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Vivian Barbot
VivianBarbot.JPG
Member of Parliament
for Papineau
In office
February 6, 2006 – October 14, 2008
Preceded by Pierre Pettigrew
Succeeded by Justin Trudeau
Interim Leader of the Bloc Québécois
In office
May 3, 2011 – December 11, 2011
Preceded by Gilles Duceppe
Succeeded by Daniel Paillé
Vice-President of Bloc Québécois
In office
May 15, 2009 – January 24, 2012
Succeeded by Annie Lessard
Personal details
Born (1941-07-07) July 7, 1941 (age 83)
Saint-Marc, Haiti
Political party Bloc Québécois
Parent
  • Clément Barbot (father)
Residence Montreal
Profession President/manager, teacher

Vivian Barbot, born on July 7, 1941, is a Canadian teacher, activist, and politician. She has held several important positions in Canadian politics. She was once the president of the Fédération des femmes du Québec, a group that supports women's rights. She also served as a member of Parliament and as a vice-president of the Bloc Québécois political party.

In 2011, Vivian Barbot became the interim leader and president of the Bloc Québécois. This happened after the previous leader, Gilles Duceppe, stepped down. She was the first person from a visible minority group to lead a federal political party in Canada that had seats in Parliament.

Vivian Barbot's Early Life and Career

Vivian Barbot was born in Saint-Marc, Haiti. She later moved to Canada and became a teacher. Her career shows her dedication to helping others and making a difference in her community. Before entering federal politics, she was known for her work as an activist.

Becoming a Member of Parliament

A Member of Parliament (MP) is a person elected by citizens to represent them in the House of Commons, which is part of Canada's Parliament. Vivian Barbot became the MP for the area known as Papineau.

In the 2006 election, Vivian Barbot won a big victory for her party, the Bloc Québécois. She defeated Pierre Pettigrew, who was a well-known minister from the Liberal Party of Canada. This was a significant moment in her political journey.

Challenges in Later Elections

After her win in 2006, Vivian Barbot faced new challenges. In the 2008 federal election, she was defeated by Justin Trudeau, who later became Canada's Prime Minister. She ran against Justin Trudeau again in the 2011 election but was defeated once more.

The 2011 election was a difficult one for the Bloc Québécois. Many of their MPs, including the leader Gilles Duceppe, lost their seats. Only four Bloc MPs remained in Parliament.

Leading the Bloc Québécois

Because she was the vice-president of the Bloc Québécois, Vivian Barbot was chosen to be the interim leader and president of the party. This meant she led the party temporarily after Gilles Duceppe resigned. She held this important role from May 2011 until December 11, 2011. On that date, Daniel Paillé was elected as the new permanent leader of the party.

Vivian Barbot's time as interim leader was a historic moment. She showed that people from all backgrounds can reach high positions in Canadian politics. Her career highlights her commitment to public service and her role in shaping Canada's political landscape.

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