Claude Béchard

Early life and career

Béchard was born in 1969 in Saint-Philippe-de-Néri. In 1991, he received a bachelor's degree in political science from Université Laval in Quebec City. He graduated with a master's degree in land planning and regional development in 1994. He began doctoral studies in public administration, but left it to work as a political adviser to Daniel Johnson, Jr. from 1993 to 1996. He became the vice-president of the Quebec Liberal Party in 1997 and in a by-election the same year was elected as a Member of the National Assembly of Quebec for the riding of Kamouraska-Témiscouata. He was re-elected in 1998 and 2003, the latter which gave his party the power. During the years in the opposition benches he served as critic for employment, labour, energy and education.

Quebec cabinet

When Jean Charest became Premier of Quebec in 2003, he was named the Minister of Employment, Social Solidarity and Family Welfare before a Cabinet shuffle caused by the departure of Yves Séguin as Finance Minister, promoted him to the position of Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade in 2005. He occupied the position for year before becoming Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks in 2006.

Soon after, Béchard became involved in a controversial plan to sell part of the Mont Orford provincial park to a developer who planned to build condominiums. The plan was eventually cancelled. In addition, Béchard announced that the Orford Park would double in size as a national park.

Béchard was re-elected in the 2007 elections and named the Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife replacing Pierre Corbeil who was defeated by the PQ's Alexis Wawanoloath. Line Beauchamp succeeded him as Minister of Environment.

Cancer, recovery, and death

On May 30, 2008, Béchard was hospitalized for persistent stomach pain. On June 9, 2008, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. In addition, during the same year, his press secretary Nancy Michaud was kidnapped and later found murdered inside an abandoned home in Riviere-Ouelle.

Béchard recovered from his operation and was easily re-elected in the 2008 elections. On June 23, 2009, during a cabinet shuffle, Bechard was moved from the Natural Resources and Wildlife portfolios to Agriculture, Fisheries and Food replacing Laurent Lessard. Nathalie Normandeau replaced Béchard as Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife. Bechard was also named the Minister of Canadian Intergovermental Affairs replacing Jacques P. Dupuis.

Faced with continuing health challenges from his cancer, Béchard announced his retirement from politics on September 7, 2010, and died later the same day.