Philippe Couillard
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| Philippe Couillard | |
|---|---|
| Name | Philippe Couillard |
| Caption | Couillard in 2014 |
| Office | 31st Premier of Quebec |
| Term start | April 23, 2014 |
| Term end | October 18, 2018 |
| Predecessor | Pauline Marois |
| Successor | François Legault |
| Office1 | MNA for Mont-Royal |
| Term start1 | April 14, 2014 |
| Term end1 | October 1, 2018 |
| Predecessor1 | Pierre Marsan |
| Successor1 | Pierre Arcand |
| Office2 | MNA for Jean-Talon |
| Term end2 | June 25, 2008 |
| Office3 | Minister of Health and Social Services |
| Birth date | 26 June 1957 |
| Birth place | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Alma mater | Université de Montréal (MD), University of London (MSc) |
| Profession | Neurosurgeon, Professor |
| Spouse | Suzanne Pilote |
Philippe Couillard is a Canadian neurosurgeon, professor, and former politician who served as the 31st Premier of Quebec from 2014 to 2018. A member of the Quebec Liberal Party, he led the party to victory in the 2014 election, defeating the incumbent Parti Québécois government of Pauline Marois. His tenure was marked by economic policies aimed at fiscal balance and contentious debates on secularism, culminating in his government's defeat by the Coalition Avenir Québec led by François Legault in the 2018 election.
Early life and education
Born in Montreal on June 26, 1957, he is the son of academic and writer Lise de Riverin and federal public servant Jean Couillard. He spent part of his youth in Rouyn-Noranda and Jonquière before his family moved to Senegal and later France, where he attended the Lycée Français in New York City. He returned to Quebec for his university studies, earning a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Université de Montréal in 1979. He subsequently completed his residency in neurosurgery and obtained a Master of Science degree in surgical sciences from the University of London in the United Kingdom.
Medical career
Prior to entering politics, he established a significant career in medicine and academia. He practiced as a neurosurgeon at the CHUM and served as a professor of surgery at the Université de Montréal. From 1992 to 1996, he was the head of the neurosurgery department at the King Fahd Hospital of the University of Dammam in Saudi Arabia. He also co-founded the medical firm Intermède Inc. and was involved with the Canadian Medical Association and the Collège des médecins du Québec.
Political career
He was first elected to the National Assembly of Quebec as the MNA for Jean-Talon in the 2003 provincial election. Under Premier Jean Charest, he was appointed Minister of Health and Social Services, serving from 2003 to 2008. During his tenure, he oversaw the implementation of the Romanow Report recommendations and negotiated the 2004 Health Accord with the federal government. He resigned his seat in 2008 to return to the private sector. In 2013, he won the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party and was re-elected to the legislature in a 2014 by-election in Mont-Royal.
Premiership (2014–2018)
His government, sworn in on April 23, 2014, focused on economic austerity, introducing measures to eliminate the provincial deficit, which included controversial reforms to the Régie des rentes du Québec and tuition fee adjustments for university students. His administration launched the ambitious Plan Nord resource development project and passed the Climate Change Action Plan 2013-2020. Significant legislation included the End-of-Life Care Act, which legalized medical assistance in dying. His government faced strong opposition over its handling of the secularism debate, particularly regarding the proposed Charter of Quebec Values, and was criticized for its management of the Sûreté du Québec and infrastructure projects. The 2018 election resulted in a decisive victory for the Coalition Avenir Québec.
Post-premiership activities
Following his defeat, he resigned as party leader and returned to academic and private sector roles. He joined the faculty of the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary as a professor and became a senior advisor with the law firm Fasken. He has served on corporate boards, including that of Optima Global Health, and remains a commentator on Quebec and Canadian public policy, occasionally writing for publications like La Presse and participating in events at institutions such as the Institut du Nouveau Monde.
Personal life
He is married to pediatrician Suzanne Pilote, with whom he has three children. An avid outdoorsman, he is a licensed pilot and enjoys hiking, fishing, and hunting. He is a member of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and has undertaken expeditions to locations such as the Arctic Cordillera. He is also a published author, having co-written a book on his experiences in Saudi Arabia titled *Pérégrinations d'un chirurgien*.
Category:1957 births Category:Living people Category:Premiers of Quebec Category:Quebec Liberal Party MNAs