View source for Jean Charest

{{Short description|Premier of Quebec from 2003 to 2012}}
{{BLP sources|date=March 2022}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=April 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[The Honourable]]
| name                = Jean Charest
| honorific-suffix    = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|size=100%}}
| image               = Agriculture Secretary Perdue Visit to Canada 20170605-OSEC-RV-0003 (34337316314) (cropped).jpg
| caption             = Charest in 2017
| office              = Premier of Quebec
| order               = 29th
| term_start          = April 29, 2003
| term_end            = September 19, 2012
| monarch             = [[Elizabeth II]]
| lieutenant_governor = {{unbulleted list|[[Lise Thibault]]|[[Pierre Duchesne]]}}
| deputy              = {{Collapsible list|title=''See list''
 | bullets = 
 | 1 =     [[Monique Gagnon-Tremblay]]
 | 2 =     [[Jacques Dupuis (politician)|Jacques Dupuis]]
 | 3 =     [[Nathalie Normandeau]]
 | 4 =     [[Line Beauchamp]]
 | 5 =     [[Michelle Courchesne]]
}}
| predecessor         = [[Bernard Landry]]
| successor           = [[Pauline Marois]]
| office1             = Deputy Prime Minister of Canada
| order1              = 5th
| term_start1         = June 25, 1993
| term_end1           = November 4, 1993
| primeminister1      = [[Kim Campbell]]
| predecessor1        = [[Don Mazankowski]]
| successor1          = [[Sheila Copps]]
{{Collapsed infobox section begin |last=yes |Leadership positions
 |titlestyle=border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| office2              = [[Leader of the Official Opposition (Quebec)|Leader of the Opposition in Quebec]]
| term_start2          = April 30, 1998
| term_end2            = April 29, 2003
| predecessor2         = Monique Gagnon-Tremblay
| successor2           = [[Bernard Landry]]
| office3              = Leader of the [[Quebec Liberal Party]]
| term_start3          = April 30, 1998
| term_end3            = September 5, 2012
| predecessor3         = [[Monique Gagnon-Tremblay]] (interim)
| successor3           = [[Jean-Marc Fournier]] (interim)
| office4              = Leader of the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada]]
| term_start4          = December 14, 1993
| term_end4            = April 2, 1998<br />[[Interim leader (Canada)|Interim]]: December 14, 1993 – April 29, 1995
| predecessor4         = [[Kim Campbell]]
| successor4           = [[Elsie Wayne]] (interim){{Collapsed infobox section end}}}}
{{Collapsed infobox section begin |last=yes |Canadian cabinet
 |titlestyle=border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| office5              = [[Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry#Preceding offices|Minister of Industry]]
| primeminister5       = Kim Campbell
| term_start5          = June 25, 1993
| term_end5            = November 4, 1993
| predecessor5         = [[Pierre H. Vincent]] ([[Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs]]; [[Registrar General of Canada]])<br />[[Michael Wilson (Canadian politician)|Michael Wilson]] ([[Minister of Industry, Science and Technology]])
| successor5           = [[John Manley]]
| office7              = [[Minister of the Environment (Canada)|Minister of the Environment]]
| primeminister7       = [[Brian Mulroney]]
| term_start7          = April 21, 1991
| term_end7            = June 24, 1993
| predecessor7         = [[Robert de Cotret]]
| successor7           = [[Pierre H. Vincent]]
| office8              = [[Minister for Sport (Canada)|Minister of State (Fitness and Amateur Sport)]]
| primeminister8       = [[Brian Mulroney]]
| minister8            = [[Jake Epp]]<br />[[Perrin Beatty]]
| term_start8          = March 31, 1988
| term_end8            = January 23, 1990
| predecessor8         = [[Otto Jelinek]]
| successor8           = [[Marcel Danis]]
| office9              = [[Minister of State (Canada)|Minister of State (Youth)]]
| primeminister9       = Brian Mulroney
| minister9            = [[David Crombie]]<br />[[Lucien Bouchard]]<br />[[Gerry Weiner]]
| term_start9          = June 30, 1986
| term_end9            = January 23, 1990
| predecessor9         = [[Andrée Champagne]]
| successor9           = Marcel Danis{{Collapsed infobox section end}}}}
{{Collapsed infobox section begin |last=yes |House of Commons roles
 |titlestyle=border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| office10             = [[Committee of the whole#Canada|Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons<br />Assistant Deputy Chair of the Committees of the Whole]]
| 1blankname10         = Speaker
| 1namedata10          = [[John Bosley (politician)|John Bosley]]
| term_start10         = October 31, 1984
| term_end10           = June 29, 1986
| predecessor10        = [[Jacques Guilbault]]
| successor10          = [[Andrée Champagne]]{{Collapsed infobox section end}}}}
{{Collapsed infobox section begin |last=yes |Parliamentary constituencies
 |titlestyle=border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| office11             = [[Member of the National Assembly (Quebec)|Member]] of the<br />[[National Assembly of Quebec]] <br /> for [[Sherbrooke (provincial electoral district)|Sherbrooke]]
| term_start11         = November 30, 1998
| term_end11           = September 4, 2012
| predecessor11        = [[Marie Malavoy]]
| successor11          = [[Serge Cardin]]
| parliament12         = Canadian
| riding12             = [[Sherbrooke (federal electoral district)|Sherbrooke]]
| term_start12         = September 4, 1984
| term_end12           = April 30, 1998
| predecessor12        = [[Irénée Pelletier]]
| successor12          = [[Serge Cardin]]{{Collapsed infobox section end}}}}
| birth_name          = John James Charest
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1958|6|24}}
| birth_place         = [[Sherbrooke]], [[Quebec]], Canada
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]] (federal)<br />[[Quebec Liberal Party|Quebec Liberal]] (provincial)
| otherparty          = [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservative]] (before 2003)
| residence           = [[Westmount, Quebec|Westmount]], [[Quebec]], Canada
| spouse              = {{marriage|Michèle Dionne|1980}}
| alma_mater          = [[Université de Sherbrooke]]
| website             = {{URL|https://www.jeancharest.ca/}}
}}

'''John James''' "'''Jean'''" '''Charest''' ({{IPA|fr|ʒɑ̃ ʃɑʁɛ}}; born June 24, 1958) is a Canadian lawyer and former politician who served as the 29th [[premier of Quebec]] from 2003 to 2012. Prior to that, he was a [[Member of Parliament (Canada)|member of Parliament]] (MP) between 1984 and 1998. After holding several Cabinet posts from 1986 to 1990 and from 1991 to 1993, he was the leader of the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada]] from 1993 to 1998.

Born in [[Sherbrooke]], [[Quebec]], Charest worked as a lawyer before becoming an MP following the [[1984 Canadian federal election|1984 federal election]]. In 1986 he joined [[Brian Mulroney]]'s government as a [[Minister of State (Canada)|minister of state]], but resigned from cabinet in 1990 after improperly speaking to a judge about an active court case. He returned to cabinet in 1991 as the [[Minister of the Environment and Climate Change (Finland)|minister of the environment]]. Charest ran to succeed Mulroney as party leader and prime minister in the PCs' [[1993 Progressive Conservative leadership election|1993 leadership election]], but placed second to [[Kim Campbell]]. Charest served as Campbell's [[Minister of Industry (Canada)|industry minister]] and deputy prime minister. After the PCs' defeat in the [[1993 Canadian federal election|1993 election]], Charest succeeded Campbell as party leader. He led the PCs to a minor recovery in the [[1997 Canadian federal election|1997 election]].

Charest left federal politics in 1998 and was elected to lead the [[Quebec Liberal Party]], the province's main [[Federalism in Quebec|federalist]] political party. He became premier of Quebec after the Liberals won the [[2003 Quebec general election|2003 provincial election]]. He won two more elections until he lost the [[2012 Quebec general election|2012 election]] to the [[Quebec sovereignty movement|sovereigntist]] [[Parti Québécois|Parti Quebecois]] (PQ) and resigned as premier. After politics, Charest worked as a consultant, including for [[Huawei]] on the [[Meng Wanzhou]] case and for its [[5G]] network plans in Canada, and joined [[McCarthy Tétrault|McCarthy Tétrault LLP]] as a partner. Charest was a candidate in the [[2022 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election]], finishing a distant second to [[Pierre Poilievre]].

==Early life and education==
Charest was born on June 24, 1958, in [[Sherbrooke]], in Quebec's [[Eastern Townships]].<ref name="JC's life in politics - CBC">{{cite web |title=Jean Charest's life in politics |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/jean-charest-s-life-in-politics-1.1135453 |website=CBC News |access-date=17 March 2022}}</ref> His parents are Rita ({{Nee|Leonard}}), an [[Irish Quebecer]], and Claude "Red" Charest, a [[French Canadian]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=101f91bb-d3e2-437e-90f0-10d8584db64e&k=62495 |title=Minister breaks age, colour and language barriers |work=The Gazette (Montreal) |date=June 17, 2007 |first=Yolande |last=James |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120154604/http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=101f91bb-d3e2-437e-90f0-10d8584db64e&k=62495 |archive-date=November 20, 2015 }}</ref> He obtained a law degree from the [[Université de Sherbrooke]] and was admitted to the [[Bar of Quebec|Barreau du Québec]] in 1981. He is married to Michèle Dionne (since June 21, 1980), and they have three children, Amélie, Antoine, and Alexandra.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.lapresse.ca/debats/opinions/201907/10/01-5233452-taxe-sur-le-carbone-quest-ce-qui-ne-tourne-pas-rond-avec-le-gouvernement-legault-.php |title = Taxe sur le carbone : Qu'est-ce qui ne tourne pas rond avec le gouvernement Legault ?| newspaper=La Presse |date = July 11, 2019 | last1=Charest | first1=Antoine Dionne }}</ref>

Charest is fully bilingual in French and English. In the [[1980 Quebec referendum]], he failed to vote because he was getting married.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-remembers-1st-referendum-1.944455|title=Quebec remembers 1st referendum|date=May 20, 2010|access-date=April 2, 2014|publisher=Cbc.ca}}</ref>

==Federal politics (1984–1998)==
Charest worked as a [[lawyer]]<ref name="Jean Charest | McCarthy LLP">{{cite web |last1=Charest |first1=Jean |title=Jean Charest | publisher=McCarthy Tétrault |url=https://www.mccarthy.ca/en/people/jean-charest |website=McCarthy LLP |access-date=17 March 2022}}</ref> until he was elected Progressive Conservative member of the [[Parliament of Canada]] for the [[electoral district (Canada)|riding]] (electoral district) of Sherbrooke in the [[1984 Canadian federal election|1984 election]].  From 1984 to 1986, Charest served as Assistant Deputy Chair of Committees of the Whole of the [[House of Commons of Canada|House of Commons]].

=== Minister of state (1986–1990) ===
In 1986, at age 28, Charest was appointed to the [[Canadian Cabinet|Cabinet]] of [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]] [[Brian Mulroney]] as [[Minister of State (Canada)|minister of state]] (youth).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Canada |first=Government of |title=Twenty-Fourth Ministry - Ministers of State - Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation |url=https://guide-ministries.canada.ca/dtail.php?lang=en&min=24&id=6 |access-date=2022-03-07 |website=guide-ministries.canada.ca |language=en}}</ref> He was the youngest cabinet minister in Canadian history.<ref>Graeme Hamilton, "Charest's bumpy ride to the top", ''Times-Colonist'', Victoria, B.C.: April 20, 2003, pg. D.1.Fro.</ref>

Charest was appointed [[Minister for Sport (Canada)|minister of state (fitness and amateur sport)]] in 1988,<ref name=":0" /> but had to resign from cabinet in 1990 after improperly speaking to a judge about a case regarding the [[Athletics Canada|Canadian Track and Field Association]].<ref>"Political scandal: a chronology", ''[[The Vancouver Sun]]'', September 24, 1993, pg. A.6.</ref>

=== Role in Meech Lake Accord (1990–1991) ===

Charest was involved in the proposal of the [[Meech Lake Accord]] (which failed to be ratified in June 1990<ref name="MeechLakeEncyclopedia">{{cite web |last1=Gall |first1=Gerald |title=Meech Lake Accord |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/meech-lake-accord |website=Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=23 December 2023 |date=7 February 2006 |archive-date=June 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624201231/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/meech-lake-accord |url-status=live }}</ref>) which would have given the province of Quebec the status of a "[[distinct society]]", extend provincial powers, and extensively change the constitution. In 1990, he led a commission that recommended a companion accord that would address the concerns of other provinces, assert that the distinct society clause would be subject to the ''Charter'', and would feature greater protections for minority language rights in the provinces.<ref>{{cite book |last=MacDonald |first=L. Ian   |title=From Bourassa to Bourassa: Wilderness to Restoration |location=Montreal |publisher=McGill-Queen's University Press   |isbn=0-7735-2392-8 |year=2002 |edition=2nd |page=303}}</ref> The recommendations caused Mulroney's [[Minister of Environment and Climate Change|environment minister]] and [[Quebec lieutenant]], [[Lucien Bouchard]], to view the companion accord as a betrayal of Meech.<ref>{{cite book |last=MacDonald |first=L. Ian   |title=From Bourassa to Bourassa: Wilderness to Restoration |location=Montreal |publisher=McGill-Queen's University Press   |isbn=0-7735-2392-8 |year=2002 |edition=2nd |page=304–305}}</ref> Bouchard later resigned from Cabinet and founded the [[Bloc Québécois]], a pro-sovereigntist party.<ref name="CBCAug2014">{{cite news|title=Lucien Bouchard says 'wounds' remain with Brian Mulroney|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/lucien-bouchard-says-wounds-remain-with-brian-mulroney-1.2742836|access-date=March 15, 2018|agency=The Canadian Press|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=August 21, 2014|archive-date=August 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820044421/http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/lucien-bouchard-says-wounds-remain-with-brian-mulroney-1.2742836|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Minister of the environment (1991–1993) ===

Charest returned to cabinet as [[minister of the environment]] in 1991. In that role, he led the Canadian delegation at the 1992 [[Earth Summit]] in [[Rio de Janeiro]], Brazil.<ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=Jean Charest |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/jean-j-charest |website=Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=24 December 2023 |date=17 April 2013}}</ref>

=== 1993 PC leadership bid ===
When Mulroney announced his retirement as PC leader and prime minister, Charest was a candidate for the leadership of the party at the [[1993 Progressive Conservative leadership convention]].

[[Karlheinz Schreiber]] alleged he gave $30,000 in cash to Charest's campaign for the Tory leadership in 1993. However Charest himself says it was only $10,000 although federal leadership election rules permitted such cash donations.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/mulroney-deal-wasn-t-airbus-kickback-says-schreiber-1.633632 |title=Mulroney deal wasn't Airbus kickback, says Schreiber |date=December 4, 2007 |work=CBC.ca |access-date=October 13, 2021}}</ref> As of 2007, rules against such donations for provincial party leadership campaigns still do not exist in Québec.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/editorial/story.html?id=6c355f95-d1c1-49d5-ae51-d51e384a1cb8 |title=No smoking gun in Schreiber cash for Charest |work=The Gazette (Montreal) |date=December 8, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071209022916/http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/editorial/story.html?id=6c355f95-d1c1-49d5-ae51-d51e384a1cb8 |archive-date=December 9, 2007 }}</ref>

Charest placed a strong second to Defence Minister [[Kim Campbell]], who had held a large lead going into the convention. Charest served as [[Deputy Prime Minister (Canada)|Deputy Prime Minister]] and Minister of Industry, Science and Technology in Campbell's short-lived cabinet.

=== PC Party leader (1993–1998) ===

In the [[1993 Canadian federal election|1993 election]], the PCs suffered the worst defeat for a governing party at the federal level. Only two of the party's 295 candidates were elected, Charest and [[Elsie Wayne]]. Charest himself was re-elected fairly handily in Sherbrooke, taking 56 per cent of the vote. As the only surviving member of what turned out to be the last PC Cabinet, Charest was appointed interim party leader and confirmed in the post in April 1995. Charest, therefore, became the first person of [[francophone]] descent to lead the Progressive Conservative Party.<ref>Terrance Wills, "Farewell to the Commons: MPs bid Charest adieu", ''[[The Montreal Gazette]]'', April 3, 1998, pg. A.1.FRO.</ref>

Charest participated in the 1994 class of the [[World Economic Forum]]'s [[Young Global Leaders|Global Leaders for Tomorrow]] program.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1994 |title=Global Leaders for Tomorrow Class of 1994 |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GLT_ClassOf1994.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816174540/http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GLT_ClassOf1994.pdf |archive-date=2016-08-16 |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=[[World Economic Forum]]}}</ref>

During the [[1995 Quebec referendum|1995 referendum on Quebec's sovereignty]], Charest was vice-president of the "No" campaign (Comité national des Québécoises et des Québécois pour le NON).

In the [[1997 Canadian federal election|1997 federal election]], Charest campaigned on securing national unity in Canada by recognizing Quebec as being a distinct society within Canada, along with the proposal of a "New Covenant" for Canadian confederation to be negotiated between the federal and provincial governments.<ref>Frizzell, Alan (ed.); Pammett, Jon H (ed.). 1998. Pp. 49.</ref> Charest and the PCs benefited from rapidly rising in popularity amongst all language groups in Quebec, where voters were found to have preferred Charest over [[Gilles Duceppe]], the leader of the Bloc Québécois.<ref>Clarke, Harold D.; Kornberg, Allan;Wearing, Peter. A Polity on the Edge: Canada. Pp. 246.</ref> In the election, the Tories received 18.8 per cent of the popular vote and won 20 seats, mostly in [[Atlantic Canada]]. Although the party's seat count had recovered (as they won only two seats in 1993), Charest considered the result a disappointment.  While the Tories finished only half a point behind [[Reform Party of Canada|Reform]] in terms of the popular vote, their support was too dispersed west of Quebec to translate into seats.  They were also hampered by vote-splitting with Reform in rural central Ontario, a traditional Tory stronghold where Reform had made significant inroads.

==Early provincial political career (1998–2003)==
In April 1998, Charest gave in to considerable public and political pressure,<ref>[[The Canadian Press]], "Charest takes Liberal reins: New leader heaps scorn on Quebec separatists," ''[[Calgary Herald]]'' May 1, 1998, pg. A.4.</ref> especially among business circles, to leave federal politics and become leader of the Quebec Liberal Party. Charest was considered by many to be the best hope for the [[Quebec federalism|federalist]] QLP to defeat the [[Quebec separatism|sovereigntist]] [[Parti Québécois]] government.

In the [[1998 Quebec general election|1998 election]], the Quebec Liberals received more votes than the PQ, but because the Liberal vote was concentrated in fewer ridings, the PQ won enough seats to form another majority government. Charest won his own riding of Sherbrooke with a majority of 907 votes.

In the [[2003 Quebec general election|April 2003 election]], Charest led the Quebec Liberals to a majority, ending nine years of PQ rule. He declared he had a mandate to reform health care, cut taxes, reduce spending and reduce the size of government.<ref>Kevin Dougherty, "Thousands of Quebecers protest Charest labour plans," ''[[Calgary Herald]]'', November 30, 2003, pg. A.8.</ref> Charest's Liberals won 76 seats, forming a majority government, and won his own riding of Sherbrooke with a majority of 2,597 votes.

==Premier of Quebec (2003–2012)==

===Economic policy===

Charest increased the [[Sales taxes in Canada#Provincial sales taxes|Quebec sales tax]] (QST) thrice. In 2011, his government raised the rate from 7.5 per cent to 8.5 per cent before raising it to 9.5 per cent in 2012. The third and last hike came into effect in 2013, with the rate rising to 9.975 per cent.<ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=Charest budget aims to keep a tight lid on spending |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/charest-budget-aims-to-keep-a-tight-lid-on-spending/article572417/ |website=The Globe and Mail |access-date=24 December 2023 |date=16 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Joannette |first1=Mélanie |title=The QST rate will increase from 9.5% to 9.975% |url=https://www.impots-ici.com/en/the-qst-rate-will-increase/ |website=Impôts Ici! |access-date=27 December 2023 |date=1 November 2012}}</ref>

In October 2007, Quebec became the first province in Canada to implement a [[Carbon pricing in Canada|carbon tax]]. At the time it was implemented, the tax amounted to 0.8 cents per litre of gas and 0.9 cents per litre of diesel fuel.<ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=Quebec to collect nation's 1st carbon tax |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-to-collect-nation-s-1st-carbon-tax-1.684888 |website=CBC News |access-date=27 December 2023 |date=7 June 2007}}</ref>

[[File:Quebec Premier Jean Charest visits US Consulate.jpg|thumb|Charest with [[United States]] [[Consul (representative)|Consul General]] Peter O'Donohue in November 2010]]

Much of the [[fiscal policy]] of the Charest government was based upon the expectation that new revenues could be obtained from a resolution of the fiscal imbalance believed to exist between the federal and provincial governments. The [[Harper government]] was widely expected to address this issue through increased [[equalization payment]]s, while falling short of Quebec's overall demands.<ref>{{cite news  |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-argues-ottawa-shorted-province-1b-in-federal-budget-1.782771 |title=Quebec argues Ottawa shorted province $1B in federal budget |date=January 27, 2009 |work=[[CBC News]] |access-date=April 2, 2014}}</ref>

Charest was an early proponent of free trade with the [[European Union]], which eventually manifested in the 2016 [[Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Blouin |first=Louis |last2=Bovet |first2=Sébastien |date=March 10, 2025 |title=Mark Carney camp offers role to former Quebec premier Jean Charest: sources |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mark-carney-jean-charest-1.7479798 |access-date=March 16, 2025 |work=[[CBC News]]}}</ref>

==== Plan Nord ====

In May 2011, Charest's government launched the [[Plan Nord]], an economic development strategy to develop the natural resources extraction sector in the part of Quebec to the north of the 49th parallel. The plan, to be carried out over 25 years, would foster over C$80 billion in energy, mining, and forestry investments and create or consolidate 20,000 jobs a year for the duration.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://plannord.gouv.qc.ca/english/documents/action-plan.pdf |year=2011 |isbn=978-2-550-61430-2 |author=Government of Quebec |title=Building Northern Québec Together : The Project of a Generation |archive-date=March 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330171122/http://plannord.gouv.qc.ca/english/documents/action-plan.pdf |page=6}}</ref> The proposed plan, described as "a potential centrepiece" of Charest's political legacy, received the full support of the mining industry, the [[Cree]]s and [[Inuit]] representatives but was met with scepticism and downright opposition by the [[Innu]]s and most environmentalists.<ref>{{cite news|author=The Canadian Press |work=CBC.ca |title=Charest unveils $80B plan for northern Quebec |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/charest-unveils-80b-plan-for-northern-quebec-1.1001327 |date=May 9, 2011 |access-date=March 21, 2012}}</ref>

===Environmental policy===
[[File:Labeaume, Harper et Charest FMLF2012.JPG|thumb|[[Régis Labeaume]] (left), [[Stephen Harper]] (centre) and Jean Charest at the [[:fr:Forum mondial de la langue française|Forum mondial de la langue française]] in [[Quebec City]] on July 2, 2012.]]
Charest also attempted to distinguish himself on the issue of the environment. His vocal opposition to the federal decision to opt out of the [[Kyoto Accord]], and his insistence that Quebec would seek to meet its own Kyoto targets has earned him considerable support. His government set ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets, petroleum royalties, and a 2011-2020 Action Plan for Electric Vehicles.<ref>{{cite web|title=Action Plan|url=http://transportselectriques.gouv.qc.ca/en/action-plan/|website=Transports électriques|publisher=Gouvernement du Québec|access-date=February 19, 2018}}</ref> He also established the Sustainable Development Act, which adds to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms the right for every person to live in a healthful environment in which biodiversity is preserved. In 2012, Charest was awarded the Fray International Sustainability Award for his work and advocacy towards sustainable development in politics.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jean Charest is awarded the Fray International Sustainability Award|url=https://www.flogen.org/?p=20&sp=1&bio=Charest|website=www.flogen.org|publisher=FLOGEN Star OUTREACH|language=en}}</ref>

===Other policy===

In the 2003 election, Charest had promised to allow the cities that had been forcibly merged by the Parti Québécois government to hold referendums which would allow to [[demerger|demerge]] and return to their previous situation. This promise was seen as key to his victory in many ridings, such as those in the suburbs around [[Longueuil]] and [[Quebec City]] and the continued support of the Anglophone community in the West Island of [[Montreal]]. In office, however, Charest retreated from his promise. Municipalities were allowed to hold demerger referendums if at least 10 per cent of the electorate signed a petition calling for them, and only if more than 35 per cent participated in the voting process.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sfmm429.qc.ca/Defusion/ProjetLoi9.pdf |title=03-f009s.pm6 |access-date=July 1, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327021816/http://sfmm429.qc.ca/Defusion/ProjetLoi9.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2009 }}</ref> In some former municipalities, such as [[Saint-Laurent, Quebec|Saint Laurent]] on the Island of Montreal, the turnout of the vote was of 75.2 per cent in favour of a demerger, but it was invalidated because the voter turnout was just 28.6 per cent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/dossiers/defusions/referendums/resultats/regions.asp?region=1 |title=Fusion, défusion. À l'heure des référendums |date=August 19, 2009 |work=Radio-Canada.ca |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930212519/http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/dossiers/defusions/referendums/resultats/regions.asp?region=1 |archive-date=September 30, 2007 }}</ref>

The demerger process also resulted in the restructuring of the existing [[megacity|megacities]], with both these and the demerged cities handing over massive powers over [[taxation]] and local services to the new "agglomeration councils". The makeup of these councils was based on the population of the municipalities involved, with the mayors having the right to unilaterally appoint all of the individuals who would represent their cities on the council. The resulting structure was seen by many to be less democratic than the one which had preceded it, as demerged [[municipality|municipalities]] were denied an effective voice, and the city councils of the major cities were substantially weakened by the power of the mayors to go over the heads of opposition councillors and exercise power through their appointees to the [[urban agglomeration|agglomeration]] body.

During his mandate as Premier, Charest made some efforts to expand the place of Québec in the international community. The province was granted representation at [[UNESCO]], the cultural branch of the [[United Nations]]. Charest also voiced some support for the [[Calgary Declaration]] (1997), which recognized Quebec as "unique."<ref name="Choice">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/quebecers-should-have-a-choice-chevrette-says-1.163208|title=Quebecers should have a choice, Chevrette says|date=April 8, 1998|publisher=[[CBC News]]|access-date=May 17, 2018}}</ref>

During the debate in the Parliament of Canada over [[Québécois nation motion|recognizing Quebec as a nation]] within Canada, Charest stated that Quebec was a "nation" no matter what other parts of Canada said—that this was not up to anyone else to define.

===2012 student protests===
{{Main|2012 Quebec student protests}}

In 2011, the Charest government decided to increase the tuition fees in all Quebec universities. Three major student unions began to organise demonstrations in [[Montreal]] and in [[Quebec City]]. In March 2012, many CEGEPs and universities voted for a student strike. The government faced major challenges when students demonstrated and went on strike by boycotting classes to protest planned tuition increases.  Every month large demonstrations took place in several cities across [[Quebec]]. The Premier and his government were accused by some, including the students unions, the [[Parti Québécois|PQ]] and [[Quebec Solidaire|Québec Solidaire]] of being too hard. On May 4, 2012, the [[Quebec Liberal Party]] held a party conference in [[Victoriaville]] and a student demonstration was suppressed by [[Sûreté du Québec]] police.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/712840/valade-maxence-poursuite-sq-manifestation-perte-oeil-victoriaville|title=Une victime de la manifestation de Victoriaville en 2012 poursuit la SQ|website=Radio-Canada.ca}}</ref> On May 14, 2012, then [[Deputy premier of Quebec|Deputy Premier]] and [[Minister of Education (Quebec)|Education minister]], [[Line Beauchamp]] resigned<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/quebecs-education-minister-line-beauchamp-resigns-amid-student-crisis|title=Quebec Liberals' majority narrows as Education Minister Line Beauchamp resigns amid student crisis|website=nationalpost}}</ref> and [[Michelle Courchesne]] was appointed [[Deputy premier of Quebec|Deputy Premier]] and [[Minister of Education (Quebec)|Minister of Education]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latribune.ca/actualites/michelle-courchesne-redevient-ministre-de-leducation-a999bb5d1da10a51b312f019a36565f2|title=Michelle Courchesne redevient ministre de l'Éducation|date=May 14, 2012|website=La Tribune}}</ref> The government passed [[Bill 78]] to impose restrictions on protests; this caused controversy, with the Barreau du Québec, among others, expressing concern about possible infringement of constitutional rights.  Bill 78 was revoked by the [[Pauline Marois]] government.

===Controversies===

On December 6, 2007, the Opposition urged Charest to testify to the [[House of Commons of Canada]] [[House of Commons of Canada Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics|Ethics Committee]] in its investigation of [[Karlheinz Schreiber]]. Schreiber told the committee he paid [[Canadian dollar|$]]30,000 in cash to Charest's brother to help fund Charest's 1993 leadership bid for the federal [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservative]] party.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--not stated--> |date=December 6, 2007 |title=Quebec opposition parties want Charest to testify on Schreiber link |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/north-bay-nugget-quebec-opposition-parti/139414165/ |work=[[North Bay Nugget]] |agency=[[The Canadian Press]] |location=Quebec City, Quebec |page=A8 |access-date=January 23, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

Charest's third term was marked by several allegations of questionable financing from the Quebec Liberal Party as well as a multitude of scandals in the construction sector in Quebec, the loss of $39.8 billion from the [[Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec]], and the [[Marc Bellemare]] (Charest's former justice minister) affair. Bellemare alleged in 2010 that he had been pressured by Quebec Liberal fundraisers during the appointment of judges in 2003. In response, the Charest government created the Bastarache commission, where Charest testified in defence.<ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=Témoignage du premier ministre Jean Charest devant la Commission Bastarache |url=https://perspective.usherbrooke.ca/bilan/quebec/evenements/23913 |access-date=28 December 2023 |date=23 September 2010}}</ref> Charest however refused to launch a public inquiry into the collusion and financing of political parties and corruption in the construction industry, despite a 2011 survey indicating that 77 per cent of Quebecers demanded such an inquiry.<ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=Les Québécois exigent une commission |url=https://www.tvanouvelles.ca/2011/09/16/les-quebecois-exigent-une-commission |access-date=28 December 2023 |date=16 September 2011}}</ref> Charest finally launched an inquiry in 2012 through the creation of the [[Charbonneau commission]] in response to rising discontent within the Quebec Liberal caucus.<ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=Après la controverse, la commission Charbonneau |url=https://www.ledevoir.com/politique/quebec/350483/apres-la-controverse-la-commission-charbonneau |website=Le Devoir |access-date=28 December 2023 |date=19 May 2012}}</ref>

=== Elections ===

====2007 Quebec election====
{{Main|2007 Quebec general election}}

The Charest government was deeply unpopular during its first years in office, enjoying a public approval rating of below 50 per cent in most opinion polls and falling to the low twenties in voter support. In the first few weeks after [[André Boisclair]] was elected leader of the PQ, polls showed that Charest and the Liberals would be roundly defeated in the next election.  Boisclair did not perform well as Leader of the Opposition, and Charest's numbers recovered somewhat.  A poll conducted by [[Léger Marketing]] for ''[[Le Devoir]]'' placed the Liberals at 34 per cent against 32 per cent for the PQ and 24 per cent for the [[Action démocratique du Québec|ADQ]], with Charest obtaining a higher personal approval rating than the PQ leader. Liberal support, however remained heavily concentrated in [[English-speaking Quebecker|Anglophone]] and [[Allophone (Quebec)|Allophone]] [[electoral district (Canada)|riding]]s in the west of Montreal, meaning that the increase in support would not necessarily translate into seats.

On February 21, 2007, Charest asked the Lieutenant-Governor to dissolve the [[National Assembly of Quebec|National Assembly]] and call an [[2007 Quebec general election|election]] on March 26, 2007. Charest conducted an extraordinary session the day before with Finance Minister [[Michel Audet]] delivering the 2007 budget.

Prior to his call for an election, Charest revealed his platform which included income tax cuts of about $250 million. In the last week of the campaign, Charest promised an additional $700 million in tax cuts—some of it coming for the additional equalization money from the 2007 federal budget;<ref>{{in lang|fr}} [http://lcn.canoe.com/lcn/infos/national/quebec2007/archives/2007/03/20070320-133306.html "Jean Charest promet 700 M$ en baisses d'impôt"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070323110553/http://lcn.canoe.com/lcn/infos/national/quebec2007/archives/2007/03/20070320-133306.html |date=March 23, 2007 }}. [[Le Canal Nouvelles|LCN]], March 20, 2007.</ref> reduction of hospital wait times; improvement and increase of French courses at school; an increase of the number of daycare spaces; and an increase in tuition fees for university students ($50 per semester until 2012).<ref>{{in lang|fr}} [http://lcn.canoe.com/infos/national/archives/2007/02/20070216-134433.html "Le PLQ présente ses grandes orientations"] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120712122649/http://lcn.canoe.com/infos/national/archives/2007/02/20070216-134433.html |date=July 12, 2012 }}. [[Le Canal Nouvelles|LCN]], February 16, 2007.</ref> The last measure was met with criticism from students' associations, and a more-radical student association, the Association pour une solidarité syndicale étudiante (formerly known as the CASSEE) had also considered a strike.<ref>{{in lang|fr}} [http://lcn.canoe.com/infos/national/archives/2007/02/20070219-160907.html "Les étudiants menacent de déclencher une grève"] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120710012036/http://lcn.canoe.com/infos/national/archives/2007/02/20070219-160907.html |date=July 10, 2012 }}. [[Le Canal Nouvelles|LCN]], February 19, 2007.</ref>

Charest won a [[minority government]] in the election, and held onto his own seat. On election night, early numbers had shown Charest losing his seat of [[Sherbrooke (provincial electoral district)|Sherbrooke]] to his PQ opponent; however, this situation was reversed once it became apparent that the advanced poll ballot boxes which heavily favoured Charest had not yet been counted.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/charest-keeps-seat-as-liberals-cling-to-power-in-quebec-1.676570|title=Charest keeps seat as Liberals cling to power in Quebec|publisher=[[CBC News]]|date=March 27, 2007|access-date=October 13, 2021}}</ref> The resulting minority government was the first since 1878 when [[Charles Boucher de Boucherville]] was Premier.

====2008 Quebec election====
{{Main|2008 Quebec general election}}

[[File:Jean_Charest_27_août_2012.jpg|thumb|Charest in 2012]]
In November 2008, arguing that Quebecers needed a majority government during difficult economic times, Charest called a [[snap election]] for December 8.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--not stated--> |date=November 5, 2008 |title=Quebec premier seeks 'clear mandate' in calling Dec. 8 election |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-premier-seeks-clear-mandate-in-calling-dec-8-election-1.702750 |url-status=live |work=[[CBC News]] |location=Montreal, Quebec |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205193944/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-premier-seeks-clear-mandate-in-calling-dec-8-election-1.702750 |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |access-date=January 23, 2024}}</ref> His party captured  a historic third consecutive term as he brought the Liberals back to majority governance. It was the first time a party had won a third consecutive term in Quebec since the [[Quiet Revolution]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Macpherson |first=Don |author-link=Don Macpherson (journalist) |date=December 9, 2008 |title=Just enough voters turned up for Liberal win |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-just-enough-voters-turned-up/139415630/ }} and {{cite news |title=Charest first to win three in a row since Duplessis |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-charest-first-to-win-three-i/139415709/ |work=[[The Gazette (Montreal)|The Gazette]] |location=Montreal, Quebec |pages=A1-A2 |access-date=January 23, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

====2012 Quebec election====
On August 1, 2012, Charest launched his electoral campaign for the [[2012 Quebec general election]] from the [[Quebec-Jean Lesage International Airport|Quebec Jean-Lesage International Airport]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ici.radio-canada.ca/info/videos/media-5996556/quebec-en-campagne-electorale|title=Le Québec en campagne électorale &#124; Vidéos &#124; ICI Radio-Canada.ca|website=Radio-Canada}}</ref> with the slogan ''For Quebec''. The QLP focused its campaign on the issues of respect of the law and civil order, referencing the demonstrations of the previous months. They claimed to be the party of the silent majority who did not support the student protest movement. It was the first provincial election in Quebec to feature the newly formed [[Coalition Avenir Québec|CAQ]] party led by [[François Legault]] on the ballot. On the night of September 4, Charest and his party lost the general election. The result was a hung parliament, with the [[Parti Québécois]] of [[Pauline Marois]] being the party with the most seats (54). The [[Quebec Liberal Party]] became the official opposition with 50 seats.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.electionsquebec.qc.ca/francais/provincial/resultats-electoraux/elections-generales.php?e=72&s=2|title=Élections générales|website=Élections Québec}}</ref> Charest lost his own seat of [[Sherbrooke (provincial electoral district)|Sherbrooke]] in the [[Eastern Townships]], a seat that he had held since 1984, both in the federal and provincial legislatures. Charest announced on September 5 in [[Quebec City]] that he would resign as Quebec Liberal Party leader.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvanouvelles.ca/2012/09/05/jean-charest-demissionne|title=Jean Charest démissionne|website=TVA Nouvelles}}</ref>

==Post-premiership==
Charest was formerly a consultant for [[Huawei]] and helped support and advise [[Huawei]] for its participation for [[5G]] network plans in Canada and to be a partner with [[McCarthy Tétrault|McCarthy Tétrault LLP]]. Charest also claims he helped with the [[Meng Wanzhou]] case.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Boutilier |first1=Alex |title=Huawei says Charest focused on 5G issues when working with the Chinese telecom |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8684870/huawei-says-charest-focused-on-5g-issues-when-doing-work-for-the-chinese-telecom/ |website=Global News |access-date=15 March 2022 |ref=14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Fife |first1=Robert |last2=Chase |first2=Steven |date=2020-01-08 |title=Charest advising Huawei in Meng Wanzhou case and on 5G networks |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-charest-advising-huawei-in-meng-wanzhou-case-and-on-5g-networks/ |access-date=2022-03-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Fife |first1=Robert |last2=Bailey |first2=Ian |date=2022-03-03 |title=Jean Charest says he's not afraid of a tough battle for Conservative leadership |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-jean-charest-says-he-ready-for-a-tough-battle-for-conservative/ |access-date=2022-03-08}}</ref>

After turning 65 in June 2023, Charest reached the mandatory retirement age for equity partners at McCarthy Tétrault. While the law firm offered to keep him on a counsel role, Charest refused. In January 2024, Charest decided to leave McCarthy Tétrault and joined the Therrien Couture Joli-Cœur group.<ref>{{cite news |last=Doolittle |first=Robyn |author-link=Robyn Doolittle |date=January 17, 2024 |title=Jean Charest leaves law firm McCarthy Tetrault to join Quebec-based TCJ |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-jean-charest-leaves-law-firm-mccarthy-tetrault-to-join-montreals-tcj/ |url-status=live |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |location=Toronto, Ontario |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240123131841/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-jean-charest-leaves-law-firm-mccarthy-tetrault-to-join-montreals-tcj/ |archive-date=January 23, 2024 |access-date=January 23, 2024}}</ref>

After [[Mark Carney]] won the [[2025 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election]], his team reached out to Charest for a senior role, possibly as a cabinet minister, but Charest declined, only being willing to accept a post from Carney if the Liberals formed government after a federal election.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Rana |first=Abbas |date=March 16, 2025 |title=Carney Liberals reach out to prominent Tories and New Democrats to recruit ‘star’ candidates for next election |url=https://www.hilltimes.com/story/2025/03/16/carney-liberals-reach-out-to-prominent-conservatives-and-new-democrats-to-recruit-star-candidates-for-next-election/453975/ |access-date=March 16, 2025 |work=[[The Hill Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Cochrane |first=David |date=March 12, 2025 |title=Mark Carney aims for smaller cabinet, team planning to drop over a dozen ministers: sources |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carney-swearing-in-friday-1.7482023 |access-date=March 16, 2025 |work=[[CBC News]]}}</ref>

===2022 Conservative leadership bid===
On March 9, 2022, Charest announced that he would be a candidate for the [[2022 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election]]. He had previously considered running in the [[2020 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election|2020 leadership election]], though he ultimately decided not to.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ipolitics.ca/2020/01/21/charests-tory-leadership-bid-appears-to-be-on-hold/|title=Charest backs out of Tory leadership bid|last=Dougherty|first=Kevin|date=21 January 2020|website=iPolitics|access-date=21 January 2020}}</ref>

With 16 per cent of the points, Charest finished a distant second to winner [[Pierre Poilievre]], who took 68 per cent of points on the first ballot.<ref>{{cite news |first=Catherine |last=Cullen |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/jean-charest-conservative-leadership-1.6378920|title=Jean Charest confirms he's running to lead the Conservative Party |work=[[CBC News]] |date=March 9, 2022 |access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref>

==Electoral record==
{{main|Electoral history of Jean Charest}}

==Honours==

*[[125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal]] (1992)
*[[Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal]] (2002)
*[[Bavarian Order of Merit]] (2007)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baviere-quebec.org/archives/2007/20.en.php |date=July 12, 2007 |title=The Prime Minister of Quebec Jean Charest receives the Bavarian Order of Merit |work=Baviere-quebec.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718010112/http://www.baviere-quebec.org/archives/2007/20.en.php |archive-date=July 18, 2011 }}</ref>
*Commander of [[France]]'s [[Legion of Honour]] (February 2, 2009)<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Jean J. Charest|encyclopedia=The Canadian Encyclopedia|publisher=The Historica-Dominion Institute|date=April 17, 2013|first1=Tabitha|last1=Marshall|first2=Norman|last2=Hillmer|first3=Lorraine|last3=Snyder|url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0011432|access-date=August 19, 2021|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818145851/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/jean-j-charest|archive-date=August 18, 2021}}</ref>

{| border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" align="center" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background:white; border: 1px #0047AB solid; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-  bgcolor="white"
! colspan="4" align="center"|<span style="color:black;">Ribbon bars of The Honourable Jean Charest</span> 
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=125canada ribbon.png}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=UK Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=QEII Diamond Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=Legion Honneur Commandeur ribbon.svg}}
|-
|}

==See also==

* [[List of premiers of Quebec]]
* [[Politics of Canada]]
* [[Politics of Quebec]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Quebec MNA biography|charest-jean-525|fr=no}}
* {{Canadian Parliament links|ID=3480}}

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