Raymond Gravel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Raymond Gravel
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| Member of Parliament for Repentigny |
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| In office November 27, 2006 – October 14, 2008 |
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| Preceded by | Benoît Sauvageau |
| Succeeded by | Nicolas Dufour |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 4, 1952 Saint-Damien-de-Brandon, Quebec |
| Died | August 11, 2014 (aged 61) Lanaudière, Quebec |
| Political party | Bloc Québécois |
| Residence | Repentigny, Quebec |
| Profession | Priest |
Raymond Gravel (born November 4, 1952 – died August 11, 2014) was a Canadian Catholic priest and a politician from Quebec. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the area called Repentigny. He was part of a political group known as the Bloc Québécois.
Mr. Gravel was chosen as an MP in a special election on November 27, 2006. This election happened after the previous MP, Benoît Sauvageau, passed away.
Contents
Who Was Raymond Gravel?
Raymond Gravel was born in 1952 in a place called Saint-Damien-de-Brandon, Quebec. He lived a life of service, first as a priest and later as a politician. He passed away in 2014 at the age of 61.
His Path to Priesthood
In 1982, Raymond Gravel decided to become a priest. He went to a special school called a seminary to study. After his studies, he became a Catholic priest. He dedicated many years to his work in the church.
Becoming a Politician
In 2006, Raymond Gravel decided to enter politics. He wanted to help people in a different way. He joined the Bloc Québécois, a political party in Canada.
How He Joined Politics
On October 29, 2006, Raymond Gravel was chosen as the Bloc Québécois candidate. This means he was the party's choice to run for election. He even got special permission from Gilles Lussier, who was the Bishop of Joliette, to be a priest and a politician at the same time.
His Role as an MP
Raymond Gravel was elected with many votes in his area, Repentigny. This area was known to strongly support the Bloc Québécois. As an MP, he became the party's main spokesperson on issues important to seniors. This role is called a "critic."
Why He Left Politics
Raymond Gravel's time as an MP was not long. The Vatican, which is the main authority for the Catholic Church, asked him to make a choice. He had to decide if he would continue being a priest or stay in politics.
His Difficult Decision
In the end, Raymond Gravel decided that being a priest was most important to him. He announced that he would not run for election again in 2008. He said that his life was dedicated to the priesthood.
What He Hoped to Achieve
One thing Raymond Gravel really wanted to do was help seniors. He tried to pass a special law called a "private member's bill." This bill, known as C-490, aimed to make it easier for seniors to get money they needed. Sadly, he was not able to get this bill passed before he left politics.
His Later Years
After leaving politics, Raymond Gravel continued his work as a priest. He kept serving his community. In 2014, he became ill with lung cancer. He passed away on August 11, 2014, at the age of 61.
