Marc-André Bédard (politician)

Marc-André Bédard in 2013

Marc-André Bédard (born 15 August 1935) is a Canadian attorney and former politician. Born in Lac-à-la-Croix, Quebec, Bédard served in the National Assembly of Quebec from 1973 to 1985 and was Minister of Justice and Deputy Premier. Bédard is the father of politician Stéphane Bédard.

Member of the legislature

Bédard unsuccessfully ran as the Parti Québécois candidate to the National Assembly of Quebec in 1970 in the district of Chicoutimi, finishing a close third with 30% of the vote. He was elected in 1973 and was re-elected in 1976 and 1981.

Cabinet Member

In 1976, Bédard was appointed to Premier René Lévesque's Cabinet. He served as Minister of Justice until 1984 and Deputy Premier of Quebec from 1984 to 1985. He also was his party's House Leader in 1984 and 1985. He did not run for re-election in 1985.

Separatist legacy

Bédard was instrumental in recruiting Lucien Bouchard to the separatist cause when he convinced the future Pequiste premier to abandon the Liberal party and become his personal communications director in 1973. As Justice Minister, Bédard appointed Bouchard to several high-profile commissions such as the Cliche Commission, from which Bouchard gained enormous fame.

Bédard tried to get Bouchard to succeed him as Pequiste candidate for Chicoutimi, but Bouchard refused, instead joining the Federal PC Party under the rising star of Brian Mulroney in 1988 as his Quebec lieutenant.

With the failure of the Meech Lake Accord in 1990, Bédard joined with Bernard Landry in lobbying the Quebec caucus of the PC party in Ottawa to bolt and establish their own political movement. Bouchard and several others answered the call and founded the Bloc Québécois.

Retirement

Bédard was instrumental in having a statue of René Lévesque on the grounds of the Parliament of Quebec. His son Stéphane has been the Member of the National Assembly of Quebec for the provincial riding of Chicoutimi since 1998.