46 Facts About Robert Perreault

Robert Perreault was born on 13 May 1947 and is a Canadian politician and administrator in the province of Quebec.

Robert Perreault was a prominent city councillor in Montreal from 1982 to 1994, a Parti Quebecois member of the National Assembly of Quebec from 1994 to 2000, and a cabinet minister in the government of Lucien Bouchard.

Robert Perreault earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Universite de Montreal in 1968 and later studied economics at the same institution.

The Civic Party won a majority government on council in this election, and Robert Perreault served in opposition for the next four years, achieving prominence as the MCM's critic on economic issues.

Robert Perreault later suggested that an "enterprise zone" be created for economically depressed areas in Montreal's east end.

Robert Perreault introduced significant reforms to Montreal's civil service in early 1987 in a bid to decentralize the city's operations.

Robert Perreault served as a city representative on the regional Montreal Urban Community and was appointed as chair of the Montreal Urban Community Transit Corp.

Robert Perreault was not re-appointed to the city's executive committee, but remained chair of the MUCTC.

Robert Perreault announced in November 1993 that public transit ridership had increased after five years of decline, notwithstanding the continuing economic downturn.

Robert Perreault was on the Quebec nationalist wing of the MCM.

Robert Perreault announced his support for the newly formed Bloc Quebecois in 1990 and called for a referendum on Quebec sovereignty the following year.

Robert Perreault dropped the plan after being advised that the advertisements were legal under Canada's Official Languages Act.

Robert Perreault wrote an editorial for the newspaper La Presse in August 1992, accusing the MCM of having lost credibility with the electorate.

Robert Perreault sought the Parti Quebecois nomination for the east-end Montreal division of Mercier in the buildup to the 1994 provincial election.

Robert Perreault initially lost to lawyer Giuseppe Sciortino, but this result was later annulled due to voting irregularities, and Perreault defeated Sciortino in a follow-up contest.

The PQ won a majority government under Parizeau's leadership, and Robert Perreault entered the legislature as a governmental backbencher.

Robert Perreault's department announced a series of prison reforms shortly thereafter, including plans to close as many as six prisons and incarcerate fewer non-violent criminals.

In late April 1996, Robert Perreault worked with security officials in the Kahnawake Mohawk reserve to prevent a mixed martial arts event from taking place in the community; the government's position was that these events were too brutal to sanction.

Later in the same year, Robert Perreault's department took part in a jurisdictional controversy over a small casino in Kahnawake that was not sanctioned by the provincial government.

In late 1996, Robert Perreault reached an interim agreement with representatives of the government of Canada and the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake concerning policing services in the divided community.

Robert Perreault announced an independent inquiry into the state of the Surete du Quebec in June 1996, following widespread allegations of corruption and misconduct in the force.

Bonin stood down in October 1996, citing acrimonious working conditions, and Robert Perreault subsequently launched a revised, wide-ranging public inquiry led by retired justice Lawrence Poitras.

Robert Perreault was public security minister at the time of a high-profile rivalry between two biker gangs in Quebec, the Hells Angels and the Rock Machine.

Robert Perreault sought legislative assistance from the federal government of Canada.

Robert Perreault announced a few weeks later that the Quebec government would contribute $160 million to double the size of the Palais des congres de Montreal, and a modified version of this plan was approved in September 1998.

In early 1998, Robert Perreault helped negotiate an agreement for the provincial government to reduce Montreal's deficit by taking part ownership of some municipal buildings.

Robert Perreault later announced significant funding initiatives for tourism, new bicycle lanes, and a new economic initiative for the city's east end.

Robert Perreault proposed a transit corporation merger between the Montreal Urban Community, Laval, and the South Shore in 1998, arguing that it would save fifty million dollars per year.

Robert Perreault proposed a gasoline surtax and an increased vehicle registration fee to support public transit.

Robert Perreault won the challenge with about sixty per cent support.

In June 1999, after he was shuffled out of ministerial responsibility for Montreal, Robert Perreault accused Mayor Pierre Bourque of governing the city in an undemocratic fashion.

Robert Perreault was re-elected in the 1998 provincial election, as the Parti Quebecois won a second consecutive majority government under Lucien Bouchard's leadership.

In March 1999, Robert Perreault said that Quebec would not provide individual compensation to the Duplessis Orphans who had been abused several decades earlier at the Mount Cashel Orphanage.

The government had previously made three million dollars available through an assistance fund, which Robert Perreault said was meant for social services such as counselling.

Robert Perreault was later able to announce that Quebec had fulfilled its targets for minority representation in summer positions, but critics charged that the numbers for full-time civil service jobs remained unacceptably low.

Robert Perreault argued in June 1999 that Quebec would require independence to have proper oversight of its immigration policy, noting that the Canadian federal government was responsible for half of all immigration to the province.

Robert Perreault helped oversee a high-profile resettlement of refugees from Kosovo in this period.

In May 2000, Robert Perreault introduced legislation to create a "national identity card" for Quebec.

Robert Perreault noted that the card was not mandatory and would include no information beyond the citizen's name and picture.

Robert Perreault resigned from cabinet and the legislature on 6 October 2000, saying that his decision was personal and that he wanted to reorient his career.

Robert Perreault added that he had entered provincial politics to achieve Quebec independence and would not have resigned if the Bouchard government had set a clear timeline for a new referendum on sovereignty.

Robert Perreault supported Gilles Duceppe's successful bid to lead the Bloc Quebecois in 1997.

Robert Perreault became director general of the Conseil regional de l'environnement de Montreal in May 2001 and held the position until 2007.

Robert Perreault opposed an extension of the Quebec Autoroute 25 north of Montreal, citing pollution concerns.

Robert Perreault criticized Quebec's transport department in 2006, calling it "incompetent" and saying that it was unduly focused on car use.

Robert Perreault supported an increase to Montreal's parking meter rates in 2007, arguing that it was a necessary step to discourage automobile use.