A former Quebec government minister, Clément Richard, has died at the age of 83. Mr. Richard, who was a native of Québec, was elected as Member of Parliament for the riding of Montmorency in the 1976 general election. From 1976 to 1980, he was President of the National Assembly.
Within the government formed by the Parti Québécois (PQ), he was then Minister of Communications in 1980 and 1981, then Minister of Cultural Affairs from 1981 to 1985.
Previously, Clément Richard had been admitted to the Quebec Bar in 1965. He had been a reporter and teacher before practicing law from 1966 to 1976.
After leaving politics in 1985, he pursued a career in the business world, notably as vice-president of marketing and public relations for the firm Lavalin and founding president of MétéoMédia.
He has also made a name for himself for his involvement in the world of the arts, notably as chairman of the board of directors of Place des Arts, on the board of directors and on the executive committee of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, at the board of governors of the National Theater School of Canada, on the board of directors of the Compagnie Jean Duceppe and on the board of directors of the Orchester métropolitain.
Clément Richard was elected member of the council of the National Order of Quebec in 2011 and was decorated with the medal of honor of the National Assembly in 2014.
Early Thursday evening, Prime Minister François Legault offered condolences to those close to ex-minister Richard, “a very nice man who did a lot for Quebec culture,” he wrote on the networks. social.
The President of the National Assembly, François Paradis, meanwhile announced that in memory of the former president of the institution, the Quebec flag is being lowered to half-mast on the central tower of the Parliament Building. this Friday until dusk.