Gilles Rocheleau
Encyclopedia
Gilles Rocheleau was a member of the Canadian House of Commons
from 1988 to 1993. He co-founded the Bloc Québécois
with Lucien Bouchard
in 1990.
Rocheleau was born in Hull, Quebec
, he was a businessman by career. He became a city councillor in 1967, then mayor from 1974 to 1981. He was elected as a member of the National Assembly of Quebec
in 1981, under the province's Liberal party
in Hull
. He was again elected to the Assembly in 1985 and became a cabinet minister in Premier Robert Bourassa
's administration.
He left provincial politics to campaign in the 1988 federal election
in the Hull—Aylmer
electoral district for the national Liberal party
. He served in the 34th Canadian Parliament
until he left the party on 2 July 1990 following the implosion of the Meech Lake Accord
. After several months as an independent, he became a charter member of the Bloc Québécois party on 20 December 1990.
However, Rocheleau's embrace of Quebec sovereigntism didn't play well in his strongly federalist riding, and he was heavily defeated by Liberal
candidate Marcel Massé
in the 1993 federal election
.
He was married twice: to Denise Gagné in 1956 and then later to Hélène Roy.
Rocheleau died in Hull at the age of 62.
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
from 1988 to 1993. He co-founded the Bloc Québécois
Bloc Québécois
The Bloc Québécois is a federal political party in Canada devoted to the protection of Quebec's interests in the House of Commons of Canada, and the promotion of Quebec sovereignty. The Bloc was originally a party made of Quebec nationalists who defected from the federal Progressive Conservative...
with Lucien Bouchard
Lucien Bouchard
Lucien Bouchard, is a Canadian lawyer, diplomat, politician and former Minister of the Environment of the Canadian Federal Government. He was the Leader of Opposition in the Canadian House of Commons from 1993 to 1996, and the 27th Premier of Quebec from January 29, 1996 to March 8, 2001...
in 1990.
Rocheleau was born in Hull, Quebec
Hull, Quebec
Hull is the central and oldest part of the city of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. It is located on the west bank of the Gatineau River and the north shore of the Ottawa River, directly opposite Ottawa. As part of the Canadian National Capital Region, it contains offices for twenty thousand...
, he was a businessman by career. He became a city councillor in 1967, then mayor from 1974 to 1981. He was elected as a member of the National Assembly of Quebec
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...
in 1981, under the province's Liberal party
Parti libéral du Québec
The Quebec Liberal Party is a centre-right political party in Quebec. It has been independent of the federal Liberal Party of Canada since 1955....
in Hull
Hull (provincial electoral district)
Hull is provincial electoral riding located in the province of Quebec, Canada. Located in the Outaouais region, the district includes the entire Hull sector of the city of Gatineau. It was created in 1919 and was previously part of the riding of Ottawa from 1887 to 1919 and Ottawa from 1867 to 1887...
. He was again elected to the Assembly in 1985 and became a cabinet minister in Premier Robert Bourassa
Robert Bourassa
Jean-Robert Bourassa, was a politician in Quebec, Canada. He served as the 22nd Premier of Quebec in two different mandates, first from May 12, 1970, to November 25, 1976, and then from December 12, 1985, to January 11, 1994, serving a total of just under 15 years as Provincial Premier.-Early...
's administration.
He left provincial politics to campaign in the 1988 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1988
The Canadian federal election of 1988 was held November 21, 1988, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 34th Parliament of Canada. It was an election largely fought on a single issue: the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement ....
in the Hull—Aylmer
Hull—Aylmer
Hull—Aylmer is a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1917....
electoral district for the national Liberal party
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
. He served in the 34th Canadian Parliament
34th Canadian Parliament
The 34th Canadian Parliament was in session from December 12, 1988 until September 8, 1993. The membership was set by the 1988 federal election on November 21, 1988, and it changed only somewhat due to resignations and by-elections until it was dissolved prior to the 1993 election.It was...
until he left the party on 2 July 1990 following the implosion of the Meech Lake Accord
Meech Lake Accord
The Meech Lake Accord was a package of proposed amendments to the Constitution of Canada negotiated in 1987 by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and ten provincial premiers. It was intended to persuade the government of the Province of Quebec to endorse the 1982 Canadian Constitution and increase...
. After several months as an independent, he became a charter member of the Bloc Québécois party on 20 December 1990.
However, Rocheleau's embrace of Quebec sovereigntism didn't play well in his strongly federalist riding, and he was heavily defeated by Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
candidate Marcel Massé
Marcel Massé
Marcel Massé, PC, OC, QC is a former Canadian politician and civil servant.He served as Clerk of the Privy Council in 1979 during the government of Prime Minister Joe Clark...
in the 1993 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1993
The Canadian federal election of 1993 was held on October 25 of that year to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 35th Parliament of Canada. Fourteen parties competed for the 295 seats in the House at that time...
.
He was married twice: to Denise Gagné in 1956 and then later to Hélène Roy.
Rocheleau died in Hull at the age of 62.
Electoral record (partial)
External links
Assemblée Nationale du Québec: Gilles Rocheleau- Hansard (House of Commons Debates) #128: The Late Gilles Rocheleau, 29 September 1998.