Gilles Bernier (Quebec politician)

Gilles Bernier (born July 15, 1934) is a former Canadian politician and diplomat. He was the Member of Parliament representing the riding of Beauce from 1984 to 1997, initially as a Progressive Conservative and later as an Independent. He later served as Canada's ambassador to Haiti from 1997 to 2001.

Gilles Bernier
Member of Parliament
for Beauce
In office
November 5, 1984 – June 2, 1997
Preceded byNormand Lapointe
Succeeded byClaude Drouin
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Haiti
In office
1997–2001
Preceded byJ. Christopher Poole
Succeeded byKenneth Murray Cook
Personal details
Born (1934-07-15) July 15, 1934
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Political partyProgressive Conservative → Independent
Children4, including Maxime Bernier
ResidenceSaint-Georges, Quebec, Canada
OccupationBroadcaster

Life and career

Bernier was born in Montreal, Quebec, the son of Annette (Letourneau) and Amedee Bernier.[1] Bernier moved to the Beauce in 1953[2] to pursue a radio career at CKRB in Saint-Georges-de-Beauce, and quickly became a local celebrity. Capitalizing on his popularity, he decided to go into politics in the 1984 election. He served two terms as a Tory but was forced to run as an independent in the 1993 election after Kim Campbell barred him from running under the PC banner due to fraud charges, of which he was later acquitted.

In 1997, Jean Chrétien named him ambassador to Haiti,[3] and Liberal candidate Claude Drouin succeeded him in the 1997 election.

Bernier's son, Maxime Bernier, won the riding in turn from Drouin in the 2006 federal election, as a candidate of the merged Conservative Party of Canada. Maxime Bernier would serve as Minister of Industry and Minister of Foreign Affairs before resigning from the cabinet in 2008.

Electoral record
1993 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes
IndependentGilles Bernier20,238
Bloc QuébécoisJean-Guy Breton18,271
LiberalPierre Gravel7,336
Progressive ConservativeJeannine Bourque4,098
New DemocraticTom Vouloumanos364
1988 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes
Progressive ConservativeGilles Bernier36,212
LiberalPierre-Maurice Vachon13,641
New DemocraticDanielle Wolfe2,856
1984 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes
Progressive ConservativeGilles Bernier25,028
LiberalNormand Lapointe20,323
New DemocraticSerge L'Italien1,217
Parti nationalistePaul-Emile Grondin569

References
  1. http://www.nosorigines.qc.ca/GenealogieQuebec.aspx?genealogy=Gilles_Bernier&pid=316401&lng=en&partID=316402
  2. http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20060128/CPACTUALITES/60128026/1019/CPACTUALITES
  3. Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada Complete List of Posts


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