Nicknames of politicians and personalities in Quebec
Encyclopedia
A custom of Quebecers
is to give nickname
s to their politician
s (and some personalities), quite especially their Premiers
. Many of those given to Premiers are affectionate or even express admiration, while others are insulting.
French-speaking Quebecer
French-speaking Quebecers are francophone residents of the Canadian province of Quebec....
is to give nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
s to their politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
s (and some personalities), quite especially their Premiers
Premier of Quebec
The Premier of Quebec is the first minister of the Canadian province of Quebec. The Premier is the province's head of government and his title is Premier and President of the Executive Council....
. Many of those given to Premiers are affectionate or even express admiration, while others are insulting.
Nicknames of Quebec Premiers
- Maurice DuplessisMaurice DuplessisMaurice Le Noblet Duplessis served as the 16th Premier of the Canadian province of Quebec from 1936 to 1939 and 1944 to 1959. A founder and leader of the highly conservative Union Nationale party, he rose to power after exposing the misconduct and patronage of Liberal Premier Louis-Alexandre...
(1936 – 1939 and 1944-1959): Le Chef ("The Leader" or "The Chief"). Often pronounced (and even spelled) "Le Cheuf", to reflect an old-fashion joualJoualJoual is the common name for the linguistic features of basilectal Quebec French that are associated with the French-speaking working class in Montreal which has become a symbol of national identity for a large number of artists from that area...
pronunciation of the word.- Often used disparagingly to evoke Duplessis's despotism. Nevertheless, he apparently used the nickname to refer to himself.
- Daniel Johnson Sr. (1966 – 1968): Danny Boy.
- Name given to the portrayal of Johnson as a comical and clueless cowboyCowboyA cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
in political cartoons drawn by Normand Hudon before Johnson taking power. An apparent reference to his Irish roots.
- Name given to the portrayal of Johnson as a comical and clueless cowboy
- Robert BourassaRobert BourassaJean-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...
(1970 – 1976 and 1985 – 1994)- Boubou.
- Also inspired the term "Boubou MacoutesBoubou MacoutesLes Boubou Macoutes was the popular nickname of special inspectors who visited the homes and investigated suspected "welfare cheats" in the Canadian province of Quebec during the second government of Premier Robert Bourassa, in the 1990s....
".
- Also inspired the term "Boubou Macoutes
- L'homme le plus détesté du Québec ("The most hated man of Quebec").
- A term used by historians to denote the unpopularity of Bourassa and his government before first losing power to René LévesqueRené LévesqueRené Lévesque was a reporter, a minister of the government of Quebec, , the founder of the Parti Québécois political party and the 23rd Premier of Quebec...
's Parti QuébécoisParti QuébécoisThe 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...
in 1976Quebec general election, 1976The Quebec general election of 1976 was held on November 15, 1976 to elect members to National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. It was one of the most significant elections in Quebec history, rivalled only by the 1960 general election, and caused major repercussions in the rest of Canada...
.
- A term used by historians to denote the unpopularity of Bourassa and his government before first losing power to René Lévesque
- Bourassa I; Bourassa II.
- Terms historians use to refer to Bourassa and his governments under his first two mandates and his last two mandates as Premier, respectively.
- Boubou.
- René LévesqueRené LévesqueRené Lévesque was a reporter, a minister of the government of Quebec, , the founder of the Parti Québécois political party and the 23rd Premier of Quebec...
(1976 – 1985): Ti-Poil (literally, "Lil' Hair", but more accurately translated as "Baldy").- A reminder of his often ruffled comb-over.
- Jacques ParizeauJacques ParizeauJacques Parizeau, is an economist and noted Quebec sovereignist who was the 26th Premier of the Canadian province of Quebec from September 26, 1994 to January 29, 1996.-Early life and career:...
(1994 – 1995): Monsieur ("Sir").- Positive and relatively appreciative reference to his well-known aristocratic pride and assurance. Source of the title of a 2003 documentary, Monsieur about Parizeau.
- Lucien BouchardLucien BouchardLucien 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...
(1996 – 2001):- Lulu.
- Barbe Bleue.
- Jean CharestJean CharestJohn 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....
(2003 – ): Charest has gained numerous nicknames:- Patapouf or Patapouf Premier ("Patapouf the First").
- The name was rumoured to be a nickname given by Charest's wife, something he denied. It first came to be used in the campaign Destituons Patapouf!, an operation of disgruntled citizens who spread a petition from 2003 to 2004 to have Charest recalledRecall electionA recall election is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote before his or her term has ended...
, not unlike California governor Gray DavisGray DavisJoseph Graham "Gray" Davis, Jr. is an American Democratic politician who served as California's 37th Governor from 1999 until being recalled in 2003...
. Loco LocassLoco LocassLoco Locass are a hip hop group from Quebec formed in 1995. The group often defends the role of the French language in Canada, and champions Quebec sovereignty.Loco Locass' lyrics often deal with the role of the French language, and Quebec's role in Canada...
(music group), in their song Libérez-nous des libéraux ("Free us from the liberals") used this nickname to refer to him. The word is an archetypal nameArchetypal nameArchetypal names are proper names of real, mythological, or fictional characters that have become designations for archetypes of certain personal traits.Archetypal names are a literary device used to allude to a certain traits of a character or a plot....
for a clown in Quebec FrenchQuebec FrenchQuebec French , or Québécois French, is the predominant variety of the French language in Canada, in its formal and informal registers. Quebec French is used in everyday communication, as well as in education, the media, and government....
(like BozoBozoBozo or bozo may refer to:*The Bozo people, a fishing people of the central Niger delta in Mali*The Bozo languages, languages of the Bozo people*Bozo the Clown, a clown character very popular in the United States...
). It is also a pejorativePejorativePejoratives , including name slurs, are words or grammatical forms that connote negativity and express contempt or distaste. A term can be regarded as pejorative in some social groups but not in others, e.g., hacker is a term used for computer criminals as well as quick and clever computer experts...
way to talk about someone fat, so it could refer to the fact that he gained some weight. Patapouf Premier is a sarcastic variant that paints Charest as a farcical, despotic monarchMonarchA monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
. Both are used mockingly.
- The name was rumoured to be a nickname given by Charest's wife, something he denied. It first came to be used in the campaign Destituons Patapouf!, an operation of disgruntled citizens who spread a petition from 2003 to 2004 to have Charest recalled
- Le Frisé ("Curly").
- Referring to his famous curly hair. It is negative. A humorous, mocking song from irony rocker Mononc' Serge about the man is entitled "Le Frisé".
- Le p'tit Saint-Jean-Baptiste ("Lil' Saint John the Baptist").
- The Saint-Jean-BaptisteFête nationale du QuébecQuebec's National Holiday is celebrated annually on June 24, St. John the Baptist DayIn Quebec, the national holiday is a paid statutory public holiday covered under the Act Respecting Labour Standards...
parades of first half of the 20th century usually featured a curly-haired boy representing Saint John the Baptist. It is therefore another mocking of Charest's hairstyle. This could also refer to Charest's birthdate, which is June 24, the feast of John the Baptist.
- The Saint-Jean-Baptiste
- Le mouton ("The Sheep")
- Another reference to his curly hair.
- Patapouf or Patapouf Premier ("Patapouf the First").
Similar nicknames
- Louis St. LaurentLouis St. LaurentLouis Stephen St. Laurent, PC, CC, QC , was the 12th Prime Minister of Canada from 15 November 1948, to 21 June 1957....
(Prime Minister of CanadaPrime Minister of CanadaThe Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
from 1948 to 1957): Oncle Louis ("Uncle Louis"). - Camillien HoudeCamillien HoudeCamillien Houde was a Quebec politician, a Member of Parliament, and a four-time mayor of Montreal.-Political career:...
(4 times Mayor of MontrealMayor of MontrealThe Mayor of Montreal is head of the executive branch of Montreal City Council.The Mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and provincial laws within Montreal....
from the 20s to the 50s): Monsieur Montréal. - Pacifique PlantePacifique PlantePacifique Plante was a crime fighting lawyer from the 1940s to the 1950s. He was also known as Pax Plante.He investigated corruption in Montreal municipal politics....
(crimeCrimeCrime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
fighting lawyerLawyerA lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
from the 40s to the 50s): Pax Plante. - Pierre Elliott Trudeau (Prime Minister of CanadaPrime Minister of CanadaThe Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
from 1968 to 1979 and 1980 to 1984): Ti-Pet ("Lil' Fart") or Pet.- Always derogatory. P.E.T. were Trudeau's initials traditionally used in English CanadaEnglish CanadaEnglish Canada is a term used to describe one of the following:# English-speaking Canadians, as opposed to French-speaking Canadians. It is employed when comparing English- and French-language literature, media, or art...
as alternative naming and pet is French for fart. Since Trudeau was in power for many of the same years as Lévesque, the two were sometimes referred to collectively as "Ti-Pet et Ti-Poil" by irreverent members of the population. These initials were also popularly used to parody the name of the nationalized oil/gas company PETRO Canada (founded during Trudeau's reign) which was rendered as: Pierre Elliot Trudeau ripping off Canada—probably of Albertan origin.
- Always derogatory. P.E.T. were Trudeau's initials traditionally used in English Canada
- Brian MulroneyBrian MulroneyMartin Brian Mulroney, was the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada-U.S...
(Prime Minister of CanadaPrime Minister of CanadaThe Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
from 1984 to 1993): Lyin' Brian; Le p'tit gars de Baie-Comeau ("Little Guy from Baie-Comeau"), "The chin that walks like a man" (a moniker given him by columnist Allan FotheringhamAllan FotheringhamAllan Fotheringham is a Canadian newspaper and magazine journalist. He is widely known by the nickname Dr. Foth and styles himself as, "Always controversial... never at a loss for words" and also as "the Great Gatheringfroth".-Life:Fotheringham attended Chilliwack Secondary School, where he was...
), and "Mini Trudeau" (a name given to him by René Lévesque for his similarities to Pierre Elliot Trudeau perceived by Quebec)- Mulroney was born and raised in Baie-Comeau, a city in the Côte-NordCôte-NordCôte-Nord is the second largest administrative region by land area in Quebec, Canada, after Nord-du-Québec...
region of Quebec.
- Mulroney was born and raised in Baie-Comeau, a city in the Côte-Nord
- Jean ChrétienJean ChrétienJoseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....
(Prime Minister of CanadaPrime Minister of CanadaThe Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
from 1993 to 2003): Le p'tit gars de Shawinigan ("Little Guy from Shawinigan").- Chrétien received a similar nickname to Mulroney's. This refers to his own city of origin, ShawiniganShawinigan, QuebecShawinigan is a city located on the Saint-Maurice River in the Mauricie area in Quebec, Canada. It has a population of approximately 51,904 people ....
, Quebec. Chrétien sometimes spoke of himself that way.
- Chrétien received a similar nickname to Mulroney's. This refers to his own city of origin, Shawinigan
- Mario DumontMario DumontMario Dumont is a television personality and former politician in the province of Quebec. He was a Member of the National Assembly of Quebec , and the leader of the Action démocratique du Québec , from 1994 to 2009...
(leader of the Action Démocratique from 1994 to 2009): Super Mario.- A common criticism towards Dumont is his relatively young age. Super Mario is both a comment on his youth (referring to the NintendoNintendois a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
video game series Super Mario Bros.Super Mario Bros.is a 1985 platform video game developed by Nintendo, published for the Nintendo Entertainment System as a sequel to the 1983 game Mario Bros. In Super Mario Bros., the player controls Mario as he travels through the Mushroom Kingdom in order to rescue Princess Toadstool from the antagonist...
, popular amongst children) and an ironicIronyIrony is a rhetorical device, literary technique, or situation in which there is a sharp incongruity or discordance that goes beyond the simple and evident intention of words or actions...
glorification of his underdogUnderdog (competition)An underdog is a person or group in a competition, frequently in electoral politics, sports and creative works, who is popularly expected to lose. The party, team or individual expected to win is called the favorite or top dog. In the rare case where an underdog wins, the outcome is an upset. These...
popularity. Also, the rap group Loco LocassLoco LocassLoco Locass are a hip hop group from Quebec formed in 1995. The group often defends the role of the French language in Canada, and champions Quebec sovereignty.Loco Locass' lyrics often deal with the role of the French language, and Quebec's role in Canada...
wrote a song called Super Mario in reference of Dumont. Since the election of 2007, when his party won 41 seats (they'd only won 5 as a result of the previous election), the nickname "Super Mario" isn't always pejorative.
- A common criticism towards Dumont is his relatively young age. Super Mario is both a comment on his youth (referring to the Nintendo
- Amir KhadirAmir KhadirAmir Khadir is a politician in the National Assembly of Quebec , Canada for the electoral district of Mercier, and currently the male spokesperson for Québec Solidaire, a sovereignist and left-wing political party which was created by the merger of the Union des Forces Progressistes and Option...
(leader and MNANational Assembly of QuebecThe 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...
of Québec solidaireQuébec SolidaireQuébec solidaire is a democratic socialist and sovereigntist political party in Quebec, Canada, that was created on 4 February 2006 in Montreal. It was formed by the merger of the left-wing party Union des forces progressistes and the alter-globalization political movement Option Citoyenne, led...
): "Godasse Khadir" (in French slang, godasse means old shoe). Khadir was nickamed Godasse after throwing a shoe on an effigy of George W. BushGeorge W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
in 2008, during a protest held in Montreal for journaliste Muntadhar al-ZaidiMuntadhar al-ZaidiMuntadhar al-Zaidi is an Iraqi broadcast journalist who served as a correspondent for Iraqi-owned, Egyptian-based Al-Bagh. , al-Zaidi works with a Lebanese TV channel....
, famous for throwing a pair of shoes at the U.S. President in Iraq. - Jack LaytonJack LaytonJohn Gilbert "Jack" Layton, PC was a Canadian social democratic politician and the Leader of the Official Opposition. He was the leader of the New Democratic Party from 2003 to 2011, and previously sat on Toronto City Council, serving at times during that period as acting mayor and deputy mayor of...
(leader of the New Democratic PartyNew Democratic PartyThe New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
): "le bon Jack" (un bon jack meaning a nice guy)http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/jackomania-in-quebec-puts-layton-in-opponents-crosshairs/article1995387/?from=sec368.