Gerry Sklavounos
Encyclopedia
Gerry Sklavounos, B.C.L., LL.B., (born December 16, 1974) is a Quebec
politician. He is the current Liberal Member of the National Assembly
for the electoral district
of Laurier-Dorion
, as well as Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Health and Social Services.
, Quebec
, Canada
to parents of Greek origin. He spent his early years in the Plateau Mont Royal area of Montreal before moving to the district of Park Extension at age six. He spent the next 23 years of his life living in the area he now represents at the National Assembly of Québec
. Sklavounos received his Diploma of Collegial Studies from Vanier College
in 1994, and went on to obtain Bachelor’s degrees in both Civil and Common Law from McGill University
in 1998. Sklavounos speaks, reads and writes English, French and Greek.
in the provincial general elections of March 26, 2007. Sklavounos defeated the then-incumbent Member of the Parti Québécois
, Elsie Lefebvre
, earning 40% of the vote versus Lefebvre's 36%.
Sklavounos was named Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks, Lyne Beauchamp, by Quebec Premier Jean Charest
. Sklavounos was also named Vice-Chair of the Committee on Economy and Labour. For the duration of that same term, he also served on the Social Affairs Committee as well as the Transportation and Environment Committee.
Sklavounos represented the Québec government both nationally and internationally during his first term in office. In September 2007, he represented Québec at the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Meeting in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He was also Québec’s executive member of the U.S.-based National Conference of State Legislatures (N.C.S.L.)and was Québec’s representative at the 9th meeting of the parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity held in Bonn, Germany in May 2008.
On January 15, 2009 Quebec Premier, Jean Charest, appointed Sklavounos Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr. Yves Bolduc
. Sklavounos was also named to the Committee on Institutions and the Social Affairs Committee, later renamed the Committee on Health and Social Services.
Since May 27, 2009, Sklavounos has also been a member of the Quebec sections of the Francophone and Commonwealth Parliamentary Associations.
In the summer of 2009, Sklavounos was selected to represent Québec as part of the International Organisation of the Francophonie (I.O.F.) observer delegation sent to monitor the July 18th presidential elections in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
On the 10th of February, 2011, Gerry was elected Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Health and Social Services.
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
politician. He is the current Liberal Member of the National Assembly
National Assembly of Quebec
The National Assembly of Quebec is the legislative body of the Province of Quebec. The Lieutenant Governor and the National Assembly compose the Parliament of Quebec, which operates in a fashion similar to those of other British-style parliamentary systems.The National Assembly was formerly the...
for the electoral district
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
of Laurier-Dorion
Laurier-Dorion
Laurier-Dorion is a provincial electoral district in Quebec, Canada that elects members to the National Assembly of Quebec. The district is located in Montreal and includes the neighbourhoods of Villeray and Parc-Extension...
, as well as Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Health and Social Services.
Biography
Gerry Sklavounos was born in MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to parents of Greek origin. He spent his early years in the Plateau Mont Royal area of Montreal before moving to the district of Park Extension at age six. He spent the next 23 years of his life living in the area he now represents at the National Assembly of Québec
National Assembly of Quebec
The National Assembly of Quebec is the legislative body of the Province of Quebec. The Lieutenant Governor and the National Assembly compose the Parliament of Quebec, which operates in a fashion similar to those of other British-style parliamentary systems.The National Assembly was formerly the...
. Sklavounos received his Diploma of Collegial Studies from Vanier College
Vanier College
Vanier College is an English-language public college located in the Montreal borough of Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada. It was founded in 1970 as the second English-language public college of Quebec's public college system...
in 1994, and went on to obtain Bachelor’s degrees in both Civil and Common Law from McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in 1998. Sklavounos speaks, reads and writes English, French and Greek.
Law career
Prior to being called to the Québec bar in 1999, Sklavounos completed his legal articles in the Criminal Prosecutions section of the Federal Justice Department. He then went on to practice criminal law as a public defender for the Montreal Legal Aid Office from 2000 to 2004. In 2004, Sklavounos joined the criminal defense firm of Silver Sandiford where he practiced until his entry into politics.Involvement with the Greek Community
Sklavounos has been active in the Greek community on several levels. He served on the executive board of the Hellenic Congress of Quebec from 2003–2007 and in 2006 was elected Vice-President-Public Relations of the Canadian Hellenic Congress. In 2007, Sklavounos served on the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Scholarships Foundation. He was also a torch bearer in the 2004 Olympic relay for the Athens Summer games.First term as M.N.A. for Laurier-Dorion
Sklavounos was first elected to the Quebec National Assembly in the riding of Laurier-DorionLaurier-Dorion
Laurier-Dorion is a provincial electoral district in Quebec, Canada that elects members to the National Assembly of Quebec. The district is located in Montreal and includes the neighbourhoods of Villeray and Parc-Extension...
in the provincial general elections of March 26, 2007. Sklavounos defeated the then-incumbent Member of the Parti Québécois
Parti Québécois
The Parti Québécois is a centre-left political party that advocates national sovereignty for the province of Quebec and secession from Canada. The Party traditionally has support from the labour movement. Unlike many other social-democratic parties, its ties with the labour movement are informal...
, Elsie Lefebvre
Elsie Lefebvre
Elsie Lefebvre is a Quebec politician. She was the Member of the National Assembly for the Laurier-Dorion riding from 2004 to 2007, and currently serves on Montreal City Council. She is trilingual, speaking French, Spanish and English.-Background:Lefebvre has been involved in politics, with the...
, earning 40% of the vote versus Lefebvre's 36%.
Sklavounos was named Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks, Lyne Beauchamp, by Quebec Premier Jean Charest
Jean Charest
John James "Jean" Charest, PC, MNA is a Canadian politician who has been the 29th Premier of Quebec since 2003. He was leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1993 to 1998 and has been leader of the Quebec Liberal Party since 1998....
. Sklavounos was also named Vice-Chair of the Committee on Economy and Labour. For the duration of that same term, he also served on the Social Affairs Committee as well as the Transportation and Environment Committee.
Sklavounos represented the Québec government both nationally and internationally during his first term in office. In September 2007, he represented Québec at the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Meeting in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He was also Québec’s executive member of the U.S.-based National Conference of State Legislatures (N.C.S.L.)and was Québec’s representative at the 9th meeting of the parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity held in Bonn, Germany in May 2008.
Second Term as M.N.A. for Laurier-Dorion
Sklavounos was re-elected as Member of the Quebec National Assembly for the riding of Laurier-Dorion in the provincial general elections of December 8, 2008 garnering 42.57% of the vote to defeat his Parti Québécois challenger Badiona Bazin who earned 34.04% of the vote.On January 15, 2009 Quebec Premier, Jean Charest, appointed Sklavounos Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr. Yves Bolduc
Yves Bolduc
Yves Bolduc is a doctor and politician in the Canadian province of Quebec. He was named the new Minister of Health and Social Services of Quebec on June 25, 2008 succeeding Philippe Couillard who resigned on the same day following five years as Minister for that portfolio...
. Sklavounos was also named to the Committee on Institutions and the Social Affairs Committee, later renamed the Committee on Health and Social Services.
Since May 27, 2009, Sklavounos has also been a member of the Quebec sections of the Francophone and Commonwealth Parliamentary Associations.
In the summer of 2009, Sklavounos was selected to represent Québec as part of the International Organisation of the Francophonie (I.O.F.) observer delegation sent to monitor the July 18th presidential elections in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
On the 10th of February, 2011, Gerry was elected Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Health and Social Services.
Personal Notes
- Gerry Sklavounos currently resides in Montreal and travels to Quebec City for a good part of each week to sit in the National Assembly.
- On June 12th, 2010, Gerry Sklavounos was selected as one of North America's Top 40 Greek Leaders under 40 Years of Age by the Greek America Foundation.
External links
- Gerry Sklavounos - Official Website
- Gerry Sklavounos - National Assembly of Quebec
- Gerry Sklavounos - Notable Vanier College Alumni