René Lévesque, politician, journalist, and author who served as Quebec Premier from 1975-1985. He was born in 24 August, 1922 in Campbellton, N.B., the eldest son of Dominique Lévesque, a prominent lawyer and of Diane Dionne-Pineault. After Levesque completed his primary education in New Carlisle, Lévesque pursued his classical education at the Jesuit College de Gaspé and the College of Saint-Charles-Garnier in Quebec City. He pursued a career in radio journalism and became a representative agent and war correspondent for the U.S. Armed forces in 1944-1945. Levesque also worked for French language section of the International Service of the Canadian Broadcast between 1946 and 1951. After serving as a correspondent in Korea 1951 and 1952, created Radio-Canada news service system and co-produced the program Crossroads. Levesque had two sons and a daughter from his first marriage and he died from heart attack in 1 Nov. 1987 and was buried in the Cemetery of Saint-Michel parish in Sillery, Quebec city The purpose of this biographical study is to examine Rene Levesque political career. It will discuss the formation of the Parti Quebecois, Levesque role in the Separatist Movement, the end the story of the referendum of the 1980’s and the historical significant of Rene Levesque. Levesque political career began in late 1958 when the producers of Radio-Canada on strike for the right to form a union.
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The strike soon become politicalized and prefigured the chaos of the 1960s. This event, in which Levesque was deeply engaged, marked as a decisive moment in Leveque’s political career . The strike clash continued for more than two month without any progress. Levesque was astonished by the apathetic of John Diefenbaker’s government and of his English speaking colleagues at the CBC, who refused the strike, considering it a revolt against Canada, according to Pierre Godin. After the strike disputed was settled, Rene Levesque left television to pursue a career in politics. In June 1960, Levesque enter politics as candidate of in the riding of Montréal-Laurier, where he won by small margin. Levesque recruited by the Liberal after resignation from Radio-Canada and joint Liberal party under the leadership of Jean Lesage. Leveque rallied to the Liberal slogan “It’s time for change” which foreshowed the Quiet Revolution. Levesque with inspired by the Liberal political agenda particularly the seriousness reformed purposed by the Liberal- free education, hospitalization insurance, new direction for economy, modernization of the state, and war of patronage. Levesque soon assert himself to be a key player in the famous “fireball team” which purposed was to bring the province into modern era . The team was denominated by the press as the “three Ls” which consist of the Lesage, Lapalme, and Levesque, the three leading figure in Liberal Party. Under Quebec new premier, Jean Lesage, Leveque was given two portfolios, public works and hydraulic resources. At the public works, Levesque took a plunged to attack corruption. To be precise, “he attacked the system of patronage instituted by the former government of Maurice Le Noblet Duplessis. Henceforth, all the government contracts for more than $25,000 would be rendered” . Shortly after Levesque left the public works, he become of minister of natural resource. During his time as minister of natural resources, Levesque attempted to nationalize Quebec’s Hydro Power. “Staring in the fall of 1960, Levesque began to put the future of the
The strike soon become politicalized and prefigured the chaos of the 1960s. This event, in which Levesque was deeply engaged, marked as a decisive moment in Leveque’s political career . The strike clash continued for more than two month without any progress. Levesque was astonished by the apathetic of John Diefenbaker’s government and of his English speaking colleagues at the CBC, who refused the strike, considering it a revolt against Canada, according to Pierre Godin. After the strike disputed was settled, Rene Levesque left television to pursue a career in politics. In June 1960, Levesque enter politics as candidate of in the riding of Montréal-Laurier, where he won by small margin. Levesque recruited by the Liberal after resignation from Radio-Canada and joint Liberal party under the leadership of Jean Lesage. Leveque rallied to the Liberal slogan “It’s time for change” which foreshowed the Quiet Revolution. Levesque with inspired by the Liberal political agenda particularly the seriousness reformed purposed by the Liberal- free education, hospitalization insurance, new direction for economy, modernization of the state, and war of patronage. Levesque soon assert himself to be a key player in the famous “fireball team” which purposed was to bring the province into modern era . The team was denominated by the press as the “three Ls” which consist of the Lesage, Lapalme, and Levesque, the three leading figure in Liberal Party. Under Quebec new premier, Jean Lesage, Leveque was given two portfolios, public works and hydraulic resources. At the public works, Levesque took a plunged to attack corruption. To be precise, “he attacked the system of patronage instituted by the former government of Maurice Le Noblet Duplessis. Henceforth, all the government contracts for more than $25,000 would be rendered” . Shortly after Levesque left the public works, he become of minister of natural resource. During his time as minister of natural resources, Levesque attempted to nationalize Quebec’s Hydro Power. “Staring in the fall of 1960, Levesque began to put the future of the