Thérèse Lavoie-Roux

The Honourable
Thérèse Lavoie-Roux
The Honourable Thérèse Lavoie-Roux
Senator for Acadie, Quebec
	In office; September 27, 1990 – March 12, 2001
Appointed by	Brian Mulroney
Member of the National Assembly of Quebec for L'Acadie
	In office; November 15, 1976 – September 24, 1989
Preceded by	François Cloutier
Succeeded by	Yvan Bordeleau
Personal details
Born	March 12, 1928; Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec
Died	January 31, 2009 (aged 80); Montreal, Quebec
Political party	Quebec Liberal Party
Other political; affiliations	Progressive Conservative
Cabinet	Minister of Health and Social Services (1985–1989)
Committees	Chairman, Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration (1991–1996)

Thérèse Lavoie-Roux (March 12, 1928 – January 31, 2009) was a Canadian politician and social worker who served in the National Assembly of Quebec and the Senate of Canada. She was the Minister of Health and Social Services from 1985 to 1989.^[1]

Early life

Lavoie-Roux was born on March 12, 1928, in Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec, the daughter of Lauréat Lavoie and Charlotte Dubé.^[2] She received her undergraduate degree in 1949, and her master's degree in social work from the University of Montreal. She became a social worker and therapist at the Montreal Children's Hospital from 1951 to 1960.^[2] She served on a number of boards, including the Home Care Services for the Mentally Disturbed.^[3]

In 1969, the law changed and women were allowed to be members of the Montreal Roman Catholic School Board for the first time. Lavoie-Roux was selected by the Archbishop of Montreal to be the first female member and upon her selection, she was elected as Vice-Chair. In 1970, she became the Chair, a position she would hold for seven years. During this time, she initiated a meals programme.^[3]

Political career

In 1976, the premier of Quebec, Robert Bourassa, invited her to run for a seat in the National Assembly of Quebec and promised her a cabinet position if the Liberal Party won a majority. Lavoie-Roux won her seat in the 1976 general election for the riding of L'Acadie but not the cabinet position, as the Liberal Party failed to win enough seats.^[3]^[1] She was the only female opposition member and only one of five women in total. She became the opposition critic on the Status of Women.^[3] She was re-elected in 1981 and 1985. From 1985 to 1989, she was the Minister of Health and Social Services in the cabinet of Robert Bourassa. She was also the Minister responsible for Family Policy.^[3]^[1]

In 1990, she was appointed by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney to the Senate of Canada representing the senatorial division of Acadie, Quebec. She sat as a Progressive Conservative.^[1] While in the Senate, she was chair of the Internal Economy Committee.^[3] She retired on her 73rd birthday in 2001.^[1]

Personal life

She married Lucien Roux on July 12, 1962. She died in Montreal on January 31, 2009.^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "The Hon. Thérèse Lavoie-Roux, Senator". lop.parl.ca. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Biography". Dictionnaire des parlementaires du Québec de 1792 à nos jours (in French). National Assembly of Quebec.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Secretariat, Commonwealth (1999). Women in Politics: Voices from the Commonwealth. Commonwealth Secretariat. pp. 46–48. ISBN 978-0-85092-569-2.

[:0-1] "The Hon. Thérèse Lavoie-Roux, Senator". lop.parl.ca. Retrieved 2021-08-12.

[:1-2] "Biography". Dictionnaire des parlementaires du Québec de 1792 à nos jours (in French). National Assembly of Quebec.

[:2-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Secretariat, Commonwealth (1999). Women in Politics: Voices from the Commonwealth. Commonwealth Secretariat. pp. 46–48. ISBN 978-0-85092-569-2.

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