Claude DeBellefeuille explained

Claude DeBellefeuille
Parliament1:Canadian
Riding1:Salaberry—Suroît
Term Start1:October 21, 2019
Parliament2:Canadian
Riding2:Beauharnois—Salaberry
Term Start2:January 23, 2006
Term End2:May 2, 2011
Successor2:Anne Minh-Thu Quach
Predecessor1:Anne Minh-Thu Quach
Predecessor2:Alain Boire
Birth Date:13 December 1963
Birth Place:Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec, Canada
Profession:Social worker
Party:Bloc Québécois
Residence:Salaberry-de-Valleyfield

Claude DeBellefeuille (born December 13, 1963) is a Canadian politician serving as the member of Parliament (MP) for the riding of Salaberry—Suroît in Quebec since the 2019 federal election. A member of the Bloc Québécois (BQ), she previously served as the MP for Beauharnois—Salaberry from 2006 to 2011.

Background

Born in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec, DeBellefeuille was a social worker before becoming a politician. She was first elected in the 2006 federal election in the riding of Beauharnois—Salaberry. She defeated Alain Boire in the nomination race in the riding and went on to win the general election. DeBellefeuille was reelected in 2008 with a slightly higher margin than the previous election. Between June 2010 and May 2011, she replaced Michel Guimond as the chief Bloc Québécois Whip, previously serving as Deputy Whip. In the 2011 federal election, DeBellefeuille was a casualty of the Orange Wave, losing her seat to Anne Minh-Thu Quach of the New Democratic Party (NDP). In 2015, she ran in Salaberry—Suroît and again lost to Quach. After Quach did not run in the 2019 federal election, DeBellefeuille succeeded her.

On June 17, 2020 DeBellefeuille spoke as party whip following New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh calling fellow Bloc Québécois MP Alain Therrien a ‘racist’ after he (Therrien) voted against a motion to address systemic racism and discrimination in the RCMP. On June 18, 2020 DeBellefeuille called for Singh to be blocked from speaking in Parliament due to the previous day’s ‘outburst’ but was unsuccessful.[1]

Since 2021 she has served as the Chief Whip in the Bloc Québécois Shadow Cabinet.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Aiello. Rachel. 2020-06-17. Singh stands by calling Bloc MP a racist after being removed from House. 2021-04-15. CTVNews. en.
  2. Web site: Lévesque . Catherine . October 5, 2021 . Bloc Québécois announces shadow cabinet . Montreal Gazette.