Françoise Boivin's Biography
Born and raised in Gatineau, Françoise Boivin has been a labour specialist in the Outaouais for over 20 years. She is frequently consulted by a wide range of individuals, organizations and businesses. Françoise hosted “Le choc des idées”, a radio call-in show for CJRC-1150, from 1998 to 2002 and was host for “Dossier Boivin”, a public affairs television program on Canal Vox Outaouais in 2003 and 2004.
Her love for Quebec and the Outaouais as well as her fervent desire to build a just and equitable society has led her to federal politics where she excelled following her election as Member of Parliament for Gatineau in June 2004.
Françoise was personally selected by the Prime Minister to act as Seconder to the motion in address to the Throne Speech, a rare honour. She was then elected Chair of the Women's Caucus in November 2004, a first for any female Member of Parliament from Quebec. In this capacity, she participated in discussions with the Prime Minister every week, while serving on the Executive Committee.
Françoise was a member of the Standing Committee of Finances, the Standing Committee on Official Languages, the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs and the Legislative Committee on Bill C-38 on same-sex marriage. She has also been a member of the Subcommittee on Parliamentary Privilege and the Liberal Committee on Cities and Communities.
In 2005, she was credited as the “Top Backbencher of the Year” by Susan Delacourt of the Toronto Star and the Journal de Montreal acknowledged her perfect attendance in the House of Commons, thereby completing a very rare accomplishment of never missing a vote throughout the entire session of Parliament.
In 2006, Françoise returned to practice at her labour law office. She remained very active in the community and in the media as a commentator on TQS and Couleur-FM Gatineau.
No longer feeling any attachment to Liberal Party of Canada, Françoise ran as the New Democratic Party’s candidate for Gatineau in the 2008 federal election. She finished in second place and increased the NDP’s results by 17% for the riding, 3% away from the win. She was elected president of the party’s Québec wing in November of the same year.
Between 2009 and 2011, she hosted Le témoin est à vous and co-hosted La Vérité Choc with Professor Roger Blanchette on Canal Vox. She was a frequent guest commentator on Denis Lévesque (LCN and TVA). She also appeared on TVA en direct with François Paradis and regularly on various Outaouais media for her expertise in labour relations. Every week, she could be heard on CHGA (Maniwaki), and as a political analyst on CJAD (Montréal) and CFRA (Ottawa).
Following her reelection as Member of Parliament for Gatineau on May 2, 2011, NDP leader Jack Layton named her Official Opposition Critic for the Status of Women. In September 2011, Interim Opposition Leader Nycole Turmel named Françoise Deputy Critic for Justice.
In the 41st Parliament, Françoise also co-chaired the Standing Joint Committee on Scrutiny of Regulations.
In April 2012, Thomas Mulcair named her Official Opposition Critic for Justice.
Françoise has always been and continues to be very involved in her community. She participates in numerous fundraising activities that benefit a wide variety of local charitable agencies.
The right to accessible, free and quality health care, the right to affordable social housing, fighting homelessness, pay equity, the right to dignity for seniors, the fight against democratic deficit and the respect of the Québec nation’s rights and weight in Parliament are at the heart of her preoccupations.
