Maurice Richard (Quebec politician)
| Maurice Richard | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Bécancour, Quebec | |
|
In office 1995–2013 |
|
| Preceded by | Jean-Guy Dubois |
| Succeeded by | Jean-Guy Dubois |
|
In office 1975–1985 |
|
| MNA for Nicolet-Yamaska | |
|
In office 1989–1994 |
|
| Preceded by | division created |
| Succeeded by | Michel Morin |
| MNA for Nicolet | |
|
In office 1985–1989 |
|
| Preceded by | Yves Beaumier |
| Succeeded by | division abolished |
| Councillor in Bécancour, Quebec | |
|
In office 1971–1976 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
September 22, 1946 Sainte-Angèle-de-Laval, Quebec |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Residence | Bécancour, Quebec |
Maurice Richard (born September 22, 1946) is a Canadian politician in the province of Quebec. He was a Liberal member of the National Assembly of Quebec from 1985 to 1994 and was the mayor of Bécancour, a position to which he was first elected in 1976.
Richard was born in Sainte-Angèle-de-Laval, Quebec and received his early education there and in Nicolet. He attained certification from the Institut national des viandes in 1973 and later operated a food market in Bécancour. He has also been an artist and painter since 1976.
Richard was a councillor in Bécancour from 1971 to 1976 and first served as the town's mayor from 1976 to 1985. He was interviewed by the Globe and Mail in 1983 as part of a feature piece on the community's industrial projects; in the course of the interview, he highlighted Bécancour's port on the St. Lawrence River, its efficient road and rail system, and its low-cost electricity.
Richard came out as gay in the 1970s. His sexual identity became an issue when he ran for provincial office in 1985 but did not hurt his standing with the electorate. In a 2011 interview, he said, "Les gens ne sont pas réticents à élire des homosexuels. [...] L’homophobie existe bien sûr dans certains milieux, mais nous sommes reconnus comme une société progressiste."("People are not reluctant to elect homosexuals.[...] Homophobia is of course in some circles, but we are recognized as a progressive society.")
Richard was elected to the National Assembly of Quebec for Nicolet in the 1985 provincial election, defeating Parti Québécois (PQ) cabinet minister Yves Beaumier by a significant margin. The Liberals won a majority government in this election, and Richard entered the legislature as a backbench supporter of Robert Bourassa's administration. In 1988, he chaired a task force that examined Quebec's Sunday shopping laws; its report recommended that large food stores remain closed on Sundays, but that weekday hours be extended from 62 to 71 hours per week to allow stores to stay open later. Richard also chaired the provincial agriculture, fisheries and food committee from 1987 to 1994.
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