Robert Deschamps
Encyclopedia
Robert "Bob" Deschamps (born January 6, 1940) is a politician from Quebec
, Canada
. He was an Action démocratique du Québec
Member of the National Assembly
for the electoral district of Saint-Maurice
from 2007 to 2008.
Deschamps, who has a background in education, was a teacher for 24 years after obtaining a degree at the Université de Montréal
and completing additional studies at St. Dunstan's University in Charlottetown
, Prince Edward Island
, where he played for the university's hockey club. He was also a director for a Montreal
mining exploration company for eight years. He was also a manager and football coach in the league he founded in 1965, the Ligue de football interscolaire de Mauricie
, and was involved heavily in many canoe
associations regionally and provincially.
He had been a long-life supporter of the sovereignty of Quebec
and was a Parti Québécois
supporter and member for nearly 40 years. He unsuccessfully ran three times as a New Democratic Party
candidate. His first attempt was at the provincial level in the district of Laviolette
in 1976
. He also ran at the federal
level in the district of Saint-Maurice
against Liberal
Jean Chrétien
in 1979
and 1993
.
He was elected to the National Assembly in 2007
with 38% of the vote. Parti Québécois
incumbent Claude Pinard
, who was running for a fourth consecutive term, finished second with 33% of the vote. Deschamps took office on April 12, 2007.
In the minutes that followed his inauguration, Deschamps confirmed his intention to relocate the Aréna Jacques Plante
away from the downtown area, near the École Secondaire des Chutes. Deschamps's position clearly contrasts from that of the Shawinigan city government. Mayor Lise Landry
and a number of city councillors want to relocate the facility between the city's two main districts: Downtown Shawinigan and Shawinigan-Sud.
Deschamps was defeated in the 2008 election.
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....
, Canada
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...
. He was an 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....
Member of the National Assembly
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 electoral district of Saint-Maurice
Saint-Maurice (provincial electoral district)
Saint-Maurice is a provincial electoral district located in the province of Quebec, Canada. Situated in the Mauricie region, the riding was created in 1792...
from 2007 to 2008.
Deschamps, who has a background in education, was a teacher for 24 years after obtaining a degree at the Université de Montréal
Université de Montréal
The Université de Montréal is a public francophone research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It comprises thirteen faculties, more than sixty departments and two affiliated schools: the École Polytechnique and HEC Montréal...
and completing additional studies at St. Dunstan's University in Charlottetown
Charlottetown
Charlottetown is a Canadian city. It is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, Charlottetown was first incorporated as a town in 1855 and designated as a city in 1885...
, Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
, where he played for the university's hockey club. He was also a director for a Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
mining exploration company for eight years. He was also a manager and football coach in the league he founded in 1965, the Ligue de football interscolaire de Mauricie
Mauricie
Mauricie is a traditional and current administrative region of Quebec. La Mauricie National Park is contained within the region, making it a prime tourist location. The region has a land area of 35,855.22 km² and a 2006 census population of 258,928 residents...
, and was involved heavily in many canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
associations regionally and provincially.
He had been a long-life supporter of the sovereignty of Quebec
Quebec sovereignty movement
The Quebec sovereignty movement refers to both the political movement and the ideology of values, concepts and ideas that promote the secession of the province of Quebec from the rest of Canada...
and was a 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...
supporter and member for nearly 40 years. He unsuccessfully ran three times as a New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The 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...
candidate. His first attempt was at the provincial level in the district of Laviolette
Laviolette (electoral district)
Laviolette is a provincial electoral riding in the province of Quebec, Canada. Located in the Mauricie region, it was created in 1931. It includes the entire La Tuque area as well as the municipalities of Hérouxville and Saint-Tite and some portions of the city of Shawinigan.The riding was named...
in 1976
Quebec general election, 1976
The 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...
. He also ran at the federal
Politics of Canada
The politics of Canada function within a framework of parliamentary democracy and a federal system of parliamentary government with strong democratic traditions. Canada is a constitutional monarchy, in which the Monarch is head of state...
level in the district of Saint-Maurice
Saint-Maurice (electoral district)
Saint-Maurice was a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1892 and from 1968 to 2004....
against 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...
Jean Chrétien
Jean Chrétien
Joseph 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....
in 1979
Canadian federal election, 1979
The Canadian federal election of 1979 was held on May 22, 1979 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 31st Parliament of Canada. It resulted in the defeat of Liberal Party of Canada after 11 years in power under Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. Joe Clark led the Progressive...
and 1993
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 elected to the National Assembly 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...
with 38% of the vote. 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...
incumbent Claude Pinard
Claude Pinard
Claude Pinard is a politician in Quebec, Canada. He serves as Member of the National Assembly of Quebec for the riding of Saint-Maurice in the Mauricie region from 1994 to 2007 and since the 2008 provincial elections.-Background:...
, who was running for a fourth consecutive term, finished second with 33% of the vote. Deschamps took office on April 12, 2007.
In the minutes that followed his inauguration, Deschamps confirmed his intention to relocate the Aréna Jacques Plante
Aréna Jacques Plante
The Arena Jacques Plante is a 2,524-seat multi-purpose arena in Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada. It was built in 1937. It was home to the Shawinigan Cataractes Ice hockey team. The arena is named in honour of Jacques Plante; formerly, the building was known as the Shawinigan Municipal Auditorium...
away from the downtown area, near the École Secondaire des Chutes. Deschamps's position clearly contrasts from that of the Shawinigan city government. Mayor Lise Landry
Lise Landry
Lise Landry is a local politician in Shawinigan, Quebec. She was the 19th Mayor of the city from 1994 to 2009.-Family and life prior to elective office:She is married. Her husband’s name is Henri...
and a number of city councillors want to relocate the facility between the city's two main districts: Downtown Shawinigan and Shawinigan-Sud.
Deschamps was defeated in the 2008 election.
Local Politics
In 2009, Robert Deschamps ran for Mayor in Shawinigan, but later dropped from the race for health reasons.Electoral record
External links
- Robert DESCHAMPS at National Assembly of QuebecNational 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...