Gérard Pelletier
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| The Honourable Gérard Pelletier PC, CC |
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| Member of the Canadian Parliament for Hochelaga |
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| In office 1965 – 1975 |
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| Preceded by | Raymond Eudes |
| Succeeded by | Jacques Lavoie |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 21, 1919 Montreal, Quebec |
| Died | June 22, 1997 (aged 78) |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Occupation | Journalist, Politician |
Gérard Pelletier, PC, CC (June 21, 1919 – June 22, 1997) was a Canadian journalist and politician.
Pelletier initially worked as a journalist for Le Devoir, a French-language newspaper in Montreal, Quebec. 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.
Pelletier met Trudeau while studying in France and worked with him and Jean Marchand 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 France and then ambassador to the United Nations (1981–1984). In 1978 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada.
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| Parliament of Canada | ||
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| Preceded by Raymond Eudes |
Member of Parliament for Hochelaga 1965–1975 |
Succeeded by Jacques Lavoie |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by Joseph Alphonse Léo Cadieux |
Canadian Ambassador to France 1975–1981 |
Succeeded by Michel Dupuy |
| Preceded by Michel Dupuy |
Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations 1981–1984 |
Succeeded by Stephen Lewis |
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1The department was eliminated in 1993 when the government was reorganized. The position of Secretary of State for Canada was not legally eliminated until 1996 when its remaining responsibilities were assigned to other cabinet positions and departments, particularly the newly created position of Minister of Canadian Heritage.
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1The offices of Minister of Communications, and Minister of Multiculturalism and Citizenship were abolished and the office of Minister of Canadian Heritage came in force July 12, 1996.
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