Nathalie Normandeau
Encyclopedia
Nathalie Normandeau is a Quebec
politician
. She was MNA
for the riding of Bonaventure
in the Gaspésie region between 1998 and 2011. She was also Deputy Premier and a member of the Quebec Liberal Party.
Normandeau attended the Université Laval
in the early 1990s and obtained a bachelor's degree
in political science
and a certificate in African studies. While at university, she worked in the Quebec Premier's Office as a public relations officer and a secretary
. She was elected mayor
of the small Gaspésie town of Maria where she grew up, and held office from 1992 to 1995. She actively participated as a member of several local groups in the region.
Normandeau entered provincial politics in 1998
and was elected as the MNA for Bonaventure. She became the opposition critic for natural resources
, fisheries and regions.
In 2003
, when Jean Charest
's Liberals defeated the Parti Québécois
, Normandeau was re-elected for a second term and was named the Minister
for regional development
and tourism as well as the Minister responsible for the Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine
region. Following a cabinet shuffle
in 2005, she was promoted to the position of Municipal Affairs replacing Jean-Marc Fournier
who became the Education Minister.
She was re-elected in 2007
to become the new Deputy Premier and one of the prominent forces of the new minority government
. She retained her position as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Regions and Minister for her region.
On April 23, 2009, Normandeau admitted to dating François Bonnardel
, a member of the opposition Action démocratique du Québec
(ADQ) caucus. Normandeau said Premier Charest was aware of the relationship and had no problem with it.
During a cabinet shuffle, Normandeau was named the Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife succeeding Claude Béchard
who was named the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Laurent Lessard
inherited the municipal affairs portfolio.
On Tuesday, September 6, 2011, she announced her resignation as minister and member of the National Assembly, citing personal reasons.
She was controversially linked to former Montreal Police Chief Yvan Delorme.
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. She was MNA
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 riding of Bonaventure
Bonaventure (provincial electoral district)
Bonaventure is a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of Quebec that elects members to the National Assembly of Quebec. It was originally created in 1829.-Geography:...
in the Gaspésie region between 1998 and 2011. She was also Deputy Premier and a member of the Quebec Liberal Party.
Normandeau attended the Université Laval
Université Laval
Laval University is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French...
in the early 1990s and obtained a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and a certificate in African studies. While at university, she worked in the Quebec Premier's Office as a public relations officer and a secretary
Secretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
. She was elected mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of the small Gaspésie town of Maria where she grew up, and held office from 1992 to 1995. She actively participated as a member of several local groups in the region.
Normandeau entered provincial politics in 1998
Quebec general election, 1998
The Quebec general election of 1998 was held on November 30, 1998, to elect members of the National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The incumbent Parti Québécois, led by Lucien Bouchard, won re-election, defeating the Quebec Liberal Party, led by Jean Charest.After the narrow defeat of...
and was elected as the MNA for Bonaventure. She became the opposition critic for natural resources
Natural Resources
Natural Resources is a soul album released by Motown girl group Martha Reeves and the Vandellas in 1970 on the Gordy label. The album is significant for the Vietnam War ballad "I Should Be Proud" and the slow jam, "Love Guess Who"...
, fisheries and regions.
In 2003
Quebec general election, 2003
The Quebec general election of 2003 was held on April 14, 2003, to elect members of the National Assembly of Quebec . The Parti libéral du Québec , led by Jean Charest, defeated the incumbent Parti Québécois, led by Bernard Landry.-Unfolding:...
, when 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....
's Liberals defeated 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...
, Normandeau was re-elected for a second term and was named the Minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
for regional development
Regional development
Regional development is the provision of aid and other assistance to regions which are less economically developed. Regional development may be domestic or international in nature...
and tourism as well as the Minister responsible for the Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine
Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine
Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine is an administrative region of Quebec consisting of the Gaspé Peninsula and the Îles-de-la-Madeleine. It lies in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence at the eastern extreme of Quebec. The predominant economic activities are fishing, forestry and tourism.The administrative region...
region. Following a cabinet shuffle
Cabinet shuffle
In the parliamentary system a cabinet shuffle or reshuffle is an informal term for an event that occurs when a head of government rotates or changes the composition of ministers in their cabinet....
in 2005, she was promoted to the position of Municipal Affairs replacing Jean-Marc Fournier
Jean-Marc Fournier
Jean-Marc Fournier is a Quebec politician and a lawyer. He currently serves as the Minister of Justice and the Reform of Democratic Institutions in the cabinet of Quebec Premier Jean Charest....
who became the Education Minister.
She was re-elected in 2007
Quebec general election, 2007
The Quebec general election of 2007 was held in the Canadian province of Quebec on March 26, 2007 to elect members of the 38th National Assembly of Quebec. The Quebec Liberal Party led by Jean Charest managed to win a plurality of seats, but were reduced to a minority government, Quebec's first in...
to become the new Deputy Premier and one of the prominent forces of the new minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
. She retained her position as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Regions and Minister for her region.
On April 23, 2009, Normandeau admitted to dating François Bonnardel
François Bonnardel
François Bonnardel is the Action démocratique du Québec Member of the National Assembly of Quebec, Canada, for the electoral district of Shefford....
, a member of the opposition Action démocratique du Québec
Action démocratique du Québec
The Action démocratique du Québec, commonly referred to as the ADQ is a centre-right political party in Quebec, Canada. On the sovereignty question, it defines itself as autonomist, and has support from both soft nationalists and federalists....
(ADQ) caucus. Normandeau said Premier Charest was aware of the relationship and had no problem with it.
During a cabinet shuffle, Normandeau was named the Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife succeeding Claude Béchard
Claude Béchard
Claude Béchard was a politician in Quebec, Canada. He served as Quebec Liberal Party Member of the National Assembly for the riding of Kamouraska-Témiscouata in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region; as Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food as well as the Minister for Canadian Intergovermental...
who was named the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Laurent Lessard
Laurent Lessard
Laurent Lessard is a politician and notary in Quebec, Canada. He is the current Member of the National Assembly for the provincial riding of Frontenac in Central Quebec south of Quebec City. Member of the Quebec Liberal Party, he is the current Minister of Municipal Affairs and Regions and Land...
inherited the municipal affairs portfolio.
On Tuesday, September 6, 2011, she announced her resignation as minister and member of the National Assembly, citing personal reasons.
She was controversially linked to former Montreal Police Chief Yvan Delorme.