page_title: René Lévesque
section_title: Public figure
hierarchical_section_title: René Lévesque / Public figure
caption_attribution_description: English: René Lévesque, Radio-Canada reporter, interviewing Lester B. Pearson, Canada's minister of External Affairs, outside the Canadian embassy in Moscow in October, 1955 Français&#160;: René Lévesque, journaliste à Radio-Canada, interviewant Lester B. Pearson, ministre des Affaires extérieures du Canada, à l'extérieur de l'ambassade du Canada à Moscou en octobre 1955
context_page_description: René Lévesque GOQ was a Québécois politician and journalist who served as the 23rd Premier of Quebec from 1976 to 1985. Starting his career as a reporter, and radio and television host, he later became known for his eminent role in Quebec's nationalization of its electric power industry, and as an ardent defender of Quebec sovereignty. He was the founder of the Parti Québécois political party—and before that, a liberal minister of the government of Quebec from 1960 to 1966 and the first Québécois political leader since Confederation to attempt, through a referendum, to negotiate the political independence of Quebec.
context_section_description: In 1960, Lévesque entered politics as a star candidate and was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Quebec in the 1960 election as a Liberal Party member in the riding of Montréal-Laurier.  In the government of Jean Lesage, he served as Minister of Hydroelectric Resources and Public Works from 1960 to 1961, and Minister of Natural Resources from 1961 to 1965. While in office, he played a pivotal role in the nationalisation of hydroelectric companies, greatly expanding Hydro-Québec, one of the reforms that was part of the Quiet Revolution.
  From 1965 to 1966, he served as Minister of Family and Welfare. Lévesque, with friend and Minister of Health Eric Kierans, was heavily involved in negotiations with the Federal government to fund both Quebec and Federal mandates for social programs.
  In a surprise, the Liberals lost the 1966 election to the Union Nationale but Lévesque retained his own seat of Laurier.  Believing that the Canadian federation was doomed to failure, Lévesque started to openly champion separation from Canada as part of the Liberal platform at the upcoming party conference.  Kierans, who had been elected party president, led the movement against the motion, with future Premier Robert Bourassa attempting to mediate before siding with Kierans. The resolution was handily defeated, and Lévesque walked out with his followers.
caption: Lévesque interviews Lester B. Pearson in Moscow for Radio-Canada in 1955.
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