The Honourable Mauril Bélanger

Associate Minister of National Defence

Mauril Bélanger was first elected to the House of Commons in a by-election in February 1995 and was re-elected in the 1997, 2000 and 2004 general elections. He has served as Chair of the Standing Committee on Official Languages, a member of the Standing Committee on the Library of Parliament and a member of the Prime Minister's Caucus Task Force on Urban Issues. From July 1998 to August 2000, he was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, and in 2003 he was named Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.

Prior to entering politics, Mr. Bélanger held various positions in the public and private sectors. In the early 1980s, he worked for the Honourable Jean-Luc Pépin, then Minister of Transport. In the mid to late 1980s, he worked as a registered investment advisor. He was Chief of Staff to the Chair of the Regional Council of Ottawa-Carleton prior to his election to the House of Commons.

In 1977, Mr. Bélanger graduated from the University of Ottawa, where he was president of the Students' Federation. He is married to Catherine.