François Legault

François Legault is a Quebec politician and businessman who has served as the Premier of Quebec since 2018. He is the founder and leader of the Coalition Avenir Québec, a centre-right nationalist party that formed government after the 2018 Quebec general election. A former cabinet minister in the Parti Québécois governments of Lucien Bouchard and Bernard Landry, Legault later co-founded the Air Transat airline before returning to politics to establish his own political movement.

Early life and education

François Legault was born in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, on the island of Montreal, and grew up in the nearby town of Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines. He attended Collège Saint-Sacrement for his secondary education before pursuing higher studies in commerce. Legault earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from HEC Montréal and later completed a Master of Business Administration from McGill University, where he specialized in finance. His academic background provided a foundation for his subsequent careers in both the corporate and political spheres of Quebec.

Business career

After graduating, Legault became a Certified Public Accountant and worked briefly for the firm Clarkson Gordon. In 1986, he co-founded the charter airline Air Transat alongside Jean-Marc Eustache, serving as its President until 1997. Under his leadership, the airline expanded significantly, becoming a major player in the Canadian aviation industry. Following his departure from Air Transat, Legault held executive positions at other firms and served on the boards of several corporations, including Provigo and Culinar Inc., before entering politics full-time.

Political career

Legault was first elected as a Parti Québécois member of the National Assembly of Quebec for the riding of Rousseau in the 1994 Quebec general election. He served in the cabinets of Premiers Lucien Bouchard and Bernard Landry, holding the portfolios of Minister of Industry and Commerce and Minister of Health. In 2003, under Premier Jean Charest's Quebec Liberal Party government, he was appointed Minister of Education. He left politics in 2009 but returned in 2011 to found the Coalition Avenir Québec, a party advocating for a moratorium on sovereignty and focusing on economic issues.

Premiership

Legault led the Coalition Avenir Québec to a decisive victory in the 2018 Quebec general election, ending nearly 50 years of alternating power between the Parti Québécois and the Quebec Liberal Party. His government passed Bill 21, the secularism law banning certain public servants from wearing religious symbols, and Bill 96, which strengthened the status of the French language in Quebec. Key policies have also included tax cuts, increased healthcare funding, and economic development initiatives. He was re-elected with a majority government in the 2022 Quebec general election, though with a reduced number of seats.

Political positions and views

Legault describes his ideology as Quebec nationalist and centre-right, prioritizing economic development and the protection of French language and culture. He has taken a firm stance on immigration, advocating for greater provincial control and the application of Quebec values tests. While historically a sovereigntist, he now promotes autonomism within Canada, focusing on obtaining more powers for Quebec from the federal government in Ottawa. His government has frequently clashed with the federal administration of Justin Trudeau on issues ranging from healthcare funding to immigration.

Personal life

François Legault is married to Isabelle Brais, a former lawyer, and they have two sons. The family resides in L'Assomption. An avid hockey fan, Legault is a part-owner of the Montreal Canadiens and has written books on politics and economics. He maintains a relatively low-profile personal life compared to his public political persona, with his family seldom involved in media events. Category:1957 births Category:Living people Category:Premiers of Quebec Category:Coalition Avenir Québec politicians Category:Parti Québécois politicians Category:Air Transat Category:People from Montreal