Gilles Pouliot

Gilles Pouliot
Ontario MPP
In office
1985–1999
Preceded byJack Stokes
Succeeded byRiding abolished
ConstituencyLake Nipigon
More...
Personal details
Born (1942-05-25) May 25, 1942 (age 82)
Montreal, Quebec
Political partyNew Democrat
ResidenceManitouwadge
OccupationMiner, tradesman

Gilles Pouliot (born May 25, 1942) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1985 to 1999, representing the Northern Ontario riding of Lake Nipigon for the New Democratic Party.

Background

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Pouliot was born in Montreal, Quebec. He served as reeve for the Township of Manitouwadge for six years. He also worked as a flotation operator for Noranda Mines.[1] He lived in Manitouwadge during his time in office.

Politics

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He was elected in the 1985 provincial election, defeating Progressive Conservative candidate Jim Files by over 1,200 votes.[1] He was re-elected by greater margins in the provincial elections of 1987 and 1990.[2][3] He supported Dave Barrett for the leadership of the federal New Democratic Party in 1989.[4]

Government

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The NDP won a majority government in the 1990 election, and Pouliot was named as Minister of Mines and Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs in Bob Rae's government on October 1, 1990.[1] In early 1991, he introduced legislation forcing mining companies to renew their claims or risk losing them.[5]

He retained responsibility for Francophone Affairs throughout the Rae government. On July 31, 1991, he was transferred from Mines to the Ministry of Transportation.[6] On October 21, 1994, near the end of the Rae government's time in office, he was shifted back to Northern Development and Mines.[7]

Cabinet positions

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Ontario provincial government of Bob Rae
Cabinet posts (3)
Predecessor Office Successor
Shelley Martel Minister of Northern Development and Mines
1994–1995
Also Responsible for Francophone Affairs
Chris Hodgson
Ed Philip Minister of Transportation
1991–1994
Also Responsible for Francophone Affairs
Mike Farnan
Hugh O'Neil Minister of Mines
1990–1991
Also Responsible for Francophone Affairs
Shelley Martel

Opposition

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The NDP were defeated in the 1995 election, although Pouliot retained the Lake Nipigon riding without too much difficulty.[8] In 1996, he supported Howard Hampton's successful campaign to replace Rae as party leader.

Pouliot's riding was eliminated by redistribution in 1996. He rarely spoke in the legislature thereafter, and he chose not to run again in the 1999 election.[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Ontario's first NDP cabinet". Toronto Star. 2 October 1990. p. A17.
  2. ^ "Results from individual ridings". The Windsor Star. September 11, 1987. p. F2.
  3. ^ "Ontario election: Riding-by-riding voting results". The Globe and Mail. September 7, 1990. p. A12.
  4. ^ Harper, Tim (December 2, 1989). "Barrett savages Tory 'sell-out'". Toronto Star. p. A16.
  5. ^ Rojo, Oscar (May 22, 1991). "Renew licence or lose mining claims, companies and prospectors warned". Toronto Star. p. F8.
  6. ^ Maychak, Matt; Moloney, Paul (July 31, 1991). "Rae dumps 3 ministers, shuffles in 3 rookies". Toronto Star. p. A1.
  7. ^ "Rae rejigs duties of 3 veterans". The Spectator. Hamilton, Ont. October 22, 1994. p. A16.
  8. ^ "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. June 8, 1995. Archived from the original on April 13, 2021. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  9. ^ "Premier's options for a cabinet shuffle are limited". Toronto Star. January 12, 1999. p. 1.
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