Philippe Couillard Facts for Kids

Quebec Executive Council

Minister of Health and Social Services
In office April 29, 2003 – June 25, 2008
Premier	Jean Charest
Preceded by	François Legault
Succeeded by	Yves Bolduc

Parliamentary constituencies

Member of the National Assembly
In office April 7, 2014 – October 4, 2018
Preceded by	Denis Trottier
Succeeded by	Nancy Guillemette
Constituency	Roberval
In office December 18, 2013 – April 7, 2014
Preceded by	Raymond Bachand
Succeeded by	Hélène David
Constituency	Outremont
In office March 26, 2007 – June 25, 2008
Preceded by	Margaret F. Delisle
Succeeded by	Yves Bolduc
Constituency	Jean-Talon
In office April 14, 2003 – March 26, 2007
Preceded by	André Tranchemontagne
Succeeded by	Pierre Arcand
Constituency	Mont-Royal

Personal details

Born

June 26, 1957 (age 67)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Political party

Liberal

Spouse

Suzanne Pilote

Alma mater

Université de Montréal

Occupation

Politician
neurosurgeon
consultant
professor

Philippe Couillard (born June 26, 1957) is a Canadian politician, a former brain surgeon, and a university professor. He served as the 31st premier of Quebec from 2014 to 2018. Before becoming premier, he was Quebec's Minister of Health and Social Services from 2003 to 2008. He also led the Quebec Liberal Party from 2013 to 2018.

Early Life and Medical Career
Entering Politics
- Achievements as Health Minister
- Becoming Party Leader
Premier of Quebec
After Politics
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Early Life and Medical Career

Philippe Couillard was born in Montreal, Quebec. He studied medicine at the Université de Montréal and became a neurosurgeon, a doctor who performs surgery on the brain and nervous system.

He led the neurosurgery department at Hôpital Saint-Luc from 1989 to 1992. He also worked at the Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke from 1996 to 2003. For a few years, from 1992 to 1996, he practiced medicine in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

Entering Politics

In 2003, Couillard decided to leave his medical career and enter politics. He ran for a seat in the National Assembly (Quebec's parliament) for the area of Mont-Royal. He represented the Quebec Liberal Party.

He won the election in 2003 and was made the Minister of Health and Social Services. This meant he was in charge of Quebec's healthcare system.

Achievements as Health Minister

As Health Minister, Philippe Couillard was known for handling public relations well. He helped increase Quebec's health budget by $4.2 billion. He also helped pass a law that banned smoking in public places.

In 2007, he ran for election in a different area called Jean-Talon and won again. He continued as Minister of Health and Social Services. In 2008, he decided to step down from his roles as minister and Member of the National Assembly (MNA).

Becoming Party Leader

On October 3, 2012, Couillard announced he would run to become the leader of the Quebec Liberal Party. He said he felt a "need to serve" the public again.

On March 17, 2013, he won the leadership election and became the new leader of the Quebec Liberal Party. Later that year, on December 9, 2013, he was elected as an MNA for the area of Outremont.

Premier of Quebec

On March 5, 2014, an election was called in Quebec. Couillard decided to run in the area of Roberval, where he lives.

The 2014 Election

At the start of the election campaign, polls showed a close race between the Liberal Party and the Parti Québécois. Couillard focused his campaign on important topics like "healthcare, education and jobs." He also spoke against the Quebec Charter of Values, saying it was "an unnecessary bill that succeeds only in dividing Quebecers."

During the campaign, Couillard's support grew. On April 7, 2014, he led the Quebec Liberals to a big victory. They won 70 seats in the National Assembly, allowing them to form a majority government. This meant they had more than half the seats, making it easier to pass laws.

After the election, Couillard became the Premier of Quebec on April 23, 2014. He appointed 26 ministers to help him lead the government.

Economic Plans

When Couillard's government took office in 2014, Quebec had a large budget deficit of nearly $6 billion. A budget deficit means the government spends more money than it collects in taxes.

His government, along with his finance minister, worked to balance the budget within a year by 2015. They did this by cutting some government spending and raising taxes. Couillard's government managed to have a balanced budget for four years in a row. However, some of his spending cuts, especially in education and healthcare, made him less popular with some people.

Environmental Actions

Couillard's government made some decisions regarding the environment. They removed protection from certain preserved areas and allowed logging in lands where caribou (a type of deer) live. The government stated these decisions would help the economy and create jobs.

In 2014, Couillard also stated his opposition to developing shale gas in Quebec. He cited a report that raised concerns about its environmental impact.

Law on Religious Symbols

In October 2017, Couillard's government passed a law called Bill 62. This law required people to uncover their faces when receiving or providing public services in Quebec.

This law gained attention both in Canada and internationally. It meant that Muslim women who wear a niqab or burqa (religious face coverings) would have to remove them to access public services. Couillard supported the law, saying it was important to see people's faces in a free and democratic society.

The 2018 Election

In the October 2018 provincial election, Couillard's government was defeated by the Coalition Avenir Québec party. His party lost the election after only one term in power.

Even though his party lost, Couillard himself was re-elected as the MNA for Roberval. However, he resigned as the leader of the Liberal Party and as an MNA on October 4, 2018.

After Politics

After leaving politics, Philippe Couillard became involved in business. In 2022, he worked with a company called Britishvolt that was planning to build a large battery factory in Canada. However, the company later decided not to build the factory, and Couillard stopped working for them.

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