Pierre Paradis - Government Backbencher

Government Backbencher

The Liberals won a majority government under Charest's leadership in the 2003 provincial election. When Charest announced his first cabinet, there was general surprise that Paradis was excluded. When asked about the decision, Charest said that he wanted to highlight a new tone and a change of generation.

Paradis said that his exclusion marked a shift in the Liberal Party from the values of Robert Bourassa and Claude Ryan to a more right-wing approach. Despite his own right-wing background, Paradis was by this period regarded as a moderate who supported a role for the state in Quebec life and opposed Charest's labour policies and funding cuts.

In the months that followed, Paradis speculated about quitting provincial politics. He considered running as a Liberal for Saint-Jean in the next federal election and there were rumours that he would be appointed as a judge. He eventually chose to take his seat on the government backbenches in November 2003. In 2006, he voted against Charest's decision to sell part of the Mont Orford provincial park to private interests.

The Liberals were reduced to a minority government in the 2007 provincial election, and Paradis was re-elected by the narrowest margin of his career against a candidate from the upstart Action démocratique du Québec party. There was some speculation that he would be returned to cabinet, but this did not occur. He considered running for speaker of the assembly in 2008, but he declined after meeting with opposition from others in his party. He instead supported Yvon Vallières for the position.

Paradis was returned again by an increased margin in the 2008 election as the Liberals returned to a majority government. As before, he was excluded from Charest's cabinet.