Yvonne Pigot, a former Liberal minister and Morrissey’s key political figure, died on Wednesday at the age of 82 at her home in Louisville.
Mr. Pigot had been suffering from esophageal cancer for six months.
He passed away peacefully on Wednesday afternoon surrounded by his family.
“The wind was ready to take me on my last journey,” he wrote in a final message posted on a social network, sending his gratitude to those who have shown him their love in recent months.
A teacher, then school principal, he was elected Liberal deputy leader in Maskinong in 1973. He resisted René Levesque’s PQ wave in 1976, and was re-elected in 1981, 1985 and 1989.
He became Minister of Recreation, Hunting and Fisheries in 1985 under Robert Bourassa’s government. He later served as Minister of Tourism, Municipal Affairs, and then Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
After representing his fellow citizens in the National Assembly for 21 years, Mr. Pigot did not seek a new mandate in the 1994 election.
He then continued his political career from 2004 to 2006 as the leader of the Action démocratique du Québec.
Later, in 2020, he lent his support to PLQ leadership candidate Dominic Anglade.
PLQ interim leader Marc Tanguay expressed his dismay, saying, “Mr. Pigot has always been a fierce defender of our regions and Quebec producers,” even after leaving political life, praising his great involvement at home in Morrissey.
Marc Tanguay recognizes that Yvonne Pigot, a strong figure in the history of Quebec’s Liberal Party, was a proud nationalist who left her mark.
“Being Quebecers first, we are capable of moving the Canadian federation forward. And he’s not afraid, because of his openness, he doesn’t beat around the bush when he needs to get a message across. We have to protect Quebec first, the legacy he left us.” It is important to have such people to send the message that they would have been a part,” Mr. Tanguay pointed out in an interview with our Parliamentary Office.
For his part, Louisville’s colorful mayor had known Yvon Picote for nearly 50 years.
“He was a friend to everyone. I lowered the municipal flag to half-mast and had a good scotch with a cigar, although he no longer drinks! Mayor Yvonne Dessais noted.
Although he held important positions in his life the individual he met did not change. A title never crossed his mind, he explains.
“He was a good character. Simple, always close to people, involved in church, took care of alcoholics, he still did. People loved him.” In 1993, Mr. Picot also wrote Change Quebec to changeA work in which he candidly described his struggle with alcoholism.
Mr. Pigot ceased his activities a few months ago due to ill health. Louisville will now think of a way to honor his memory.
“He helped a lot of people in his life. I spoke to him 15 days ago because it was over. I thanked him, I loved him. We left like that,” added Yvon Deshaies.
On Facebook, Denis Coderre, a future candidate for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Quebec, recently argued that “Mr. Jean Caron, former minister and mayor of Lévis, is among the best Quebec ministers and politicians, especially in terms of fundamentals. Quebec was never a champion of non-manufacturing regions and the agricultural issue.
“He was one of the true politicians in the field, unbeatable in his region,” commented Mario Dumont.
Yvonne Pigot, 1941-2024
– from Louisville
– Bachelor’s degree in teaching from the University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières
– Teacher at Saint-Louis High School in Louisville from 1966 to 1970
– Director of Adult Education at Polyvalente de Louisville in 1970 and 1971, then at Ecole Sainte-Ursulae in Trois-Rivières from 1971 to 1973
– Regional Chairman of the Liberal Party from 1971 to 1973
– Defeated in Maskinongé in 1970 under the Liberal banner, he was elected in 1973.
– In 1976, he was one of the few who resisted René Levesque’s PQ wave. He was re-elected in 1981, 1985 and 1989
– In Robert Bourassa’s cabinet, he was Minister of Recreation, Hunting and Fishing, Tourism, Municipal Affairs, Agriculture and Food.
– Under Daniel Johnson Jr., he was Regional Affairs Minister until 1994, when he did not run again.
– Leader of Quebec’s Democratic Action from 2004 to 2006
– Until recently he was the general director of the detox center Nouveau Pointe de Vue Pavilion.
– In collaboration with Marc-Andre Gagnon and Jean-Francois Racine
