François Beaulne (born November 28, 1946) is a Quebec politician, he is the son of diplomats Yvon Beaulne and Thérèse Pratte.

François Beaulne
Member of the National Assembly of Quebec for Marguerite-D'Youville
Bertrand (1989–1994)
In office
September 25, 1989 – April 14, 2003
Preceded byJean-Guy Parent
Succeeded byPierre Moreau
Personal details
Born (1946-11-28) November 28, 1946 (age 77)
Ottawa, Ontario
Political partyNew Democratic Party (federal)
Parti Québécois (provincial)
Residence(s)Sorel-Tracy, Quebec
ProfessionEconomist, diplomat

Biography

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Beaulne earned two master's degree from the University of Ottawa, in political science and in business administration, finance and commerce. He also has a doctorate in international relations from Columbia University.

He taught economics at the University of Ottawa. He then worked at the Consul of Canada in San Francisco from 1974 to 1978 and at the Department of External Affairs of Canada from 1978 to 1980. He became vice-president, international affairs, at the National Bank of Canada from 1980 to 1986. He returned to teaching at the Université du Québec à Montréal from 1987 until 1989.

Political career

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While at the University of Ottawa, he ran for the NDP in the 1972 federal election. Tommy Douglas spoke at his nomination. He lost to Liberal Jean-Robert Gauthier. Later, in Montreal, while teaching, he ran for the NDP in the riding of Laurier-Sainte-Marie in the 1988 federal election, finishing in a strong third place. He caught the attention of Jacques Parizeau, the leader of the Parti Québécois and served as his Senior Economic Advisor.

Beaulne ran in the riding of Bertrand in 1989 and won. He was re-elected in Marguerite-D'Youville in 1994 and served as Parliamentary Assistant to Premier Jacques Parizeau.

Beaulne was re-elected in 1998, he went on to serve as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration in the Lucien Bouchard government. He was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of State for International Relations in the Bernard Landry government until becoming the Second Vice President of the National Assembly of Quebec. Beaulne ran for re-election in 2003 but lost narrowly to Pierre Moreau as the Landry Government was turfed from office.[1]

Diplomatic career

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After losing his seat, Beaulne went to work at the United Nations and was a political adviser in five countries: Cambodia, Mozambique, Burundi, Côte d'Ivoire and Tunisia. He received the Cambodia Medal of Merit for his contribution to parliamentary democracy.[2]

Attempted political comeback

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In 2015, Beaulne sought the NDP nomination for the new riding of Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, he lost to Raphaël Fortin.[2]

Electoral record

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Federal

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1988 Canadian federal election: Laurier—Sainte-Marie
Party Candidate Votes % Expenditures
Liberal Jean-Claude Malepart 15,956 39.07 $41,754
Progressive Conservative Charles Hamelin 12,113 29.66 $35,391
New Democratic François Beaulne 8,828 21.62 $42,678
Rhinoceros Sonia Chatouille Côté 2,121 5.19 $425
Green Philippe Champagne 1,438 3.52 $0
Communist Marianne Roy 175 0.43 $1,263
Independent Marxist-Leninist Hélène Héroux 130 0.32 $130
Commonwealth of Canada Daniel Gonzales 79 0.19 $0
Total valid votes 40,840 100.00
Total rejected ballots 729
Turnout 41,569 69.33
Electors on the lists 59,956
Source: Report of the Chief Electoral Officer, Thirty-fourth General Election, 1988.

Provincial

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2003 Quebec general election: Marguerite-D'Youville
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Pierre Moreau 16,368 41.38 +10.84
Parti Québécois François Beaulne 15,501 39.19 -15.09
Action démocratique Luc Pommainville 6,596 16.68 +2.95
Bloc Pot Yan Lacombe 550 1.39 +0.55
UFP Maxime Babeu 536 1.36
Total valid votes 39,551 98.74
Rejected and declined votes 506 1.26 +0.31
Turnout 40,057 81.93 -4.74
Electors on the lists 48,892
Source: Official Results, Government of Quebec
Liberal gain from Parti Québécois Swing +12.97
1998 Quebec general election: Marguerite-D'Youville
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Parti Québécois François Beaulne 21,224 54.28 -3.74
Liberal Guy Lafrance 11,941 30.54 -7.44
Action démocratique Nicolas Gaboury 5,370 13.73
Bloc Pot Hugô St-Onge 327 0.84
Socialist Democracy Jonathan Bérubé 240 0.61
Total valid votes 39,102 99.05
Rejected and declined votes 376 0.95 -2.63
Turnout 39,478 86.67 -0.49
Electors on the lists 45,548
Source: Official Results, Government of Quebec
Parti Québécois hold Swing +5.59
1994 Quebec general election: Marguerite-D'Youville
Party Candidate Votes %
Parti Québécois François Beaulne 19,995 58.02
Liberal Claude Savaria 13,089 37.98
Green Jean Dury 822 2.39
Natural Law Jacinthe Vidal 554 1.61
Total valid votes 34,460 96.42
Rejected and declined votes 1,281 3.58
Turnout 35,741 87.16
Electors on the lists 41,008
Source: Official Results, Government of Quebec
1989 Quebec general election: Bertrand
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Parti Québécois François Beaulne 20,188 53.75 +4.86
Liberal Estelle Lessard 17,369 46.25 -1.99
Total valid votes 37,557 95.36
Rejected and declined votes 1,826 4.64 +3.31
Turnout 39,383 81.62 -5.88
Electors on the lists 48,249
Source: Official Results, Government of Quebec
Parti Québécois hold Swing +3.43

References

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  1. ^ Francois Beaulne Quebec National Assembly Biography
  2. ^ a b Hart, Daniel (February 3, 2014). "Former MP François Beaulne wants to return to active politics". La Relève. Retrieved February 22, 2017.