Action démocratique du Québec
370665
223025320
2008-07-02T06:30:52Z
74.59.250.62
/* ADQ Members of the National Assembly */
{{Infobox_Canada_Political_Party |
party_name = Action démocratique du Québec/<br>Équipe Mario Dumont |
party_wikicolourid = ADQ |
status = active |
class = prov |
party_logo = [[Image:Logo ADQ 2007.gif|260px|Logo of the Action démocratique du Québec]] |
leader = [[Mario Dumont]] |
president = [[Tom Pentefountas]] |
foundation = [[January 6]], [[1994]]|
ideology = [[Conservatism]], [[Republicanism]], [[Quebec nationalism]] & [[Quebec autonomism|autonomism]] |
headquarters = 740 rue Saint-Maurice<br>Suite 108<br>[[Montreal]], [[Quebec]]<br>H3C 1L5<br> |
int_alignment = None |
colours = [[Blue]] (also [[Red]]) |
website = [http://www.adq.qc.ca http://www.adq.qc.ca/]
}}
The '''Action démocratique du Québec''' (ADQ) is a [[conservatism|conservative]], [[nationalism|nationalist]] and [[Autonomous area|autonomist]] [[Provinces and territories of Canada|provincial]] [[political party]] in [[Quebec]], [[Canada]]. Its official registered name is ''Action démocratique du Québec/Équipe Mario Dumont'' (ADQ/ÉMD). While some journalists have translated the name into English as ''Democratic Action of Quebec/Mario Dumont Team'', it has no official English name, and is normally referred to by its French name in the English-language media, or simply as "the ADQ". Its members are referred to as ''adéquistes'', a name derived from the French pronunciation of the initials 'ADQ'.
It is [[Opposition (parliamentary)|Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition]] in the [[National Assembly of Quebec]] as a result of the [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007 provincial election]]. The ADQ gained [[official party status]] in the provincial parliament for the first time in the [[realigning election]] of [[2007]], with 41 [[Member of the National Assembly|Members]] of the [[National Assembly of Quebec|National Assembly]] (MNAs) and 31% of the popular vote. The rules of the legislature require either at least 12 members or 20% of the vote to be granted such a right.<ref>[http://www.assnat.qc.ca/eng/Assemblee/rana1.html#art.13 Standing Orders of the National Assembly]</ref> Prior to that, the ADQ had never had more than five MNAs at once. Consequently it had less visibility and fewer resources to operate at the National Assembly.
==Ideology==
The ADQ is to the [[Right-wing politics|right]] on the [[political spectrum]] of the [[Liberal Party of Quebec|Liberals]] and the [[Parti Québécois]] (PQ). It advocates autonomy of individuals, autonomy of [[municipal government]]s, and [[Quebec autonomism|autonomy of Quebec]] within Canada.
According to [[Jean-Herman Guay]], Professor at [[Université de Sherbrooke]]'s Department of History and Political Sciences, the ADQ's message is based on three key ingredients:<ref>[http://www.radio-canada.ca/radio/emissions/emission.asp?numero=81 Interview with Jean-Herman Guay], Ouvert le Samedi, ''Radio-Canada'', March 31, 2007</ref>
#'''[[Populism]]''': connecting with people's perception that the government is ineffective and disconnected from reality;
#'''[[Neoliberalism]]''': [[downsizing]] the government and make more room for the [[private sector]];
#'''[[Moderate]] Quebec [[nationalism]]''': rejecting blind loyalty towards Canada and the necessity to achieve a certain amount of [[Autonomous area|autonomy]] within Canada, without making the [[Quebec sovereignty movement|constitutional debate]] a priority.
The party's current proposals include:<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/canada/quebecvotes2007/story/2007/03/26/adq-070326.html?ref=rss ADQ becomes Quebec's Official Opposition], ''CBC News'', March 26, 2007</ref>
*'''[[Balanced budget|Fiscal Responsibility]]''': scaling back Quebec's [[civil service]], putting welfare recipients back to work and reducing government spending by one per cent, in order to balance the budget;
*'''[[Education]]''': lifting freezes on college tuition and abolishing school boards;
*'''[[Electoral reform]]''': implementing an election reform in which the premier would be elected by [[popular vote]] (i.e., a [[presidential government]]) and 50 of Quebec's 125 [[National Assembly of Quebec|legislature]] seats would be determined by [[proportional representation]];
*'''[[Health care]]''': encouraging private health care delivery, in order to take the burden off [[Quebec]]'s overcrowded public health care system;
*'''[[Immigration]]''': "[[reasonable accommodation]]" granted to immigrants, preventing cultural communities from interfering with a number of mainstream values of the Quebec society, such as [[women’s rights]];
*'''[[Labour movement|Labour]]''': erasing mandatory dues and membership for unions and subcontracting duties currently handled by full-time employees;
*'''[[Quebec Constitution]]''': drafting a new [[Constitution]] declaring the existence of the [[Quebec sovereignty movement|Autonomous State of Quebec]]; <ref>[http://www.adq.qc.ca/tiki-download_file.php?fileId=4] ADQ Program, Action democratique du Quebec website, 2007</ref>
*'''[[Canadian federalism|Relations with the Federal Government]]''': re-opening constitutional talks and increasing Quebec's autonomy within Canada, without holding another [[Quebec referendum]]; <ref>[http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=f5672daf-32d1-4773-bee8-f78002048d52&k=97257 Autonomy thrust into spotlight], Graeme Hamilton, ''National Post'', March 28, 2007.</ref>
*'''[[Tax Reform]]''': extensively restructuring the Quebec tax system, and lowering taxes overall. <ref>[http://www.adq.qc.ca/tiki-download_file.php?fileId=4] ADQ Program, Action democratique du Quebec website, 2007</ref>
In recent years the ADQ has abandoned a number of radical proposals, including issuing [[education vouchers]] to give parents the ability to pay for the education of their children at a school of their choice. Furthermore. the ADQ's brand of [[conservatism]] is not based on [[religious]] values.<ref>[http://www.radio-canada.ca/actualite/v2/Dominique_Poirier_en_direct/niveau2_liste172_200611.shtml# Mario Dumont veut limiter la notion d’accommodement raisonnable], Dominique Poirier, Dominique Poirier en Direct, ''Radio-Canada'', November 17, 2006</ref> <ref>[http://www.radio-canada.ca/actualite/v2/Dominique_Poirier_en_direct/# Les défis de Mario Dumont], Dominique Poirier, Dominique Poirier en Direct, ''Radio-Canada'', April 3, 2007</ref>
==Electoral support==
Socially and geographically, the core support of the ADQ is similar to that of the [[Ralliement créditiste|provincial wing]] of the [[Social Credit Party of Canada|Social Credit Party]] in the [[Canadian federal election, 1962|1962]], and [[Canadian federal election, 1963|1963 federal elections]] and the [[Quebec general election, 1970|1970 provincial election]], the [[Union Nationale (Quebec)|Union Nationale]] in the [[Quebec general election, 1976|1976 provincial election]] and the [[Conservative Party of Canada]] in [[Canadian federal election, 2006|2006 federal election]].
Its strongest base is provided by [[Chaudière-Appalaches]] and [[Capitale-Nationale|Québec]], the most conservative regions of Quebec. The party’s popularity also reaches other predominantly [[French-speaking]] areas of the province, including [[Mauricie]], [[Bas-Saint-Laurent]], [[Centre-du-Québec]] and even [[Montérégie]].
However, the ADQ has more difficulty breaking through in the more cosmopolitan urban districts of the [[Montreal]] area on one hand and in the other hand the most remote regions, such as [[Abitibi]], [[Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean]] and [[Côte-Nord]], whose economy is largely based on forestry.
Because of the polarization of the debate over the [[Quebec sovereignty movement|constitutional debate]] from [[Quebec general election, 1970|1970]] to 1995, conservative voters have often limited their choice between the Quebec Liberal Party or the Parti Québécois. However, a number of commentators claim that resentment of the rest of Quebec against Montreal’s perceived [[hegemony]], general mistrust towards current office holders, overburdened taxpayer's frustration and constitutional fatigue have let a cultural gap in Quebec society become more apparent and have resulted in an increased support for the ADQ.
<ref>[http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Page/document/v5/content/subscribe?user_URL=http://www.theglobeandmail.com%2Fservlet%2Fstory%2FLAC.20070226.COGAGNON26%2FTPStory%2FTPComment%2F%3Fpage%3Drss%26id%3D..COGAGNON26&ord=2707275&brand=theglobeandmail&force_login=true Montreal Versus the ROQ], Lysiane Gagnon, ''The Globe and Mail'', February 26, 2007</ref>
<ref>[http://www.thestar.com/article/184811 Charest is not a slam-dunk], Chantal Hébert, ''The Toronto Star'', February 23, 2007</ref>
==History==
=== Foundation and first decade: 1994-2002 ===
[[Image:Logo-adq-1994.gif|160px|right|thumb|Action démocratique du Québec logo (1994-1998)]]
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Logo ADQ.jpg|160px|right|thumb|Action démocratique du Québec logo (1998-2007)]] -->
The party was formed in 1994 by a group of [[nationalists]] that supported the [[Allaire Report]], a document that advocated a decentralized [[federalism|federal system]] in which the provincial [[Government of Quebec]] would have significantly increased powers.
After the failure of the [[Meech Lake Accord]], which made many [[French-speaking]] [[Québécois]] feel rejected by the rest of Canada, the Liberals adopted the Allaire Report as their official constitutional policy. However, the party eventually chose the [[Charlottetown Accord]] over the Allaire Report in 1992. The Charlottetown Accord would have recognized Quebec as a ''[[distinct society]]'' within Canada, but consisted of a much milder reform of the Canadian federal system. While most Liberals supported the Charlottetown Accord, a number of them opposed it and eventually quit the party.
Led by [[Jean Allaire]], a Liberal insider and attorney from [[Laval]], and [[Mario Dumont]], a rising political star who had been President of the [[Liberal Youth Commission]], the dissidents founded the ADQ. Allaire became the first party leader, but resigned within a few months for health reasons. He was succeeded by Mario Dumont, who has retained the leadership to this day.
With limited financial resources and excluded from the televised Leaders Debate, Dumont won a seat in the Quebec National Assembly in the [[Quebec general election, 1994|1994 provincial election]], the only adéquiste candidate to do so in that election.
In the [[1995 Quebec referendum]] on the Parti Québécois government's proposals for sovereignty, Dumont campaigned for the "Yes" side, in favour of the sovereignty option. However, in subsequent election campaigns, he has promised a moratorium on the sovereignty question, which earned him accusations of not having a clear and honest stand on the constitution question.
Shortly before the [[Quebec general election, 1994|1994 provincial election]], [[Yvon Lafrance]], a one-term Liberal [[backbencher]] who served under [[Premier of Quebec|Premier]] [[Robert Bourassa]], switched parties to join the ADQ, becoming the party's first sitting member of the [[National Assembly of Quebec|legislature]]. In the ensuing election campaign, Dumont took part in the televised Leaders Debate and was re-elected as an MNA, but could not expand his electoral support significantly enough to get other party members elected and remained his party's only sitting MNA. Although Dumont was a very popular leader, support for the ADQ always lagged behind support for its leader.
===Rise: 2002===
In [[Quebec provincial by-elections, April 15, 2002|April]] and [[Quebec provincial by-elections, June 17, 2002|June 2002]], voter dissatisfaction with both the Parti Québécois (PQ) government of [[Bernard Landry]] and the Liberal alternative presented by [[Jean Charest]] led the ADQ to an unexpected victory in a series of [[by-election]]s, bringing the party caucus to five members.
After the by-election wins, the ADQ soared in popularity, leading the established parties in public opinion polling for the first time in its existence. For a brief period, a number of political analysts predicted that the ADQ could gather as much as 42% of the vote and more than 80 seats in the National Assembly.
The increased popularity of the party provided the ADQ with larger [[grassroots]] support, more money and [[star candidate]]s for the [[Quebec general election, 1998|subsequent election]]. For the first time, [[Mario Dumont]], who was able to recruit [[Beauce, Quebec|Beauce]] businessman [[Marcel Dutil]], chairman of [[Groupe Canam Inc.]] as Director of the ADQ's fund-raising activities, was considered as a serious candidate for the office of [[Premier of Quebec]].
===Backlash: 2002-2003===
As a result of the ADQ attaining greater popular support, its political opponents conducted [[negative campaigning]] against the ADQ for the first time. Those efforts were successful in damaging the public perception of the party. While a number of attacks were somewhat unfair ([[David Payne (politician)|David Payne]], the PQ MNA from [[Vachon]], compared the ADQ to [[Jean-Marie Le Pen]]’s [[Front National (France)|Front National]]), others brought to light the existence of flaws in the ADQ platform and a potential incompatibility between the party’s conservative philosophy and the voters.
Moreover, the party's repeated backtracking on its various policies, including a [[flat rate]] [[income tax]] of 20 per cent, may have appeared opportunist and harmed the party’s image as a viable alternative. It was also revealed that a close advisor of Mario Dumont had a criminal record, which prompted the media to question Dumont’s judgment.
The popularity of the ADQ declined. Dumont did not make any major mistake during the televised Leaders Debate, but did not deliver the outstanding performance he needed to gain momentum. By contrast, Liberal leader [[Jean Charest]] was able to put [[Bernard Landry]] of the Parti Québécois on the defensive.
The ADQ received 18% of the vote at the [[Quebec general election, 2003|2003 provincial election]]. All ADQ incumbents and [[star candidate]]s, except Dumont, were defeated. The losses were compensated by the election of three new ADQ MNAs, who were still unknown at the provincial level but were well established in their communities. The ADQ drew enough votes from previous PQ supporters to give the victory to Jean Charest's Liberals, but did not make a significant breakthrough in the National Assembly.
===Resurgence: 2003-2007===
In the months that followed the election, the ADQ benefited from anger over the decision of the [[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]] (CRTC) not to renew the license of Quebec City radio station [[CHOI|CHOI-FM]]. Radio host [[Jeff Fillion]] urged listeners to vote for ADQ candidate [[Sylvain Légaré]] in a by-election for the local district of [[Vanier]]. Légaré defended the station’s [[freedom of speech]] and was elected on [[September 20]], [[2004]], which raised the number of ADQ seats back to five.
A few days later, the ADQ held a convention in [[Drummondville, Quebec|Drummondville]], where its members adopted the new constitutional position of the ADQ, which is labeled as [[autonomy|''autonomist'']] without much precision on what it actually means. ADQ members also elected ex-[[Liberal Party of Quebec|Liberal]] minister [[Yvon Picotte]] as President of the ADQ, a job previously held by political analyst [[Guy Laforest]].
In the January [[Canadian federal election, 2006|2006 federal election]], ten [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]] [[Members of Parliament]] were elected in Quebec, at the federal level. Four of those newly elected federal Members of Parliament - [[Maxime Bernier]], [[Steven Blaney]], [[Jacques Gourde]] and [[Josée Verner]] - came from districts represented by ADQ members at the provincial level. All except Bernier were at one point ADQ activists. <ref>[http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20070226/CPACTUALITES0205/70226077/6500/CPACTUALITES0205 Gourde prédit 25 députés pour l'ADQ], Martin Pelchat, ''Le Soleil'', February 26, 2007</ref> Blaney was ADQ candidate in [[Beauce-Nord]] in [[Quebec general election, 1998|1998]]. This breakthrough prepared the ground the subsequent growth of the ADQ, which could rely on a number of supporters from the modest Conservatives' organization in Quebec.
In May 2006, the ADQ held a general council ({{lang-fr|conseil général}} in [[Granby, Quebec|Granby]], where Dumont has brought up the subject of having the current federal Conservative government broach the subject of a new round of constitutional talks in order to get Quebec to finally sign the Constitution. <ref>[http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/print/CTVNews/20060507/dumont_constitution_060507/20060508/?hub=QPeriod&subhub=PrintStory ADQ's Dumont calls for constitutional talks, ''CTV'', May 8, 2006]</ref>
Embarrassing comments were made by Party President [[Yvon Picotte]] about PQ Leader [[André Boisclair]]. Boisclair had decided not to run in a by-election for the district of [[Sainte-Marie—Saint-Jacques]] (in Montreal), the district where he lives and that is well known for its large gay population. Accusing Boisclair of being a coward, Picotte jokingly said that the [[Riding (division)|riding]] would fit Boisclair, who is openly [[gay]], like a glove (''comme un gant''). Many journalists criticized Picotte, saying his comment sounded [[homophobic]]. Within days, Picotte apologized. <ref>[http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/Politique/2006/05/08/001-Yvon-Picotte-excuses.shtml Picotte présente ses excuses à Boisclair], ''Radio-Canada'', May 8, 2006</ref>
In November 2006, the ADQ held its 6th Member's Convention ("Congrès des Membres"). The next month, it adopted its platform for the [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007 election]], entitled "A Plan A for Quebec" ("Un plan A pour le Québec") <ref>[http://www.radioactif.com/nouvelles/nouvelle-programme_adq_prevoit_baliser-1378-2.html Le programme de l'ADQ prévoit baliser l'accommodement raisonnable], ''Radioactif.com'', December 18, 2006</ref> and defined its stance on the controversial [[reasonable accommodation]] debate, which was well received by a substantial number of voters.
===Quebec general election, 2007===
When the [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007 election campaign]] started, the ADQ was running only a couple candidates with widespread [[star candidate|name recognition]] and lacked the financial resources its rivals (especially the Liberals) had. [[Marcel Dutil]] announced that even though he likes Dumont he would vote strategically in favour of the Liberals. <ref>[http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Page/document/v5/content/subscribe?user_URL=http://www.theglobeandmail.com%2Fservlet%2Fstory%2FLAC.20070310.QUEBECDUMONT10%2FTPStory%2FTPNational%2F&ord=2124756&brand=theglobeandmail&force_login=true Could this be Mario's breakthrough election?], Konrad Yakabuski, ''The Globe and Mail'', March 10, 2007</ref>
However, polls showed that the ADQ had the potential to significantly increase its representation at the National Assembly. Dumont ran an effective campaign,<ref>[http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20070318/CPACTUALITES0203/703180569/6466/CPACTUALITES0203 PQ: la barre à gauche, toute!], Denis Lessard, ''La Presse'', March 18, 2007</ref> unveiling one plank from his electoral platform every day and therefore benefiting from sustained attention from his opponents and the media.
Dumont's good performance though had its own setbacks: it led to more scrutiny of the ADQ.
The Liberals criticized the ADQ's financial plan as vague and unrealistic, accusing Dumont of underestimating its total cost. According to them, the ADQ's promises totaled $6.3 billion rather than the $1.7 billion announced by Dumont.
Besides, many journalists accused the ADQ of being a one-man show. <ref>[http://blogues.cyberpresse.ca/pratte/?p=116 L’équipe de l’ADQ - la liste], André Pratte, ''La Presse'', March 21, 2007</ref> Two candidates, who had made inappropriate comments, were dropped by the party from the election. <ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/canada/quebecvotes2007/story/2007/03/12/qc-dumontcandidate20070312.html?ref=rss 2nd ADQ candidate steps down for 'unacceptable' comments], ''CBC News'', March 12, 2007</ref>
On election day, the ADQ made a surprisingly strong showing. It took 21 seats from the Liberal Party and 15 seats from the PQ. All five ADQ [[incumbents]] were re-elected, for a total of 41 seats. (The election of so many legislators without prior parliamentary experience delights cartoonist [[Serge Chapleau]] who likes to portray the ADQ MNAs as elementary school kids and Dumont as their teacher. <ref>[http://galeriedephotos.cyberpresse.ca/index.php?t=Black&a=215 Caricatures du 14 avril], Serge Chapleau, ''La Presse'', March and April 2007</ref>) The reigning Liberals were reduced to a [[minority government]], with only 48 MNAs.
For the first time, the ADQ received a [[plurality]] of the [[popular vote]] among French-speakers and it is now the [[official opposition]].
Nonetheless, it failed to take a single seat on the island of Montreal, but it did come second in some of the city's ridings. Further developments are therefore necessary to determine whether or not the ADQ will permanently replace the PQ as the alternative to the Liberals.
===Official Opposition===
The ADQ MNAs and supporters met in [[Victoriaville]] in late September 2007 to detail the party's environmental policy. <ref>[http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20070930/CPACTUALITES/70929119/6488/CPACTUALITES Dumont se drape de vert], ''La Presse'', September 30, 2007</ref> Former [[Parti Québécois|PQ]] Cabinet Member [[Jean Garon]], former [[Hydro-Québec]] [[CEO]] [[André Caillé]] and environmental activist [[Steven Guilbeault]] attended the convention. [[Tom Pentefountas]], a former ADQ candidate in the district of [[Nelligan (electoral district)|Nelligan]] in a [[2004]] [[by-election]], succeeded Gilles Taillon as President of the party. Pentefountas enjoys little name recognition among voters in general, but he is a member of the [[Greek Canadian|Greek community]] and lives in Montreal. ADQ supporters hope that his profile might facilitate the party's attempts to connect with these constituencies. <ref>[http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/Politique/2007/09/29/003-Caille-politique-ADQ.shtml Dumont séduit plus que jamais], ''Radio-Canada'', September 30, 2007</ref>
During the year that followed the 2007 election, a number of ADQ members such as [[Éric Caire]], [[Gilles Taillon]] and especially [[Sébastien Proulx]] emerged as effective and articulate legislators. Nonetheless, the ADQ is still getting adjusted to its new role as Official Opposition. According to journalist Gilbert Lavoie, the more experienced [[Parti Québécois|PQ]] caucus has been able to position itself as the best alternative to [[Jean Charest]]'s Liberals. <ref>[http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20080503/CPSOLEIL/80501217/6553/CPSOLEIL Mario à l'école du pouvoir, Gilbert Lavoie, Le Soleil, May 3, 2008]</ref> While political observers make unflattering comments about the ADQ's performance, political support for the party seems to lose momentum again. <ref>[http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/carnets/2008/04/22/100364.shtml?auteur=2094 La page blanche, Michel C. Auger, Radio-Canada, April 22, 2008]</ref> <ref>[http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20080502/CPOPINIONS05/80501281/6730/CPACTUALITES Qu’est-ce qui cloche à l’ADQ ?, Vincent Marissal, La Presse, May 2, 2008]</ref> On [[May 12]], [[2008]] the ADQ suffered a major setback, losing three by-elections by substantial margins. Its support did not exceed 15% in any of the districts at stake. <ref>[http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/Politique/2008/05/12/001-partielles-resultats.shtml Les favoris élus, Radio-Canada, May 12, 2008]</ref> <ref>[http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20080512/CPACTUALITES/80512143/6488/CPACTUALITES L'ADQ s'effondre trois fois, Tommy Chouinard, La Presse, May 12, 2008]</ref>
==Leaders of the Action démocratique du Québec==
{| class="wikitable"
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''Leader'''
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''Home region'''
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''Years of service'''
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''Background'''
|-
| [[Jean Allaire]]
| [[Laval]]
| 1994
| Lawyer
|-
| [[Mario Dumont]]
| [[Bas-Saint-Laurent]]
| Since 1994
| President of the Youth Commission of the Quebec Liberal Party
|}
==ADQ Presidents==
{| class="wikitable"
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''President'''
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''Years'''
|-
| [[Mario Dumont]]
| 1994
|-
| [[Moncef Guitouni]]
| 1994
|-
| [[Hubert Meilleur]]
| 1994-1996
|-
| [[Jean Dion]]
| 1996-1998
|-
| [[Hubert Meilleur|Ritha Cossette]]
| 1998-2000
|-
| [[Isabelle Marquis]]
| 2000-2002
|-
| [[Guy Laforest]]
| 2002-2004
|-
| [[Yvon Picotte]]
| 2004-2006
|-
| [[Gilles Taillon]]
| 2006-2007
|-
| [[Tom Pentefountas]]
| Since 2007
|}
==Presidents of ADQ's Youth Commission==
The Youth Commission of the ADQ was created in August 1995.
{| class="wikitable"
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''President'''
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''Years'''
|-
| Éric Boisselle
| n/a
|-
| Patrick Robitaille
| n/a
|-
| Sylvain Frenette
| n/a
|-
| Jean-François Tétrault
| n/a
|-
| Jean-Sébastien Brault
| n/a
|-
| Marie-Ève Bonneville
| 1999-2000
|-
| Stéphanie Deslandes
| n/a
|-
| Keven Tremblay
| n/a
|-
| Jean-François Sylvestre
| n/a
|-
| Stéphane Laforest
| n/a
|-
| Micaël Bérubé
| n/a
|-
| [[Simon-Pierre Diamond]]
| 2004-2007
|-
| Catherine Goyer
| Since 2007
|}
==ADQ Members of the National Assembly==
{| class="wikitable"
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''MNA'''
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''District'''
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''Region'''
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''Years of Service'''
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''Background'''
|-
| [[Pierre-Michel Auger]]
| [[Champlain (provincial electoral district)|Champlain]]
| [[Mauricie]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Teacher
|-
| [[Pascal Beaupré]]
| [[Joliette (provincial electoral district)|Joliette]]
| [[Lanaudière]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Lawyer
|-
| [[François Benjamin]]
| [[Berthier (provincial electoral district)|Berthier]]
| [[Lanaudière]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Mayor of [[Mandeville]]
|-
| [[Hubert Benoît]]
| [[Montmorency (provincial electoral district)|Montmorency]]
| [[Capitale-Nationale|Québec]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Financial Adviser
|-
| [[François Bonnardel]]
| [[Shefford (provincial electoral district)|Shefford]]
| [[Montérégie]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Business Person
|-
| [[Éric Caire]]
| [[La Peltrie]]
| [[Capitale-Nationale|Québec]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Computer Programmer and Analyst
|-
| [[Martin Camirand]]
| [[Prévost (electoral district)|Prévost]]
| [[Laurentides]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Council Member in [[Saint-Jérôme]]
|-
| [[Éric Charbonneau]]
| [[Johnson (electoral district)|Johnson]]
| [[Estrie|Eastern Townships]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Scheduler in a Manufacturing Business
|-
| [[François Corriveau]]
| [[René-Lévesque|Saguenay]]
| [[Côte-Nord]]
| [[Quebec provincial by-elections, April 15, 2002|2002]]-[[Quebec general election, 2003|2003]]
| Sculptor and Assistant Clerk of Court
|-
| [[Jean Damphousse]]
| [[Maskinongé (provincial electoral district)|Maskinongé]]
| [[Mauricie]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Business Consultant and [[Mayor]] of [[Sainte-Ursule]]
|-
| [[Albert De Martin]]
| [[Huntingdon (provincial electoral district)|Huntingdon]]
| [[Montérégie]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Farmer and [[Councillor]] in [[Godmanchester, Quebec]]
|-
| [[Robert Deschamps]]
| [[Saint-Maurice (provincial electoral district)|Saint-Maurice]]
| [[Mauricie]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Safety Manager
|-
| [[François Desrochers]]
| [[Mirabel (electoral district)|Mirabel]]
| [[Laurentides]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Public School Teacher
|-
| [[Simon-Pierre Diamond]]
| [[Marguerite-D'Youville]]
| [[Montérégie]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Law Student
|-
| [[Jean Domingue]]
| [[Bellechasse (provincial electoral district)|Bellechasse]]
| [[Chaudière-Appalaches]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Project Manager
|-
| [[Éric Dorion]]
| [[Nicolet-Yamaska (provincial electoral district)|Nicolet-Yamaska]]
| [[Centre-du-Québec]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Director of an Addiction Intervention Center
|-
| [[Mario Dumont]]
| [[Rivière-du-Loup (electoral district)|Rivière-du-Loup]]
| [[Bas-Saint-Laurent]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 1994|1994]]
| Economist
|-
| [[Raymond Francœur]]
| [[Portneuf (provincial electoral district)|Portneuf]]
| [[Capitale-Nationale|Québec]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Mayor of Sainte-Christine-d'Auvergne
|-
| [[François Gaudreau]]
| [[Vimont (electoral district)|Vimont]]
| [[Laval]]
| [[Quebec provincial by-elections, June 17, 2002|2002]]-[[Quebec general election, 2003|2003]]
| Realtor, Coffee Merchant
|-
| [[Pierre Gingras]]
| [[Blainville (electoral district)|Blainville]]
| [[Laurentides]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Mayor of [[Blainville, Quebec]]
|-
| [[Jean-François Gosselin]]
| [[Jean-Lesage]]
| [[Capitale-Nationale|Québec]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Sales and Development Manager
|-
| [[Ginette Grandmont]]
| [[Masson (electoral district)|Masson]]
| [[Lanaudière]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Business Manager
|-
| [[Marie Grégoire]]
| [[Berthier (provincial electoral district)|Berthier]]
| [[Lanaudière]]
| [[Quebec provincial by-elections, June 17, 2002|2002]]-[[Quebec general election, 2003|2003]]
| Marketing Consultant
|-
| [[Janvier Grondin]]
| [[Beauce-Nord]]
| [[Chaudière-Appalaches]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2003|2003]]
| Mayor of [[Saint-Jules, Quebec|Saint-Jules]]
|-
| [[Yvon Lafrance]]
| [[Iberville (provincial electoral district)|Iberville]]
| [[Montérégie]]
| [[Quebec general election, 1989|1989]]-[[Quebec general election, 1994|1994]] <ref>Elected as a Liberal candidate, Yvon Lafrance sat as an Independent MNA by February 1994 and switched affiliation to ADQ less than a month later.</ref>
| Army Officer
|-
| [[Linda Lapointe]]
| [[Groulx]]
| [[Laurentides]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Business Owner
|-
| [[Éric Laporte]]
| [[L'Assomption (provincial electoral district)|L'Assomption]]
| [[Lanaudière]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Financial Adviser
|-
| [[Lucie Leblanc]]
| [[Deux-Montagnes (provincial electoral district)|Deux-Montagnes]]
| [[Laurentides]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Mayor of [[Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac]]
|-
| [[Claude L’Écuyer]]
| [[Saint-Hyacinthe (provincial electoral district)|Saint-Hyacinthe]]
| [[Montérégie]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Lawyer
|-
| [[Sylvain Légaré]]
| [[Vanier (electoral district)|Vanier]]
| [[Capitale-Nationale|Québec]]
| Since 2004
| Financial Consultant
|-
| [[Sylvie Lespérance]]
| [[Joliette (provincial electoral district)|Joliette]]
| [[Lanaudière]]
| [[Quebec provincial by-elections, June 17, 2002|2002]]-[[Quebec general election, 2003|2003]]
| Nurse and Health Provider
|-
| [[Christian Lévesque]]
| [[Lévis (provincial electoral district)|Lévis]]
| [[Chaudière-Appalaches]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Business Person and [[President]] of the [[Lévis]] Chamber of Commerce
|-
| [[Richard Merlini]]
| [[Chambly (provincial electoral district)|Chambly]]
| [[Montérégie]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Project Manager
|-
| [[Lucille Méthé]]
| [[Saint-Jean (provincial electoral district)|Saint-Jean]]
| [[Montérégie]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Development Officer
|-
| [[Claude Morin (ADQ)|Claude Morin]]
| [[Beauce-Sud (provincial electoral district)|Beauce-Sud]]
| [[Chaudière-Appalaches]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Financial Adviser
|-
| [[Catherine Morissette]]
| [[Charlesbourg (provincial electoral district)|Charlesbourg]]
| [[Capitale-Nationale|Québec]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Lawyer
|-
| [[Marc Picard]]
| [[Chutes-de-la-Chaudière (electoral district)|Chutes-de-la-Chaudière]]
| [[Chaudière-Appalaches]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2003|2003]]
| Tax audit technician, finance officer, tax research officer, [[Ministère du Revenu du Québec]]
|-
| [[Sébastien Proulx]]
| [[Trois-Rivières (provincial electoral district)|Trois-Rivières]]
| [[Mauricie]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Lawyer and Political Consultant
|-
| [[André Riedl]]
| [[Iberville (provincial electoral district)|Iberville]]
| [[Montérégie]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Project Manager
|-
| [[Jean-François Roux]]
| [[Arthabaska (electoral district)|Arthabaska]]
| [[Centre-du-Québec]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Project Manager
|-
| [[Claude Roy (politician)|Claude Roy]]
| [[Montmagny-L'Islet (provincial electoral district)|Montmagny-L'Islet]]
| [[Chaudière-Appalaches]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Business Person and TV Host
|-
| [[Sylvie Roy]]
| [[Lotbiniere (electoral district)|Lotbinière]]
| [[Chaudière-Appalaches]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2003|2003]]
| Lawyer, Mayor of [[Sainte-Sophie-de-Lévrard]]
|-
| [[Monique Roy Verville]]
| [[La Prairie (provincial electoral district)|La Prairie]]
| [[Montérégie]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Pharmaceutical Representative
|-
| [[Sébastien Schneeberger]]
| [[Drummond (provincial electoral district)|Drummond]]
| [[Centre-du-Québec]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Factory Worker
|-
| [[Gilles Taillon]]
| [[Chauveau]]
| [[Capitale-Nationale|Québec]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| President of the [[Conseil du patronat du Québec]]
|-
| [[Jean-François Therrien]]
| [[Terrebonne (provincial electoral district)|Terrebonne]]
| [[Lanaudière]]
| Since [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| Researcher from the Public Sector
|}
== Defeated ADQ star candidates ==
{| class="wikitable"
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''Candidate'''
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''District'''
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''Region'''
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''Year'''
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''Background'''
|-
| [[Diane Bellemare]]
| [[Blainville (electoral district)|Blainville]]<br>[[Pointe-aux-Trembles (electoral district)|Pointe-aux-Trembles]]
| [[Laurentides]]<br>[[Montreal East]]
| [[Quebec general election, 2003|2003]]<br>by-election, 2007
| Senior Vice-President and<br>Chief Economist of the Conseil du patronat du Québec
|-
| [[Pierre Bourque]]
| [[Bourget (electoral district)|Bourget]]
| [[Montreal]]
| [[Quebec general election, 2003|2003]]
| Mayor of [[Montreal]]
|-
| [[Pierre Brien]]
| [[Rouyn-Noranda—Témiscamingue]]
| [[Abitibi]]
| [[Quebec general election, 2003|2003]]
| [[Bloc Québécois]] Member of Parliament
|-
| [[Guy Laforest]]
| [[Louis-Hébert (provincial electoral district)|Louis-Hébert]]
| [[Capitale-Nationale|Québec]]
| [[Quebec general election, 2003|2003]]
| Political Analyst
|-
| [[Joëlle Lescop]]
| [[Vachon (electoral district)|Vachon]]
| [[Montérégie]]
| [[Quebec general election, 2003|2003]]
| Pediatrician
|-
| [[Hubert Meilleur]]
| [[Argenteuil (provincial electoral district)|Argenteuil]]<br>[[Mirabel (electoral district)|Mirabel]]
| [[Laurentides]]
| [[Quebec general election, 1994|1994]]<br>[[Quebec general election, 2003|2003]]
| Mayor of [[Mirabel]]
|-
| [[Denis Mondor]]
| [[Bourget (electoral district)|Bourget]]
| [[Montreal East]]
| by-election, 2007
| Former President of the Québec Bar
|}
== Prominent ADQ members==
{| class="wikitable"
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''Member'''
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''Region'''
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''Years'''
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''Background'''
|-
| [[Yvon Cyrenne]]
| [[Montreal]]
| 2003-2006
| Economist
|-
| [[Marcel Dutil]]
| [[Chaudière-Appalaches]]
| 2002-2003
| Business Leader
|-
| [[Yvon Picotte]]
| [[Mauricie]]
| Since 2003
| [[Liberal Party of Quebec|Liberal]] MNA and Cabinet Member
|}
==Election results==
{| class="wikitable"
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''General election'''
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''# of candidates'''
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''# of seats before election'''
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''# of seats won'''
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''% of popular vote'''
|-
| [[Quebec general election, 1994|1994]]
| 80
| 1
| 1
| 6.46%
|-
| [[Quebec general election, 1998|1998]]
| 125
| 1
| 1
| 11.81%
|-
| [[Quebec general election, 2003|2003]]
| 125
| 5
| 4
| 18.18%
|-
| [[Quebec general election, 2007|2007]]
| 125
| 5
| 41
| 30.80%
|}
==General conventions==
General conventions ({{lang-fr|congrès généraux}}) are open to all card-carrying supporters.
{| class="wikitable"
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''#'''
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''Date'''
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''Location'''
| bgcolor=#cccccc | '''Turnout'''
|-
| 1<sup>st</sup>
| March 1994
| [[Laval]]
| n/a
|-
| 2<sup>nd</sup>
| October 1996
| [[Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu]]
| n/a
|-
| 3<sup>rd</sup>
| April 2000
| [[Saint-Hyacinthe]]
| n/a
|-
| 4<sup>th</sup>
| October 2002
| [[Drummondville]]
| n/a
|-
| 5<sup>th</sup>
| September 2004
| [[Drummondville]]
| n/a <ref>[http://agonist.org/story/2004/9/26/42522/2826 ADQ's Dumont pushes Quebec's autonomy within Canada, Rheal Seguin, The Agonist, September 24, 2004]</ref>
|-
| 6<sup>th</sup>
| November 2006
| [[Trois-Rivières]]
| 300 <ref>[http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20061119/CPACTUALITES/611190457/1019/CPACTUALITES L'ADQ veut abolir les commissions scolaires, Paul Roy, La Presse, November 19, 2006]</ref>
|-
| 7<sup>th</sup>
| March 2008
| [[Laval]]
| 1,000 <ref>[http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20080316/CPSOLEIL/80315112/6584/CPSOLEIL Congrès de l'ADQ: le salaire du chef a été décidé à deux, Michel Corbeil, Le Soleil, March 16, 2008]</ref> <ref>[http://www.ledevoir.com/2008/03/17/180888.html Mario Dumont obtient un vote de confiance massif malgré l'affaire du salaire, Kathleen Lévesque, Le Devoir, March 17, 2008]</ref>
|}
==Sources==
* Julien Béliveau, ''Mario Dumont - Le pouvoir de l'image''
==See also==
* [[Politics of Quebec]]
* [[List of Quebec general elections]]
* [[List of Quebec premiers]]
* [[List of Quebec leaders of the Opposition]]
* [[National Assembly of Quebec]]
* [[Timeline of Quebec history]]
* [[List of political parties in Canada#Quebec|Political parties in Quebec]]
* [[Jean-François Plante]]
==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.adq.qc.ca/ Action démocratique du Québec website]
* [http://www.electionsquebec.qc.ca/en/page_397.asp Directeur Général des Élections du Québec entry]
* [http://www.assnat.qc.ca/fra/patrimoine/ National Assembly historical information]
* [http://www.quebecpolitique.com/ La Politique québécoise sur le Web]
{{Canadian Conservative Parties}}
{{Quebec provincial political parties}}
{{Quebec MNAs}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Action democratique du Quebec}}
[[Category:Political parties established in 1994]]
[[Category:Conservative parties]]
[[Category:Provincial political parties in Quebec]]
[[Category:Canadian conservatives|*]]
[[de:Action démocratique du Québec]]
[[es:Acción Democrática de Quebec]]
[[fr:Action démocratique du Québec]]
[[uk:Демократична дія Квебеку]]
[[zh:魁北克民主行动党]]