Jacques Parizeau
Jacques Parizeau (born August 9, 1930) is an economist, a noted Quebec sovereigntist and former Premier of Quebec (September 26, 1994 - January 28, 1996).
Biography
Parizeau, an economist who graduated with a doctorate from the London School of Economics in London, England, was one of the most important advisors to the provincial government during the 1960s, playing an important behind the scenes role in the Quiet Revolution. He was especially instrumental in the nationalization of Hydro-Quebec and in the creation of the Quebec Pension Plan.
Parizeau gradually became a committed sovereigntist and officially joined the Parti Québécois on September 19, 1969. In the 1976 Quebec election when the sovereigntists under René Lévesque were elected to office Parizeau was made finance minister. Parizeau played an important role in the failed 1980 Quebec referendum. As Minister of Finance in Quebec, was responsible for a number of innovative economic proposals, including the Quebec Stock Savings Plan (QSSP).
Married to Jewish and Polish immigrant Alice Poznanska (1930-1990), Jacques Parizeau was criticized for supporting the Charter of the French Language, a law which limits access to English public schools to children whose parents received their education in English in Canada, while he himself used his wealth to educate his children in private schools.
In 1984 he had a falling out with Lévesque. Lévesque moved away from pursuing sovereignty to focus on governing Quebec, Parizeau disagreed and resigned his position and temporarily retired from politics. Lévesque retired soon after and was replaced by Pierre-Marc Johnson, but in 1987 Johnson also left the PQ leadership after losing the 1985 Quebec election. Parizeau, still a widely liked figure, was elected to replace him as party leader on March 19, 1988.
In the 1989 Quebec election, Parizeau's first as PQ leader, his party did not fare well. But five years later in the 1994 election they won a convincing majority government. Parizeau promised to hold a referendum on Quebec sovereignty within a year of his election and despite many objections he followed through on this promise. In the beginning sovereignty was sitting at only about 40% support in the polls, but as the campaign wore on the "Yes" side grew larger. This growth halted, however, and Parizeau came under pressure to hand more of the campaign over to Bloc Québécois leader Lucien Bouchard. Parizeau agreed, and as the campaign progressed lost his leadership role to Bouchard.
On the night of the 1995 referendum Quebec came within only a few thousands of votes of separation, but the Yes side still lost. In his concession speech he said sovereignty had been defeated by "money and the ethnic vote" and referred to the Francophones who voted Yes in the referendum as "nous" (us) when he said that this majority group was, for the first time, no longer afraid of political independence, as 60% of Quebec Francophones (who represent 80% of all Quebecers) voted Yes. However, the sovereigntist side accepted the results of the vote which they had initiated.
Because of the defeat and of his remarks, which he himself has characterized as unfortunate and as meriting the disapproval it received, the English language media associated Parizeau's resignation as Quebec premier the next day to that alone. However, it must be noted that this cannot be a correct assessment, for the decision was taken beforehand. The proof lies in a television interview under "embargo" (that is to say that the station agreed not to broadcast it until the referendum was over) conducted on the eve of the vote for the TVA channel where he spoke himself of his intentions to step down in case of defeat. He was soon after replaced by Lucien Bouchard on January 29, 1996.
Parizeau retired to private life, but continued to make comments critical of Bouchard's new government and its failure to press the cause of Quebec independence. He owns an estate at his vineyard in France, a farm in the Eastern Townships of Quebec and a home in Montreal.
Quotes
- Well, in a case like this, what do we do? We spit in our hands and we start over! (listen)
- "Bon, ben, dans un cas comme ça, qu'est-ce qu'on fait? On se crache dans les main et on recommence!"
- Concession speech, 1995 Quebec referendum.
Elections as party leader
He won the 1994 election and announced his resignation the day after the 1995 Quebec referendum was defeated.
See also
- Politics of Quebec
- List of Quebec Prime Ministers
- List of Quebec general elections
- Timeline of Quebec history
- Sovereignty Association
- History of the Quebec sovereignist movement
- Prime Minister nicknaming in Quebec
External links
- National Assembly biography (in French)
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Preceded by: | List of Quebec premiers |
Succeeded by: |