Jean Lesage was a Quebec lawyer and politician. From 1939 to 1944, he was a Crown prosecutor and wartime prosecutor for the Prices and Trade Commission. He was also a reservist in the Canadian Armed Forces from 1933 to 1945.
First appointed Minister of Resources and Economic Development in the federal government in 1953, he later became Minister of Northern Development and National Resources. In 1958, he made the leap into provincial politics, becoming leader of the Quebec Liberal Party. He was elected Premier of Quebec in 1960, a position he held for six years. He also served as President of the Executive Council and Minister of Finance (1960-1966), Minister of Federal-Provincial Affairs (1961-1966) and Minister of Revenue (May-August 1963).
At this time, a wind of renewal was blowing through Quebec. Many social and economic changes were taking place. Jean Lesage was responsible for many new structures and institutions, insisting that Quebec society modernize and break away from the hold of the Church. For this reason, he is considered the father of the Quiet Revolution. He is best known for his role in nationalizing hydroelectricity (Hydro-Québec), establishing health insurance and hospital insurance, founding the Collège d'Enseignement Général et Professionnel (CEGEP), establishing the Caisse de dépôt et de placement du Québec, and introducing the Quebec Pension Plan. He also created several ministries: Education, Cultural Affairs, Revenue and Federal-Provincial Affairs.
-
1912: Jean Lesage is born on June 10, in Montreal.
-
1945: He is elected Liberal Member of Parliament for the federal riding of Montmagny-L'Islet.
-
1953: In Prime Minister Louis St-Laurent's cabinet, Jean Lesage becomes Minister of Resources and Economic Development, then Minister of Northern Affairs and National Resources.
-
1958: Leaving federal politics, he wins the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party.
-
1960: Following the death of Maurice Duplessis, Jean Lesage wins the elections and becomes the Premier of Quebec, ending the long reign of the Union Nationale.
-
1961: Ministers establish Quebec's health insurance.
-
1962: Quebec witnesses the first-ever televised leaders' debate. Lesage wins.
-
1963: Hydro-Québec buys the eleven private electricity companies for $604 million, becoming the largest distributor of electricity in Quebec.
-
1964: On May 13, ministers sitting in the National Assembly pass Bill 60, creating the Ministry of Education.
-
1965: The Lesage government creates the Caisse de dépôt et de placement du Québec and the Quebec Pension Plan.
-
1966: Due to the separation of the electoral map, the Liberals narrowly lose the election. Jean Lesage resigns in January 1970.
-
1980: Jean Lesage dies on December 12, in Quebec City.