Albiny Paquette

Joseph-Henri-Albiny Paquette (October 7, 1888 – September 25, 1978) was a Quebec politician and physician. He was a cabinet minister for 17 years in Maurice Duplessis' Union Nationale government.

Born in Marieville, Quebec, Paquette studied in medical sciences at the Montreal campus of Université Laval. After additional studies and training at Bellevue Hospital in New York City, Paquette worked first for the Canadian Red Cross in the Balkans, then in the Canadian Forces as a Medical Officer. He also served at several hospitals in Europe including in Paris and in England.

Paquette returned to Quebec in 1919 and practiced medicine in Mont-Laurier until his entry into municipal politics and his nine-year stint as mayor of that city.

Paquette was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Quebec for the district of Labelle in the 1935 general election as a member of the Conservative Party. He was reelected, as a member of the Union Nationale, in all six subsequent elections from 1936 to 1956. Paquette remained as the Legislative Assembly Member for Labelle until he resigned in 1958. He served from 1936 to 1939 and 1944 to 1958 as Minister of Health in the Duplessis Cabinet. In 1958, he was appointed to the Legislative Council of Quebec for the division of Rougemont and resigned in 1967.

He received several honors, distinctions and medals, including honorary doctorates for Université Laval, Université de Montréal and Bishop's College. His other rewards include the Military Medal of the British Government, the Medal of the Canadian Centennial and the honor cross of the French government. He was decorated by the Prince of Wales in 1919.

References

• Biography of Albiny Paquette (French)