André Ouellet

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French: [ɑ̃dʁewɛlɛt] ), PC KC (born April 6, 1939) is a former longtime Liberal federal politician and Cabinet member in Canada. Following his political career, he served as chairman of Canada Post.

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First elected to the House of Commons of Canada in a 1967 by-election, Ouellet served in a number of different positions in the cabinets of Prime Ministers Pierre Trudeau and Jean Chrétien. In his capacity as Registrar General of Canada, he was one of the four signatories of the Proclamation of the Constitution Act of 1982 (along with Queen Elizabeth II, Prime Minister Trudeau, and Justice Minister Jean Chrétien). Ouellet represented the safe Liberal seat of Papineau in Montreal for almost thirty years. His hold on the seat was only seriously threatened when the Liberals were crushed by the Progressive Conservative Party in the election of 1984, when he retained his seat by only 500 votes. In opposition, Ouellet became the Liberal's leading figure in the constitutional negotiations that led to the Charlottetown Accord, and was a strong advocate for the constitutional reform proposal, which was rejected in a 1992 referendum.

With the return to power of the Liberals after the 1993 election, Ouellet was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs by the new prime minister, Jean Chrétien. Ouellet was seen as lacking experience in international relations but was a principled and pragmatic Minister of Foreign Affairs. [1] Despite his experience, Ouellet was not popular in Quebec, and the lasting legacy of the Charlottetown Accord hurt him. After the close result of the 1995 Quebec referendum, Chrétien wanted to present a new face of his government in Quebec. In 1996, Chrétien appointed Ouellet to head the Canada Post Corporation. Ouellet's seat in the House of Commons of Canada was taken by Pierre Pettigrew in a by-election later that year.

As cabinet minister, Ouellet had served as Postmaster General. As chairman of Canada Post, he implemented reform that led to record profits in the corporation. In 2004, controversy surrounded Ouellet as Canada Post was one of the organizations embroiled in the Sponsorship Scandal. As a result, Ouellet was suspended from his position at Canada Post in February 2004 by Prime Minister Paul Martin. He resigned as chairman of Canada Post on August 12, 2004, after it was revealed that he failed to provide invoices for hundreds of thousands of dollars of personal expenses, and that he handed out untendered contracts. [2]

Electoral record (partial)

André Ouellet
PC KC
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
May 13, 1995 January 24, 1996
1993 Canadian federal election : Papineau—Saint-Michel
PartyCandidateVotes%±%Expenditures
Liberal André Ouellet 20,06451.98+5.99$41,411
  Bloc Québécois Daniel Boucher 15,14839.24$18,649
  Progressive Conservative Carmen de Pontbriand1,6864.37−28.86$26,388a
  New Democratic Party Gisèle Charlebois7081.83−13.27$477
  Natural Law André Beaudoin6781.76$386
  Marxist-Leninist Serge Lachapelle1410.37−0.12$80
  Abolitionist P.A. D'Aoust980.25$0
  Commonwealth Normand Normandeau780.20−0.24$0
Total valid votes38,601 100.00
Total rejected ballots1,241
Turnout39,842 75.45 +5.31
Electors on the lists52,808
a Does not include unpaid claims.

Source: Thirty-fifth General Election, 1993: Official Voting Results, Published by the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada. Financial figures taken from the official contributions and expenses submitted by the candidates, provided by Elections Canada.
1988 Canadian federal election : Papineau
PartyCandidateVotes%±%Expenditures
Liberal André Ouellet 18,12245.99$43,413
Progressive Conservative Frank Venneri 13,09433.23$39,468
New Democratic Giovanni Adamo5,94815.10$22,192
Rhinoceros Carole Ola Clermont9872.51$0
Green H. Joseph Vega4691.19$0
Communist Line Chabot2350.60$18
Marxist–Leninist Francine Tremblay1930.49$130
Revolutionary Workers League Michel Dugré1780.45$513
Commonwealth of Canada Normand Bélanger1740.44$0
Total valid votes39,400 100.00
Total rejected ballots907
Turnout40,307 70.14
Electors on the lists57,470
Source: Report of the Chief Electoral Officer, Thirty-fourth General Election, 1988.
1984 Canadian federal election : Papineau
PartyCandidateVotes%
Liberal André Ouellet 12,75438.99
Progressive Conservative Tony Iacobaccio12,05336.85
New Democratic Paul Comtois4,29513.13
Rhinoceros Christian Jolicoeur1,9255.89
Parti nationaliste Gilles Maillé1,1693.57
Communist Suzanne Dagenais1470.45
Social Credit Roland Mireault1470.45
Commonwealth of Canada Gilles Gervais1130.35
Non-affiliatedDoris Lacroix1040.32
Total valid votes32,707100.00
Total rejected ballots659
Turnout33,36670.36
Electors on the lists47,423
Source: Report of the Chief Electoral Officer, Thirty-third General Election, 1984.

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References

  1. Jones, David T. (November 2000). "Canada and the US in the Chrétien Years: Edging Toward Confrontation" (PDF). Policy Options. p. 36. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  2. "Canada Post head Ouellet resigns". CBC News. August 12, 2004. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
26th Ministry – Cabinet of Jean Chrétien
Cabinet posts (2)
PredecessorOfficeSuccessor
legislation enacted Minister of Foreign Affairs
19951996
Lloyd Axworthy
Perrin Beatty Secretary of State for External Affairs
19931995
styled as Minister of Foreign Affairs
legislation enacted
Parliament of Canada
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Papineau
1967–1988
Succeeded by
The electoral district was abolished in 1987.
Preceded by
The electoral district was created in 1987.
Member of Parliament for Papineau—Saint-Michel
1988–1996
Succeeded by