René Piché
Encyclopedia
René L. Piché was a Canadian
politician, who served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1981 to 1985.
He briefly served as a cabinet minister for Northern Transportation in the government of Frank Miller
. He was a member of the Progressive Conservative Party
. While in the Legislature, Piché was appointed Government Whip and named Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Revenue. He also served on two legislative committees: Administration of Justice and Ombudsman.
Piché was the founding chairman of Northeastern Ontario Municipalities Action Group, serving for nine years as its chairman between 1972 and 1980. In addition, Piché served as a member of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission for seven years from 1973 to 1980.
Piché began his political career at the municipal level, serving as mayor of Kapuskasing for 13 years from 1971 to 1980, and returning to office again in 1991 for three more years. He was elected for the Cochrane North constituency in the 1981 provincial election
, defeating Liberal
candidate Jean-Paul Bourgeault by 188 votes. He served as a backbench supporter of Bill Davis
's government for four years, and was named a minister without portfolio
when Miller succeeded Davis as premier on February 8, 1985.
The Progressive Conservatives were reduced to a tenuous minority government
in the 1985 provincial election
. Piché was personally defeated in Cochrane North, losing to Liberal René Fontaine
by 1,910 votes. He formally resigned from cabinet on May 17, 1985. He later returned to municipal politics, and again served as Kapuskasing's mayor in the 1990s.
Piché attempted to return to the Ontario legislature in the 1990 provincial election
, but finished third against New Democrat Len Wood
.
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...
politician, who served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
from 1981 to 1985.
He briefly served as a cabinet minister for Northern Transportation in the government of Frank Miller
Frank Miller (politician)
Frank Stuart Miller, was a Canadian politician, who served as the 19th Premier of Ontario for four months in 1985.-Early life and political career:...
. He was a member of the Progressive Conservative Party
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
. While in the Legislature, Piché was appointed Government Whip and named Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Revenue. He also served on two legislative committees: Administration of Justice and Ombudsman.
Piché was the founding chairman of Northeastern Ontario Municipalities Action Group, serving for nine years as its chairman between 1972 and 1980. In addition, Piché served as a member of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission for seven years from 1973 to 1980.
Piché began his political career at the municipal level, serving as mayor of Kapuskasing for 13 years from 1971 to 1980, and returning to office again in 1991 for three more years. He was elected for the Cochrane North constituency in the 1981 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1981
The Ontario general election of 1981 was held on March 19, 1981, to elect members of the 32nd Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, defeating Liberal
Ontario Liberal Party
The Ontario Liberal Party is a provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has formed the Government of Ontario since the provincial election of 2003. The party is ideologically aligned with the Liberal Party of Canada but the two parties are organizationally independent and...
candidate Jean-Paul Bourgeault by 188 votes. He served as a backbench supporter of Bill Davis
Bill Davis
William Grenville "Bill" Davis, was the 18th Premier of Ontario, Canada, from 1971 to 1985. Davis was first elected as the MPP for Peel in the 1959 provincial election where he was a backbencher in Leslie Frost's government. Under John Robarts, he was a cabinet minister overseeing the education...
's government for four years, and was named a minister without portfolio
Minister without Portfolio
A minister without portfolio is either a government minister with no specific responsibilities or a minister that does not head a particular ministry...
when Miller succeeded Davis as premier on February 8, 1985.
The Progressive Conservatives were reduced to a tenuous 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...
in the 1985 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1985
The Ontario general election of 1985 was held on May 2, 1985, to elect members of the 33rd Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada...
. Piché was personally defeated in Cochrane North, losing to Liberal René Fontaine
René Fontaine
Jacques Noe René Fontaine is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1985 to 1990, and was a cabinet minister in the government of David Peterson....
by 1,910 votes. He formally resigned from cabinet on May 17, 1985. He later returned to municipal politics, and again served as Kapuskasing's mayor in the 1990s.
Piché attempted to return to the Ontario legislature in the 1990 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1990
The Ontario general election of 1990 was held on September 6, 1990, to elect members of the 35th Legislative Assembly of the province of Ontario, Canada....
, but finished third against New Democrat Len Wood
Len Wood
Len Wood is a former Canadian politician. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 1999, sitting for the New Democratic Party of Ontario.-Background:...
.