INDEPTH: PARTI QUÉBÉCOIS
André Boisclair: the PQ's young star
CBC News Online | November 16, 2005
 André Boisclair (CP Photo)
Boisclair became the president of the Federation of Quebec College Students while attending Jean-de-Brébeuf, a private college in Montreal. He graduated in 1986 and enrolled in the economics program at the University of Montreal, but dropped out after two years.
In 1984, Boisclair met Bernard Landry, then vice-president of the PQ, who convinced him to become a sovereigntist and enter politics.
He was first elected to the Quebec National Assembly in 1989 at the age of 23, the youngest ever member of the body. Boisclair gained a reputation as a party animal in Quebec City's nightlife.
After the 1995 Quebec referendum, Boisclair was named citizenship and immigration minister in Lucien Bouchard's cabinet. He later served as social solidarity minister and, when Bernard Landry became premier, government house leader and environment minister.
When the Quebec Liberals came to power in 2003, he was named Opposition parliamentary leader. Boisclair resigned from the assembly in August 2004 to enrol in a one-year master's program at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge, Mass.
After entering the race to replace Landry as PQ leader, Boisclair admitted to having used cocaine when he was a cabinet minister in the 1990s. Other leadership candidates said that could leave the PQ vulnerable to attack if Boisclair were named leader.
Nonetheless, Boisclair won the leadership race in November 2005. He became the first openly gay leader of a North American political party with representation in a legislative body.
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