André Boisclair
André Boisclair (French pronunciation: [ɑ̃dʁe bwaklɛʁ]; born April 14, 1966) is a former Canadian politician and convicted sex offender in Quebec, Canada. He was the leader of the Parti Québécois, a social democratic and sovereigntist party in Quebec.
André Boisclair | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Boisclair debating in 2005 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Delegate General of Quebec in New York | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office November 7, 2012 – September 27, 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Premier | Pauline Marois | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | John Parisella | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Dominique Poirier | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leader of the Opposition of Quebec | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office August 21, 2006 – May 26, 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Louise Harel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Mario Dumont | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leader of the Parti Québécois | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office November 15, 2005 – May 8, 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President |
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| Preceded by | Louise Harel (interim) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | François Gendron (interim) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | April 14, 1966 Montreal, Quebec, Canada | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Parti Québécois | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf Université de Montréal Harvard Kennedy School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Profession | Politician | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Between January 1996 and March 2003, Boisclair served as Citizenship and Immigration Minister and Social Solidarity Minister under former Premier of Quebec Lucien Bouchard and as Environment Minister under former Premier Bernard Landry. He won the Parti Québécois leadership election on November 15, 2005.
After the worst defeat of his Party since 1970 in the 2007 Quebec general election, Boisclair announced he was stepping down as leader of the PQ on May 8, 2007. François Gendron was named interim leader.
On June 19, 2022, Boisclair pled guilty to two counts of sexual assault in separate episodes involving two young men. On July 18, 2022, the Quebec Court accepted a joint sentence recommendation from the Crown prosecutor and defence counsel, and imposed a sentence of imprisonment for two years less a day.