CBC - Quebec Votes 2003

RIDING: BERTHIER

Candidate

Party

Vote Count

Pop. Vote

Alexandre Bourdeau

Parti Québécois

12101

34.95%

Marie Grégoire

Action démocratique

11065

31.96%

Carole Majeau

Liberal Party of Que

10828

31.27%

Pierre Gravel

Union des Forces

632

1.83%

Last Updated Tue Apr 15 12:00:00 EDT 2003

192 of 192 polls reporting

BERTHIER

Candidates:

PQ       Alexandre Bourdeau
LIB       Carole Majeau
ADQ  x Marie Grégoire
UFP      Pierre Gravel

Riding History:

Riding first existed in 1830 election.

1973 - LIB
1976 - PQ
1981, 1985, 1989 - LIB
1994, 1998 - PQ

1995 REF:  YES - 63.02%;  NO - 36.98%

Riding Profile:

Rural riding on north shore of the St. Lawrence River, between Montreal and Trois Rivières.

Language Breakdown: % mother tongue - single answers
Anglo:  1.3%
Franco: 95.4%
Allo:  3.3%

The electoral division of Berthier comprises the following municipalities: Berthierville, Lanoraie, Lavaltrie, La Visitation-de-l'Île-Dupas, Mandeville, St-Alphonse-Rodriguez, St-Barthélemy, Ste-Béatrix, St-Cléophas-de-Brandon, St-Côme, St-Cuthbert, St-Damien, St-Didace, Ste-Élisabeth, Ste-Émélie-de-l'Énergie, St-Félix- de-Valois, St-Gabriel, St-Gabriel-de-Brandon, Ste- Geneviève-de-Berthier, St-Ignace-de-Loyola, St-Jean-de-Matha, Ste-Mélanie, St-Michel-des-Saints, St-Norbert and St-Zénon.

It also contains the First Nation reserve of Manawan.

Redistribution:

No change in redistribution before 1989 election.

In 1992 redistribution, kept existing riding; added 599 electors from Laviolette riding—added Manouane reserve.

No change in 2001 redistribution.

Political History:

[1994 = 98.49% BERTHIER;  1.51% LAVIOLETTE]

In 1973, LIB MICHEL DENIS defeated PQ PIERRE GAGNON by 6,570 votes.

In 1976, PQ JEAN-GUY MERCIER defeated LIB DENIS by 402 votes.

In 1981, LIB ALBERT HOUDE defeated PQ ALAIN GENEREUX by 1,222 votes. UN ROCH LASALLE was third.

LIB HOUDE was re-elected in 1985 and 1989.

In 1994, PQ GILLES BARIL defeated LIB MICHEL GIROUX by 6,216 votes.

In 1998, PQ BARIL defeated LIB SYLVIE THOUIN by 8,364 votes. Dec. 15, 1998 to March 8, 2001 - Minister for Health, Social Services and Youth Protection; Nov. 10, 1999 to March 8, 2001 - Minister responsible for Recreation, Sport and Outdoor Activities; March 8, 2001 to Feb. 12, 2002 - Minister of Industry and Trade; Minister of State for Regions; Minister of Regions; Minister responsible for Recreation and Sport; Minister responsible for the Bas-Saint-Laurent region. Jan. 30 to Feb. 12, 2002 - Minister of Natural Resources; Minister of State for Natural Resources and Regions Minister responsible for the Development of Northern Québec; Minister responsible for the Lanaudière region. Feb. 12, 2002 - Resigned from Cabinet citing family reasons. In a tearful news conference, he said he resigned because he could no longer put up with the pressure from reporters about a vacation he took with lobbyist Andre Desroches over Christmas. He said he would remain as MNA until next election. On May 15, 2002, Baril resigned creating a vacancy for unelected cabinet minister, David Levine.

In June 17, 2002 byelection, ADQ MARIE GRÉGOIRE defeated PQ DAVID LEVINE by 7,416 votes.