Yves-François_Blanchet

Yves-François Blanchet

Yves-François Blanchet

Canadian politician


Yves-François Blanchet MP (French: [iv fʁɑ̃swa blɑ̃ʃɛt]; born April 16, 1965) is a Canadian politician and the leader of the Bloc Québécois (BQ) since 2019. He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Beloeil—Chambly since the 2019 election.

Quick Facts MP, Leader of the Bloc Québécois ...

Before federal politics, Blanchet was in provincial politics, serving as a Member of the National Assembly (MNA) for the Parti Québécois (PQ) from 2008 until his defeat in the 2014 election. He was Quebec's Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Wildlife and Parks from December 2012 to April 2014 under Premier Pauline Marois. Prior to his political career, Blanchet ran an artist management firm and was the president of ADISQ from 2003 to 2006.

Life and career

Blanchet was born April 16, 1965, in Drummondville, Quebec, to Pierrette Bédard, a nurse, and Raymond Blanchet, a technician and lineman.[2] He is a graduate from the Université de Montréal where he obtained a bachelor's degree in history and anthropology in 1987. He later worked as a teacher and was a founder of an artist, disc and concert management firm, YFB Inc. while being the president of the ADISQ from 2003 to 2006. He was named the local business personality of the year by the Drummondville Chamber of Commerce, while he and associated artists received 10 Félix Awards.

Blanchet was elected to represent the riding of Drummond in the National Assembly of Quebec in the 2008 provincial election. In the 2012 election, he was reelected, this time in Johnson electoral district. A member of the Parti Québécois (PQ), Blanchet was Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Wildlife and Parks from 2012 until 2014.[3] He was also a member of the Youth National Committee of the Parti Québécois in 1988 as well as a regional director of the PQ. He was defeated by Coalition Avenir Québec candidate André Lamontagne in the 2014 Quebec election.

Prior to becoming leader of the Bloc Québécois (BQ), he was a columnist with Le Nouvelliste[4] and the program Les Ex, on ICI RDI.[5]

Bloc Québécois (2019–present)

On November 26, 2018, Blanchet announced his candidacy for the leadership of the Bloc Québécois. As no other candidate had entered the race by the time nominations closed on January 15, 2019, Blanchet was officially acclaimed leader on January 17, 2019.[6]

In the 2019 federal election, the Bloc polling number rose to his alignment towards the popular Francois Legault's CAQ government.[7] He won his seat of Beloeil—Chambly. Under Blanchet's leadership, the BQ increased its number of seats from 10 in 2015, to 32 seats in 2019, both overtaking the NDP to become the third largest party in Canada and regaining official party status.[8]

In the 2021 Canadian federal election, the Bloc Québécois led by Blanchet won 32 seats, unchanged from the prior election.[9][10]

The Bloc Québécois held a leadership confidence vote in May 2023. Blanchet won 97% of the vote.[11]

Personal life

Blanchet married and is now separated from Nancy Déziel.[12]

In September 2020, Blanchet tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after his wife had tested positive earlier in the month, requiring him to self-isolate at his residence in Shawinigan during the COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec.[13][14][12]

Electoral record

Federal results

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Provincial results

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References

  1. "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Archived from the original on April 24, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  2. "Yves-François Blanchet - National Assembly of Québec". www.assnat.qc.ca. Archived from the original on February 2, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  3. "The Minister- Biography". Archived from the original on August 24, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  4. "Shame! Shame! Shame!". Le Nouvelliste (in French). November 9, 2018. Archived from the original on May 23, 2023. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  5. "Le grand vent se fait attendre". Le Nouvelliste (in French). December 23, 2017. Archived from the original on May 23, 2023. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  6. "Yves-François Blanchet becomes Bloc Québécois leader". CBC News. January 17, 2019. Archived from the original on November 14, 2019. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  7. "Surge in Bloc Quebecois popularity 'a little bit surprising,' says Maxime Bernier". Global News. Archived from the original on December 25, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  8. Montpetit ·, Jonathan (October 22, 2019). "Big gains for the Bloc Québécois, but what did it sacrifice in the process? Social Sharing". CBC News. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  9. Connolly, Amanda (September 20, 2021). "Liberals projected to form minority government". Global News. Archived from the original on December 29, 2021. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  10. Tasker, John Paul (September 20, 2021). "Canadians have re-elected a Liberal minority government". CBC. Archived from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  11. Morris, Erika (May 20, 2023). "Blanchet maintains 97% support of Bloc Québécois members in vote of confidence". CBC News. Archived from the original on July 2, 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  12. "Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet tests positive for COVID-19". CBC News. September 18, 2020. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  13. Breen, Kerri (September 18, 2020). "Bloc Québécois leader tests positive for coronavirus". Global News. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  14. "Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet tests positive for COVID-19". The Globe and Mail. September 18, 2020. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  15. "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  16. "Election night results". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 22, 2019.

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