Gérard Pelletier (; June 21, 1919 – June 22, 1997) was a Canadian journalist and politician.

Career

Pelletier initially worked as a journalist for ''

Le Devoir (, ) is a French-language newspaper published in Montreal and distributed in Quebec and throughout Canada. It was founded by journalist and politician Henri Bourassa in 1910. is one of few independent large-circulation newspapers in Quebec ...

'', a French-language newspaper in

Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...

. In 1961 he became editor-in-chief of the Montreal daily and North America's largest French circulating newspaper, ''La Presse''. Pelletier, with other French-Canadian intellectuals, Pierre Elliott Trudeau included, founded the journal '' Cité Libre''. First elected to Parliament in 1965, he served as a member of the cabinet of Pierre Elliott Trudeau. In 1964 he made a small appearance in Denis Héroux's student film '' Over My Head (Jusqu'au cou)'', as himself in a political debate.Benoît Aubin
"Des films oubliés de la «belle époque»"
''

Le Journal de Montréal is a daily French-language tabloid newspaper published in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It has the largest circulation of any newspaper in Quebec and is also the largest French-language daily newspaper in North America. Established by Pierre Pé ...

'', September 14, 2010. Snapshot

Pelletier met Trudeau while studying in

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

and worked with him and

Jean Marchand Jean Marchand (December 20, 1918 – August 28, 1988) was a French Canadian public figure, trade unionist and politician in Quebec, Canada. Life and career During the 1949 Asbestos Strike in Quebec, Marchand led the striking workers as s ...

during the Asbestos Strike of 1949 in Quebec. Dubbed the "Three Wise Men" in English and ''Les trois colombes'' (The three doves) in French, they entered politics at the same time in the federal election of 1965. The trio was recruited by Liberal prime minister Lester Pearson to help derail the rising Quebec separatist movement. He served in various cabinet posts in the Trudeau government until 1975 (Secretary of State: 1968–1973, Minister of Communications: 1973–5), when he left the Liberal caucus and became ambassador to

and then ambassador to the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...

(1981–1984). In 1978 he was made a Companion of the

Order of Canada The Order of Canada () is a Canadian state order, national order and the second-highest Award, honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the Canadian Centennial, ce ...

Bibliography

As author

* * * * * * * * (in three volumes) * * *

Contributions

Electoral record

References

External links

*
Gérard Pelletier fonds, Library and Archives Canada
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pelletier, Gerard 1919 births 1997 deaths Ambassadors of Canada to France Permanent representatives of Canada to the United Nations Liberal Party of Canada MPs Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Quebec Companions of the Order of Canada Members of the King's Privy Council for Canada People from Victoriaville 20th-century members of the House of Commons of Canada