About Robert Bourassa:
Robert Bourassa was the youngest Premier of Quebec when he assumed the office in 1970. He was immediately faced with the October Crisis. By 1976 his government faced accusations of corruption and lost the election to René Lévesque and the Parti Québécois. After a time abroad, Robert Bourassa came out of exile to fight on the "No" side in the 1980 Quebec referendum on sovereignty association. He became Premier of Quebec once again in 1983.
Premier of Quebec:
1970-76 and 1985-94
Birth:
July 14, 1933 in Montreal, Quebec
Death:
October 2, 1996 in Montreal, Quebec
Education:
- LL.B. - Universite de Montreal 1957
- Rhodes Scholar, MA Economics and Politics - Oxford University 1959
- MA - Harvard 1960
Professional Background of Robert Bourassa:
- Lawyer
- Fiscal adviser to the Department of National Revenue
- University professor at University of Ottawa, Laval University and Université de Montréal
- Research director for Bélanger Commission on fiscal policy
Political Affiliation:
Ridings:
- Mercier (1966-76)
- Bertrand (1983-85)
- St. Laurent (1986-94)
Political Career of Robert Bourassa:
- Robert Bourassa was first elected to the Quebec National Assembly in 1966.
- He was elected Leader of the Quebec Liberal Party in 1970.
- Robert Bourassa was sworn in as Premier of Quebec in 1970.
- The Liberal government was re-elected in 1973.
- In 1976 the Liberal government was defeated by the Parti Québécois and Robert Bourassa lost his seat.
- Robert Bourassa left politics in 1976, but returned in 1983 when he was re-elected as Leader of the Liberal Party of Quebec.
- Robert Bourassa was elected in the riding of Bertrand in 1983 and became Leader of the Opposition.
- In the 1985 Quebec provincial election, the Liberals won a majority, and Bourassa again became Premier, even though he had not won his own seat in Bertrand. Bourassa won a seat in a by-election in the riding of St. Laurent in early 1986.
- The Liberal government was re-elected in Quebec in 1989.
- After treatment for skin cancer, Robert Bourassa resigned as Liberal Party Leader in 1994.
- Robert Bourassa died in 1996 after a long battle with skin cancer.
