Claude Béchard
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Claude Béchard (born June 29, 1969 in Saint-Philippe-de-Néri, Quebec) is a politician in Quebec, Canada. He is the current Quebec Liberal Party Member of the National Assembly (MNA) for the riding of Kamouraska-Témiscouata in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region. He is also the current Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks in the Cabinet of Jean Charest and was formally the Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade until a Cabinet Shuffle in February 2006.
Béchard studied at the Université Laval in Quebec City and got a bachelor's degree in political science. He also got a master's degree in land planning and regional development during the 1990s. He later added a doctor's degree in administration.
He was a political adviser for Daniel Johnson Jr. from 1993 to 1996. He later became the vice-president of the Quebec Liberal Party in 1997 and was elected as an MNA in a byelection in the riding of Kamouraska-Témiscouata on the same year. He was re-elected in 1998 and 2003, the latter which gave his party the power. During the years in the opposition benches he served as critic for employment, labour, energy and education.
When Jean Charest became Premier of Quebec in 2003, he was named the Minster of Employment, Social Solidarity and Family Welfare before a Cabinet shuffle caused by the departure of Yves Séguin as Finance Minister, promoted him to the position of Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade in 2005. He occupied the position for year before the demotion of Thomas J. Mulcair as Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks in 2006.
Soon after Bechard claimed that position, he had made a deal to sell the Mont Orford Ski and Golf Resort to private interests that will develop the land with condominiums. In addition, Bechard announced that the Orford Park would double in size as a national park. Despite the opposition from the Parti Quebecois, environmental groups and well-known figures, Bechard mentioned that the previous government under Bernard Landry, had plans to build other structures during their tenure including a shopping centre. The development is expected to go ahead.
