Jean Charest

In 1991, Mr. Charest was appointed Minister of the Environment.  A year later, he headed the Canadian delegation to the Rio Earth Summit on the Economy and the Environment. Canada was the first G7 country to sign the Framework Convention on Climate Change and Biodiversity.

In 1993, he was appointed Minister of Industry and Deputy Prime Minister of Canada. In 1994, he became leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. During the 1995 referendum, he was vice-chairman of the NO committee. In the 1997 federal election, he had some twenty members elected to the House of Commons.

In 1998, Mr. Charest became leader of the Quebec Liberal Party. He won three consecutive mandates in the provincial elections of 2003, 2007 and 2008, something no other party had achieved in the last 50 years.

Between 2008 and 2012, despite the global financial and economic crisis, under Premier Charest's leadership, Quebec experienced stronger economic growth than the United States, Europe, the rest of Canada and Ontario. His government implemented a major infrastructure investment program.

When it comes to the environment and climate change, the Charest government has played a world-leading role, introducing the first carbon levy in North America and founding a carbon trading market with the State of California.

Mr. Charest's legacy includes a founding project for the sustainable development of northern Quebec: the Plan Nord. This plan covers the territory above the 49th parallel, an area of 1.2 million km2 (twice the size of France).

In the energy sector, the Charest government has completed several hydroelectric and wind power projects. These projects have enabled Québec to maintain its position as the world's 4th largest producer of clean, renewable hydroelectric power, after China, Brazil and the United States.

The Charest government has lead a strong offensive for Quebec in international politics. Premier Charest has led numerous economic missions to emerging countries, including China, India, Russia and Brazil. He was a guest speaker at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he addressed issues such as the environment, climate change, international trade and labor mobility.

Mr. Charest has also participated in four Sommets de la Francophonie, bringing together more than fifty governments. He hosted the 2008 summit in Quebec City.  He also initiated an unprecedented agreement on labor mobility between France and Quebec, covering more than 80 trades and professions.

One of Mr. Charest's major achievements on the international stage is the decisive role he played in convincing Canada and the European Union to negotiate an expanded economic partnership, including cooperation agreements, following the failure of the WTO negotiations.

Mr. Charest is a strong advocate of women's participation in politics. In 2006, his government passed a law requiring parity between men and women on the boards of 22 state-owned corporations. In 2007, his 18-member cabinet included as many women as men. A first in the history of Quebec and Canada.

Mr. Charest was a lecturer in political science at Concordia University. He is a regular guest speaker.