Daniel Johnson, Jr.

Daniel Johnson, Jr., GOQ (born December 24, 1944) is a former Quebec politician. He was a member of the Liberal Party of Quebec and was the 25th Premier of the Province of Quebec, Canada for most of 1994.^[1] His brother is Pierre Marc Johnson, Parti Québécois leader from 1985-1987 and government minister from October 3 to December 12, 1985.

Johnson was born in Montreal, Quebec. His father, Daniel Johnson, Sr., had been the Premier of Quebec from 1966 to 1968 as the leader of the Union Nationale, a conservative political party.

Johnson received his Bachelor of Laws degree from the Université de Montréal in 1966. He also received LL.M. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of London in 1968 and 1971 respectively, as well as a Masters of Business Administration from the Harvard Business School in 1973. Johnson immediately began his career in the business world and worked for Power Corporation of Canada from 1973 to 1981. He served as the Vice-President of Power Corp. from 1978 to 1981. During that period, Daniel Johnson was active in the Montreal community, acting as Vice-president of the Montreal Chamber of Commerce, and sat on other non-profit boards, such as the Montreal Heart Institute and the Grands Ballets Canadiens.

He was first elected to the National Assembly of Quebec in the riding of Vaudreuil-Soulanges in 1981. In 1985, upon his reelection, he became Minister of industry and Commerce in the Quebec government, and was Chairman of the Treasury Board from June 1988 until January 1994, when he became leader of the Quebec Liberal Party and Premier of Quebec following the resignation of Liberal leader Robert Bourassa. He then lost the 1994 provincial election to Jacques Parizeau of the Parti Québécois.

During the 1995 Quebec referendum, he headed the "No" campaign, in opposition to the PQ's proposals for Quebec sovereignty. He served as Liberal party leader and leader of the Opposition until 1998 when he was succeeded by Jean Charest.

Since 1998, Daniel Johnson has acted as Senior Counsel with the law firm McCarthy Tétrault LLP. He is also a director of Trow Global, Bombardier Inc., The Great-West Life Assurance Company, The Investors Group, Ecopia Biosciences inc., and is Chairman of the Board of Victhom Human Bionics in Quebec City.

Johnson's brother Pierre-Marc Johnson was also Premier of Quebec for a brief period in 1985 while serving as the leader of the Parti Québécois. On April 15, 2008, Johnson was appointed to Bank of Canada's board of directors.^[2]

Elections as party leader

Johnson lost the 1994 provincial election.

References

1. ^ National Assembly biography (French)
2. ^ Former Quebec Premier Named to BOC Board

External links

• McCarthy Tetrault biography