View source for Michel Bissonnet

{{Short description|Canadian politician (born 1942)}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder | name= Michel Bissonnet
| image= Monsieur Bissonet.jpg
| caption= 
| cabinet= President of the National Assembly of Québec
| birth_date= {{Birth date and age|1942|03|28}}
| birth_place= [[Montreal]], Quebec
| death_date=
| death_place=
| profession= Attorney
| party= [[Quebec Liberal Party]] <small>(provincial)</small><br />[[Union Montreal]] <small>(2008-2013)</small><br />Independent <small>(2013)</small><br />[[Équipe Denis Coderre pour Montréal|Ensemble Montréal]] <small>(2013-)</small>
| residence=[[Montreal]], [[Quebec]]
| office4=[[National Assembly of Quebec|MNA]] for [[Jeanne-Mance (provincial electoral district)|Jeanne-Mance]] 
| term_start4= April 13, 1981
| term_end4= April 14, 2003
| predecessor4=[[Henri Laberge]]
| successor4=riding dissolved
| office5=Mayor of Saint-Leonard
| term_start5=November 12, 1978
| term_end5=April 13, 1981
| predecessor5=Jean Di Zazzo
| successor5=Antonio di Ciocco
| office3= 42nd [[President of the National Assembly of Quebec]]
| term_start3=June 4, 2003
| term_end3= July 14, 2008
| predecessor3= [[Louise Harel]]
| successor3=[[François Gendron]]
| office2=[[National Assembly of Quebec|MNA]] for [[Jeanne-Mance–Viger]]
| term_start2= April 14, 2003
| term_end2= September 24, 2008
| predecessor2=first member
| successor2=[[Filomena Rotiroti]]
| office1=Borough mayor for [[Saint-Leonard, Quebec|Saint-Leonard]] and [[Montreal City Council]]lor
| term_start1= September 21, 2008
| term_end1=November 2, 2025
| predecessor1=[[Frank Zampino]]
| successor1=[[Dominic Perri]]
| portfolio= 
| footnotes=
| spouse= 
|}}

'''Michel Bissonnet''' (born March 28, 1942) is a Canadian politician who served as [[Parti Libéral du Québec|Liberal]] member of the National Assembly as well as [[President of the National Assembly of Quebec|President]] (Speaker) of the [[National Assembly of Quebec]]. He also served as the mayor and city councillor of [[Saint-Leonard, Quebec|Saint-Leonard]] a [[Boroughs of Montreal|borough of Montreal.]] 

==Background==

Bissonnet obtained a [[licence]] in law at [[Université de Montréal]] in 1976 and was admitted to the [[Barreau du Québec]] the following year. Prior to his years as a lawyer, he worked for the City of [[Montreal]] for 17 years in various positions including [[archivist]] and assistant office manager.

==NDP candidate==

Bissonnet was formerly involved in the federal [[New Democratic Party]] and its Quebec wing, the defunct [[Nouveau Parti démocratique du Québec (1963)|Nouveau Parti démocratique du Québec]]. He was a candidate in the 1967 federal by-election for that party in the district of [[Papineau (electoral district)|Papineau]]. He finished third with 15 per cent of the vote. [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]] candidate André Ouellet was elected.

==City politics==

He ran as an ''Action Laval'' candidate for the city council of Laval in 1969 and served as mayor for the city of [[Saint-Leonard, Quebec|Saint-Léonard]] from 1978 to 1981.

==Member of the Provincial Legislature==

Bissonnet successfully ran as the Liberal candidate in the district of [[Jeanne-Mance (provincial electoral district)|Jeanne-Mance]] in the [[1981 Quebec general election|1981 election]].  He was re-elected in the [[1985 Quebec general election|1985]], [[1989 Quebec general election|1989]], [[1994 Quebec general election|1994]] and [[1998 Quebec general election|1998]] elections.  He also won re-election in the merged district of [[Jeanne-Mance–Viger]] in [[2003 Quebec general election|2003]] and [[2007 Quebec general election|2007]]. After 27 years in the National Assembly, he stepped down in mid-2008 as both President of the National Assembly and MNA to run for borough mayor of Saint-Leonard in that year's by-election.

==Speaker==

He served as Vice-President of the National Assembly during his third term of office from 1989 to 1994, Assistant [[Whip (politics)|Whip]] of the Opposition from 1994 to 1997 and Third Vice-President of the National Assembly during his fifth term from 1999 to 2003. He became the President of the National Assembly (Speaker of the House) after the Liberal victory in 2003. In 2007, Bissonnet was reconfirmed as President of the National Assembly.

==Borough Mayor==

In July 2008, Bissonnet announced that he would leave provincial politics and run again for the mayoral position of Saint-Léonard, now a borough of Montreal following the [[2002–2006 municipal reorganization of Montreal|2002 amalgamation]]. He had become the longest serving MNA of the [[38th National Assembly of Quebec|38th National Assembly]], even though he had never been appointed to the [[Executive Council of Quebec|Cabinet]].<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20120720073041/http://lcn.canoe.ca/lcn/infos/national/archives/2008/07/20080712-084649.html Michel Bissonnet doit confirmer sa démission lundi - LCN - National<!-- Bot generated title -->]}}</ref>

Bissonnet ran under Montreal Mayor [[Gérald Tremblay]]'s [[Union Montreal]] label. An election had been called to fill the position in the aftermath of the resignation of [[Frank Zampino]].  Bissonnet was elected with 94.3 per cent of the vote in September 2008, against Livio DiCelmo of [[Projet Montréal]].<ref>[http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20080922/CPACTUALITES/80921128/6737/CPACTUALITES Victoire écrasante de Michel Bissonnet, La Presse, Montreal, September 22, 2008]</ref> He was re-elected in the [[2009 Montreal municipal election|2009 municipal elections.]] 

In the [[2013 Montreal municipal election]]s, he was re-elected borough mayor of Saint-Léonard under [[Équipe Denis Coderre pour Montréal|Équipe Denis Coderre]]. He was re-elected in 2017 and in 2021 as well. He consistently got more than 64% of the vote in each election. He announced in late June 2025 that he would not be running for sixth term as borough mayor. He cited health reasons and his age as a few factors for his decision.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Delacour |first=Emmanuel |date=2025-06-26 |title=DÉPART À LA RETRAITE DE MICHEL BISSONNET : 47 ANS AU SERVICE DES LÉONARDOIS |url=https://estmediamontreal.com/depart-a-la-retraite-de-michel-bissonnet-47-ans-au-service-des-leonardois/ |access-date=2025-07-03 |website=EST MÉDIA Montréal |language=fr-CA}}</ref> He is the longest-serving mayor in Saint-Leonard’s history, with a total of 20 years in office; 17 as borough mayor and 3 as mayor of the former independent city.

==Provincial electoral record (incomplete)==
'''Jeanne-Mance–Viger'''
{{2007 Quebec general election/Jeanne-Mance–Viger}}

{{Election box begin | title=[[2003 Quebec general election]]}}
|-
{{Canadian party colour|QC|Liberal|row}}
|[[Quebec Liberal Party|Liberal]]
|[[Michel Bissonnet]]
|align="right"|26801
|align="right"|79.89
|align="right"|
{{CANelec|QC|PQ|Robert La Rose|4303|12.83|}}
{{CANelec|QC|ADQ|Carole Giroux|2080|6.20|}}
|-
{{CANelec|QC|Bloc Pot|Eddy Guarino|365|1.09|}}
|}

'''Jeanne-Mance'''
{{Election box begin | title=[[1998 Quebec general election]]}}
|-
{{Canadian party colour|QC|Liberal|row}}
|[[Quebec Liberal Party|Liberal]]
|[[Michel Bissonnet]]
|align="right"|22669
|align="right"|77.31
|align="right"|
{{CANelec|QC|PQ|Robert La Rose|4779|16.30|}}
{{CANelec|QC|ADQ|Jean-François Pelletier|1596|5.44|}}
{{CANelec|QC|Equality|Peter Margo|139|0.47|}}
{{CANelec|QC|PDS|Stéphane Simard|78|0.27|}}
{{CANelec|QC|[[Parti innovateur du Québec]] |Jean Yves Thorne|62|0.21|}}
|}

{{Election box begin | title=[[1994 Quebec general election]]}}
|-
{{Canadian party colour|QC|Liberal|row}}
|[[Quebec Liberal Party|Liberal]]
|[[Michel Bissonnet]]
|align="right"|21294
|align="right"|74.22
|align="right"|
{{CANelec|QC|PQ|Jean Emmanuel Charlot|6534|22.77|}}
{{CANelec|QC|[[Parti innovateur du Québec]]|Monique Robillard|540|1.88|}}
{{CANelec|QC|Natural Law|Ronald L'Italien|322|1.12|}}
|}

{{Election box begin | title=[[1989 Quebec general election]]}}
|-
{{Canadian party colour|QC|Liberal|row}}
|[[Quebec Liberal Party|Liberal]]
|[[Michel Bissonnet]]
|align="right"|17296
|align="right"|65.06
|align="right"|
{{CANelec|QC|PQ|Louise Brouillet|6959|26.18|}}
{{CANelec|QC|Equality|Tony Cipriani|1930|7.26|}}
{{CANelec|QC|Parti des travailleurs du Québec|Serge Laurenzi|399|1.50|}}
|}

{{Election box begin | title=[[1985 Quebec general election]]}}
|-
{{Canadian party colour|QC|Liberal|row}}
|[[Quebec Liberal Party|Liberal]]
|[[Michel Bissonnet]]
|align="right"|20772
|align="right"|70.24
|align="right"|
{{CANelec|QC|PQ|Marielle Laberge |13472|25.33|}}
{{CANelec|QC|PC|Michel Denis|609|2.06|}}
{{CANelec|QC|New Democratic Party|Vincent Guadagnano|411|1.39|}}
{{CANelec|QC|UN|Roland Thibault|150|0.51|}}
{{CANelec|QC|Socialist Movement|Antonio Vitale|100|0.34|}}
{{CANelec|QC|[[Parti du socialisme chrétien|Christian Socialist]]|Daniel Malboeuf|40|0.13|}}
|}

{{Election box begin | title=[[1981 Quebec general election]]}}
|-
{{Canadian party colour|QC|Liberal|row}}
|[[Quebec Liberal Party|Liberal]]
|[[Michel Bissonnet]]
|align="right"|19652
|align="right"|58.65
|align="right"|
{{CANelec|QC|PQ|Henri Laberge |13472|40.20|}}
{{CANelec|QC|UN|Vincenza Pennestri-Gauthier|385|1.15|}}
|}

==Federal electoral record==
'''1967 [[Papineau (electoral district)|Papineau]] By-election'''
{{CANelec/top|CA|29 May 1967|by=yes|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec/note|On Mr. Favreau's resignation, 4 April 1967}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|[[André Ouellet]]|6,197|57.97|+4.87}}
{{CANelec|CA|PC|Raymond Rochon|1,958|18.32|+1.25}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|[[Michel Bissonnet]]|1,568|14.67|+1.21}}
{{CANelec|CA|Radical chrétien|Albert Paiement|702|6.57|}}
{{CANelec|CA|Independent|Albert Cameron|265|2.48|+0.42}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|10,690	|100.00}}
{{end}}

==Municipal record==

'''Borough Mayor Saint-Leonard''' 

{{Canadian election result/top|MTL|2021|Saint-Leonard, Quebec|Borough Mayor Saint-Leonard|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|MTL|Ensemble|[[Michel Bissonnet]]|10,016|64.30|-0.31}}
{{CANelec|MTL|Mouvement|Lili-Anne Tremblay|2,802 |17.99|''new''}}
{{CANelec|MTL|Projet|Nerlande Gaetan|2,759 |17.71|-12.76}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes/expense limit|15,577|96.14}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|625|3.86|-0.88|}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout|16,200| 32.68|-4.74|}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Eligible voters| 49,574|&ndash;|&ndash;}}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|MTL|2017|Saint-Leonard, Quebec|Borough Mayor Saint-Leonard|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|MTL|Coderre|[[Michel Bissonnet]]|11,651|64.61|-1.08}}
{{CANelec|MTL|Projet|Julie Caron|5,495 |30.47|+16.44}}
{{CANelec|MTL|Independent|Tommaso Di Paola|888|4.92|}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes/expense limit|18,034|95.26}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|898|4.74|-2.54}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout|18,931| 37.42|+0.09}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Eligible voters| 50,593|&ndash;|&ndash;}}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|MTL|2013|Saint-Leonard, Quebec|Borough Mayor Saint-Leonard|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|MTL|Coderre|[[Michel Bissonnet]]|10,938|65.69|-4.03}}
{{CANelec|MTL|Projet|Cyrille Giraud|2,336 |14.03|+4.67}}
{{CANelec|MTL|Coalition|Dominic Talarico |2,282 |13.70|''new''}}
{{CANelec|MTL|Intégrité|Sabrina D'Avirro |1,096 |6.58|''new''}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes/expense limit|16,652|92.71|&ndash;}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|1,310|7.29|+2.25}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout|17,960| 37.33|-1.58|}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Eligible voters|48,112|&ndash;|&ndash;}}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|MTL|2009|Saint-Leonard, Quebec|Borough Mayor Saint-Leonard|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|MTL|Union|[[Michel Bissonnet]]|12,449 |69.72|-8.48}}
{{CANelec|MTL|Vision|[[Vittorio Capparelli]]|2,035 |11.40|-10.40}}
{{CANelec|MTL|ACM|Italo Barone |1,868 |10.46|''new''}}
{{CANelec|MTL|Projet|Nicolas Marchildon |1,325 |7.42|''new''}}
{{CANelec|MTL|Independent|David Mallozzi |179| 1.00|&ndash;}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes/expense limit|17,856|94.96|}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|947|5.04|N/A }}
{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout| 18,803|38.91|}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Eligible voters|48,325|&ndash;|&ndash;}}
{{end}}

{{2008 Saint-Leonard municipal by-elections/Mayor}}

==See also==
*[[National Assembly of Quebec]]
*[[Politics of Quebec]]

==Footnotes==

<references/>

==External links==
*{{Quebec MNA biography|bissonnet-michel-2095}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|ca-qc}}
{{succession box | before=[[Louise Harel|Louise Harel (PQ)]] | title = [[President of the National Assembly of Quebec]] | years = [[2003 Quebec general election|2003]]-2008 | after = [[François Gendron]]}}
{{succession box | before=[[Jean-Pierre Saintonge|Jean-Pierre Saintonge (Liberal)]] <br /> [[Louise Bégin|Louise Bégin (Liberal)]] | title = Deputy [[President of the National Assembly of Quebec]]  |with =  [[Lawrence Cannon|Lawrence Cannon (Liberal)]] ([[1989 Quebec general election|1989]]-1990), <br /> [[Roger Lefebvre|Roger Lefebvre (Liberal)]] (1990-1994) and <br /> [[Michel Tremblay|Michel Tremblay (Liberal)]] (1994-[[1994 Quebec general election|1994]])| years = [[1989 Quebec general election|1989]]-[[1994 Quebec general election|1994]] | after = [[Pierre Bélanger|Pierre Bélanger (PQ)]] <br /> [[Raymond Brouillet|Raymond Brouillet (PQ)]]}}
{{succession box | before=[[Raymond Brouillet|Raymond Brouillet (PQ)]] <br /> [[Claude Pinard|Claude Pinard (PQ)]] | title = Deputy [[President of the National Assembly of Quebec]]  |with =  [[Raymond Brouillet|Raymond Brouillet (PQ)]] ([[1998 Quebec general election|1999]]-[[2003 Quebec general election|2003]]), <br /> [[Claude Pinard|Claude Pinard (PQ)]] ([[1998 Quebec general election|1999]]-2002) and <br /> [[François Beaulne|François Beaulne (PQ)]] (2002-[[2003 Quebec general election|2003]])| years = [[1998 Quebec general election|1999]]-[[2003 Quebec general election|2003]] | after = [[Christos Sirros|Christos Sirros (Liberal)]] <br /> [[Diane Leblanc|Diane Leblanc (Liberal)]] <br /> [[François Gendron|François Gendron (PQ)]]}}
{{s-off}}
{{succession box | title=Mayor of Saint-Léonard| before=[[Jean Di Zazzo]]| after=Antonio Di Ciocco | years=1978-1981}}
{{succession box | title=Mayor of the Borough of Saint-Léonard, Montreal| before=[[Frank Zampino|Frank Zampino (Union Montreal)]]| after=[[Dominic Perri]]| years=2008–2025}}
{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bissonnet, Michel}}
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Presidents of the National Assembly of Quebec]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Montreal]]
[[Category:Quebec Liberal Party MNAs]]
[[Category:Université de Montréal alumni]]
[[Category:Montreal city councillors]]
[[Category:Mayors of Saint-Leonard, Quebec]]
[[Category:New Democratic Party candidates for the Canadian House of Commons]]
[[Category:Quebec candidates for Member of Parliament]]
[[Category:Vice presidents of the National Assembly of Quebec]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the National Assembly of Quebec]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the National Assembly of Quebec]]
[[Category:20th-century mayors of places in Quebec]]
[[Category:21st-century mayors of places in Quebec]]