique culture and identity of Quebec.
Personal Life and Death
Michel Gauthier was married to Anne Allard. He had two children, Alexandre and Isabelle, from a previous marriage.
Michel Gauthier passed away on May 30, 2020, at the age of 70. He had been battling lung cancer for several years before his death.
