Christian Ouellet

Christian Ouellet
Member of the Canadian House of Commons for Brome—Missisquoi
In office
2006–2011
Preceded by Denis Paradis
Succeeded by Pierre Jacob
Personal details
Born (1934-04-22) April 22, 1934
Montreal, Quebec
Political party Bloc Québécois
Residence Magog, Quebec
Profession architect/professor

Christian Ouellet, MP (born April 22, 1934) is a politician from the Canadian province of Quebec. He represented Brome—Missisquoi in the House of Commons of Canada from 2006 to 2011 as a member of the Bloc Québécois.

He is not to be confused with another Christian Ouellet, who has worked as an organizer and policy strategist for the Quebec Liberal Party.[1]

Early life and private career

Ouellet was born in Montreal. An architect by profession, he joined the Ordre des architectes du Québec in 1969 and took a Master's Degree in building from the University of Manchester in England (1972–75).[2] He has promoted ecological housing since 1973 and was a finalist for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's Healthy Housing Design Competition in 1991.[3]

Ouellet has chaired the Solar Energy Society of Canada and the Parti Québécois's national committee on Environment and Sustainable Development.[4] He taught architecture at the Université de Montréal and lectured at the Université du Québec à Montréal.[5]

Political career

Ouellet was active with the Bloc Québécois and its provincial counterpart, the Parti Québécois, before running for office himself.[6] He first sought election to the House of Commons in the 2004 federal election and finished a close second against incumbent Liberal cabinet minister Denis Paradis in Brome—Missisquoi. He challenged Paradis again in the 2006 election and won by over five thousand votes.[7]

During the 2006 election, Ouellet said that he would downplay Quebec sovereigntism if elected and would instead focus on tackling economic issues and opposing corruption. Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe criticized this statement, saying that his party would promote sovereignty as well as defending Quebec's interests in other areas.[8] After talking with Duceppe, Ouellet agreed to support the Bloc's full platform on sovereignty.

Ouellet was re-elected in the 2008 federal election, defeating Paradis by a reduced margin in a rematch from 2006.

In parliament, Ouellet has served as the Bloc's critic for social housing and as an associate critic for natural resources and the environment.[9] He has also promoted increased Via Rail access from Montreal to Sherbrooke via Quebec's Estrie.[10] In 2009, he introduced a Private Member's Bill to remove waiting times for Employment Insurance benefits.[11]

Ouellet was one of eight Canadian parliamentarians to meet with Chen Shui-bian, the president of Taiwan, in 2006.[12]

On February 24, 2011, the Bloc announced that Ouellet would not be a candidate in the next federal election.[13]

Electoral record

Canadian federal election, 2008: Brome—Missisquoi
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
Bloc QuébécoisChristian Ouellet 17,561 35.21 −3.12 $75,915
LiberalDenis Paradis 16,357 32.79 +4.82 $66,462
ConservativeMark Quinlan 9,309 18.66 −1.69 $78,614
New DemocraticChristelle Bogosta 4,514 9.05 +3.20 $4,678
GreenPierre Brassard 1,784 3.58 +0.03 $126
     Independent David Marler 354 0.71 $16,915
Total valid votes 49,879 100.00
Total rejected ballots 531
Turnout 50,410 65.78 −0.46
Electors on the lists 76,636
Canadian federal election, 2006: Brome—Missisquoi
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
Bloc QuébécoisChristian Ouellet 18,596 38.33 −1.33 $66,782
LiberalDenis Paradis 13,569 27.97 −14.11 $58,420
ConservativeDavid Marler 9,874 20.35 +9.30 $69,104
New DemocraticJosianne Jetté 2,839 5.85 +3.19 $2,722
     Progressive Canadian Heward Grafftey 1,921 3.96 $60,081
GreenMichel Champagne 1,721 3.55 −1.00 $2,460
Total valid votes 48,520 100.00
Total rejected ballots 554
Turnout 49,074 66.24 +3.61
Electors on the lists 74,088
Sources: Official Results, Elections Canada and Financial Returns, Elections Canada.
Canadian federal election, 2004: Brome—Missisquoi
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalDenis Paradis 18,609 42.08 −7.50 $56,708
Bloc QuébécoisChristian Ouellet 17,537 39.66 +7.93 $29,014
ConservativePeter Stastny 4,888 11.05 −6.50 $14,318
GreenLouise Martineau 2,011 4.55 none listed
New DemocraticPiper Huggins 1,177 2.66 $5
Total valid votes 44,222 100.00
Total rejected ballots 790
Turnout 45,012 62.63
Electors on the lists 71,866
Percentage change figures are factored for redistribution. Conservative Party percentages are contrasted with the combined Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative percentages from 2000.
Sources: Official Results, Elections Canada and Financial Returns, Elections Canada.

References

  1. ↑ The other Christian Ouellet presented the Liberal Party's submission to the Bouchard-Taylor Commission on reasonable accommodation practices in Quebec. See Amy Luft, "Quebec Liberals chart middle course on reasonable accommodation," 'Montreal Gazette, 10 December 2007, A11.
  2. ↑ Christian Ouellet, Bloc Québécois, accessed 17 November 2010.
  3. ↑ "FINALISTS SELECTED IN CMHC HEALTHY HOUSING DESIGN COMPETITION" [press release], 19 November 1991, 12:54.
  4. ↑ "What's New," Canadian Architect, 1 March 2010.
  5. ↑ Miro Cernetig, "Harper heads for the hills of Martin country in Quebec," Toronto Star, 18 June 2004, A07.
  6. ↑ Christian Ouellet, Bloc Québécois, accessed 17 November 2010.
  7. ↑ The seat was heavily targeted by the Bloc during the latter campaign. See Philip Authier, "Gnome from Brome fights on: Clouds tight race," Montreal Gazette, 9 January 2006, A11.
  8. ↑ Rhéal Séguin, "Duceppe chastises Bloc candidate," Globe and Mail, 8 December 2005, A11.
  9. ↑ Christian Ouellet, Bloc Québécois, accessed 17 November 2010.
  10. ↑ Andy Riga, "Railways studying train to Sherbrooke," Montreal Gazette, 27 February 2008, A1; "'That's the beauty of being in power,'" Montreal Gazette, 7 October 2008, A12.
  11. ↑ "Rare speaker's vote gives EI bill second reading," Canadian Press, 29 April 2009, 16:06.
  12. ↑ "TAIWAN: PRESIDENT CHEN MEETS WITH MEMBERS OF CANADIAN PARLIAMENT," US Fed News, 30 August 2006.
  13. ↑ Le Bloc québécois annoncera un candidat surprise dans Brome-Missisquoi, La Presse, February 24, 2011
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