He ran unsuccessfully as a PQ candidate the division of Labelle in the 1970 and 1973 provincial elections and was elected on his third attempt in 1976 as the PQ was elected with a historic majority government across the province .
He ran unsuccessfully as a PQ candidate the division of Labelle in the 1970 and 1973 provincial elections . 
 He was elected on his third attempt in 1976 over one - term Liberal incumbent Roger Lapointe , as the PQ was elected with a historic majority government across the province .