Jean-Robert Gauthier
Encyclopedia
Jean-Robert Gauthier, CM
, O.Ont
(October 22, 1929 – December 10, 2009) was a Canadian politician.
A chiropractor
by training, he entered politics as trustee on a local school board. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons
to represent the riding of Ottawa East in the 1972 election
as a Liberal Party
Member of Parliament. He remained its representative for several decades winning by large majorities each time in the safe Liberal seat.
In 1984, he was appointed opposition whip and became a member of the party's shadow cabinet
. His highest profile came during his time as official languages critic for the Liberal caucus, in which Gauthier was a strident defender of official bilingualism. Locally, he was known for campaigning to have an aquarium built in Ottawa. With the Liberal victory in the 1993 election
, he ran for Speaker of the House
, but lost by one vote to Gilbert Parent
.
In 1994, he was appointed to the Senate
. In the Senate, he fought for the rights of French speakers. He retired on his 75th birthday in 2004. In the Senate, he listed his Senate division as "Ontario" from November 23, 1994 to December 3, 2001, and as "Ottawa – Vanier" from December 4, 2001 until his retirement.
He was made a member of the Order of Canada
in 2007. In 2009, he was made a member of the Order of Ontario
.
He was made an Officer of the Legion of Honour by the French Government in 2002.
In September 2006, Jean-Robert Gauthier Catholic Elementary School opened in Barrhaven.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, O.Ont
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
(October 22, 1929 – December 10, 2009) was a Canadian politician.
A chiropractor
Chiropractor
A Chiropractor, according to the Association of Chiropractic Colleges , "focuses on the relationship between the body's main structures – the skeleton, the muscles and the nerves – and the patient's health. Chiropractors believe that health can be improved and preserved by making adjustments to...
by training, he entered politics as trustee on a local school board. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons
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...
to represent the riding of Ottawa East in the 1972 election
Canadian federal election, 1972
The Canadian federal election of 1972 was held on October 30, 1972 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 29th Parliament of Canada. It resulted in a slim victory for the governing Liberal Party, which won 109 seats, compared to 107 seats for the opposition Progressive...
as a 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...
Member of Parliament. He remained its representative for several decades winning by large majorities each time in the safe Liberal seat.
In 1984, he was appointed opposition whip and became a member of the party's shadow cabinet
Shadow Cabinet
The Shadow Cabinet is a senior group of opposition spokespeople in the Westminster system of government who together under the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition form an alternative cabinet to the government's, whose members shadow or mark each individual member of the government...
. His highest profile came during his time as official languages critic for the Liberal caucus, in which Gauthier was a strident defender of official bilingualism. Locally, he was known for campaigning to have an aquarium built in Ottawa. With the Liberal victory in the 1993 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 ran for Speaker of the House
Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons
The Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada is the presiding officer of the lower house of the Parliament of Canada and is elected at the beginning of each new parliament by fellow Members of Parliament...
, but lost by one vote to Gilbert Parent
Gilbert Parent
Gilbert "Gib" Parent, PC was a Canadian Member of Parliament. He is best known in his role of Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons between 1994 and 2001....
.
In 1994, he was appointed to the Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
. In the Senate, he fought for the rights of French speakers. He retired on his 75th birthday in 2004. In the Senate, he listed his Senate division as "Ontario" from November 23, 1994 to December 3, 2001, and as "Ottawa – Vanier" from December 4, 2001 until his retirement.
He was made a member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in 2007. In 2009, he was made a member of the Order of Ontario
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
.
He was made an Officer of the Legion of Honour by the French Government in 2002.
In September 2006, Jean-Robert Gauthier Catholic Elementary School opened in Barrhaven.