Lise Payette | |
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MNA for Dorion | |
In office 1976–1981 |
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Preceded by | Alfred Bossé |
Succeeded by | Hugette Lachapelle |
Personal details | |
Born |
Lise Ouimet August 29, 1931 Verdun, Quebec, Canada |
Nationality | Canadian |
Political party | Parti Québécois |
Occupation | feminist, writer, television host, journalist |
Lise Payette, OQ (born August 29, 1931) is a Canadian feminist, journalist, writer, businesswoman, columnist and former politician. She was a Parti Québécois (PQ) minister under the leadership of Premier René Lévesque and National Assembly of Quebec member for the riding of Dorion. Originally a journalist, Payette became a television host in the 1960s. She left politics in 1981 and returned to a successful career in television production and writing.
Payette was born in Verdun, Quebec, the daughter of Fernand Ouimet, a bus driver, and Cécile Chartier. She was educated in Montreal. She started a career in journalism at a radio station in Trois-Rivières in 1954. She held various jobs, including editor of the weekly Frontier Rouyn-Noranda, host of the show La Femme dans le monde (The Woman in the world) at CKRN and secretary and public relations officer for the United Steelworkers of America. While living in Paris she wrote for Petit Journal at the Patrie, in New Journal and Châtelaine magazine. Payette returned to Montreal where she worked on the television program Interdit aux hommes ("prohibited to men") for Radio-Canada. From 1965 to 1972, Payette worked on a series of animated television programs for the French and English networks of the CBC. From 1972 to 1975, Payette was the host of the TV series "Appelez moi Lise" (Call Me Lise) and "Lise Lib." Payette was appointed President of the Quebec National Holidays Committee in 1975.
Payette held several portfolios in the René Lévesque government. She was Minister for Consumer Affairs, Cooperatives and Financial Institutions, the Minister of State for the Status of Women, and the Minister of State for Social Development. The phrase "Je me souviens" ("I remember") on Quebec vehicle license plates is attributed to Payette, replacing the old slogan of "La Belle Province". Payette was also instrumental in the founding of the SAAQ automobile insurance company of Quebec, and the updating of the Civil Code of Quebec, allowing two surnames for children.