Gaétan Barrette (born July 5, 1956) is a Canadian politician in Quebec, who was elected to the National Assembly of Quebec in the 2014 election.[1] He represented the electoral district of La Pinière as a member of the Quebec Liberal Party until retiring from politics at the 2022 Quebec general election.

Gaétan Barrette
Minister of Health
In office
April 23, 2014 – October 18, 2018
PremierPhilippe Couillard
Preceded byRéjean Hébert
Succeeded byDanielle McCann
Member of the National Assembly of Quebec for La Pinière
In office
April 7, 2014 – August 28, 2022
Preceded byFatima Houda-Pepin
Succeeded byLinda Caron
Personal details
Born (1956-07-05) July 5, 1956 (age 68)
La Tuque, Quebec
Political partyQuebec Liberal Party
Coalition Avenir Québec (formerly)
Residence(s)Brossard, Quebec
Alma materUniversité de Montréal
University of Grenoble
University of California, San Diego
ProfessionRadiologist

Prior to his election to the legislature, he was a radiologist at Montreal's Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont. He ran in the 2012 election as a candidate of the Coalition Avenir Québec in Terrebonne, but ran as a Liberal in 2014.[2] He was named Minister of Health and Social Services on April 24, 2014. His tenure as heath minister was considered so controversial that leader Philippe Couillard instead tapped Getrude Bourdon, who resigned from her role as the CEO of the Laval University hospital to run as a candidate in the riding of Jean-Lesage if the party won the 2018 election.[3]

Indigenous Health

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As Health Minister of Quebec, in 2018 Dr. Barrette opposed the families and physicians who were fighting against Quebec's practise of not allowing Indigenous families to accompany their critically ill children on flight transportation for urgent care. He was recorded making the comment "I guarantee you that there will be at least one instance in the next six months where someone will not be allowed to get on the plane. Why? Because no one — agitated, drugged, under whatever influence — would get on the plane at any cost. That will not happen. And that happens all the time." Indigenous leaders called for his immediate resignation, and did not accept his delayed, eventual apology. The ministry did later change regulations to allow for caregivers or parents to accompany their ill children on urgent medical air transfers, after years of discussions.[4]

Electoral record

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2018 Quebec general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Gaétan Barrette 15,476 47.07 -11.22
Coalition Avenir Québec Sylvia Baronian 9,480 28.83 +16.25
Québec solidaire Marie Pagès 3,300 10.04 +6.16
Parti Québécois Suzanne Gagnon 2,921 8.88 -15.6
Green Aziza Dini 585 1.78 -0.13
Conservative Anwar El Youbi 435 1.32 +0.66
New Democratic Djaouida Sellah 354 1.08 New
Independent Patrick Hayes 168 0.51 -
Independent Fang Hu 161 0.49 -
Total valid votes 32,869 98.69 -0.16
Total rejected ballots 390 1.31 +0.16
Turnout 33,304 61.07 -13.7
Electors on the lists 54,534 - -
2014 Quebec general election: La Pinière
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Gaétan Barrette 25,955 58.29 +9.04
Independent Fatima Houda-Pepin 10,452 23.47 -25.78
Coalition Avenir Québec Jin Kim 5,600 12.58 -11.91
Québec solidaire Johane Beaupré 1,728 3.88 -0.51
Option nationale François Létourneau-Prézeau 534 1.20 +0.16
Conservative Sebastian Fernandez 256 0.57 -0.07
Total valid votes 44,525 98.85
Total rejected ballots 520 1.15
Turnout 45,045 74.77 +2.64
Electors on the lists 60,247
2012 Quebec general election: Terrebonne
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Parti Québécois Mathieu Traversy 19,077 44.53 -0.69
Coalition Avenir Québec Gaétan Barrette 15,429 36.02 +14.45*
Liberal Josée Gingras 5,646 13.18 -14.33
Québec solidaire Yan Smith 1,380 3.22 +0.61
Green Benoit Carignan 635 1.48 -1.61
Option nationale Marc-André Dénommée 510 1.19
Coalition pour la constituante Patrick Dubé 160 0.37
Total valid votes 42,837 98.72
Total rejected ballots 554 1.28
Turnout 43,391 80.21 +19.74
Electors on the lists 54,100

* Result compared to Action démocratique

References

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  1. ^ "La Pinière elects Liberal, not independent Houda-Pépin". Global News, April 7, 2014.
  2. ^ "Gaétan Barrette sera candidat pour le PLQ". Le Journal de Montréal, March 3, 2014.
  3. ^ "New Liberal candidate spells the end for Gaétan Barrette as health minister". Global News. Retrieved 2018-10-06.
  4. ^ "Quebec Health Minister Gaétan Barrette says comments on 'drugged' medevac passengers were 'misinterpreted'". CBC News. 2021-10-20.
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Quebec provincial government of Philippe Couillard
Cabinet post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Réjean Hébert Minister of Health and Social Services
April 23, 2014–October 18, 2018
Danielle McCann