Former Bloc Québécois leader Michel Gauthier dies at 70

“I spoke to him last week. He knew he didn’t have much longer,” said Duceppe told The Canadian Press. “We spoke of life and politics. These moments weren’t easy.” 

Gauthier began his political career as an MNA for the Parti Québécois in the 1980s. He served as a parliamentary assistant to Jacques Parizeau, Quebec’s finance minister at the time. 

He made the jump to federal politics in 1993, when the recently formed Bloc Québécois stormed into the Opposition. At both the provincial and federal level he represented ridings in the Saguenay area, north of Quebec City.

After Duceppe took over the Bloc’s leadership, Gauthier earned a reputation for his fiery attacks against Liberal governments at the time, especially during the sponsorship scandal.

“When he stood in the House [of Commons], the ministers trembled,” said Louis Plamondon, who has been a Bloc MP since 1990.

Gauthier left politics in 2007, becoming a political columnist. In 2018, he criticized then Bloc leader Martine Ouellet, calling on her to resign.

Later that year, he announced he had joined the federal Conservative party and was part of an effort to reshape their image in Quebec. 

The strategy was aimed at rallying conservative nationalist voters who might have once identified with the Progressive Conservatives under Brian Mulroney.

“I had beautiful moments with him beyond the differences that we had. He, like me, wanted Quebec to move forward,” Duceppe said. 

Gauthier is survived by his wife Anne Allard, his children Isabelle and Alexandre, and their families. He was living in Gatineau at the time of his death.

“Michel died in the arms of his wife and his two children,” Gauthier’s family said in a statement.