Claude Patry Explained

Claude Patry
Riding:Jonquière—Alma
Parliament:Canadian
Term Start:May 2, 2011
Term End:August 4, 2015
Predecessor:Jean-Pierre Blackburn
Successor:Karine Trudel
Party:Bloc Québécois (2013-2015)
New Democrat (2011-2013)
Birth Date:10 January 1953
Birth Place:Arvida, Quebec
Profession:Union representative
Spouse:Francine Latilippe

Claude Patry (born January 10, 1953) is a former Canadian Member of Parliament for the riding of Jonquière—Alma, who served a single term from 2011 Canadian federal election until 2015. He was elected as a member of the New Democratic Party, but crossed over to the Bloc Québécois on February 28, 2013.[1] He defeated incumbent MP Jean-Pierre Blackburn of the Conservative Party, who was Veterans Affairs Minister.

Patry was president of the Syndicat national des employés de l'aluminium d'Arvida, the union representing Rio Tinto Alcan workers in the riding.

Following his defection to the Bloc in 2013, Patry stated that "he voted for sovereignty in the 1980 and 1995 referendums and that he still hopes Quebec will one day become a country".[2]

In August 2014, Patry announced that he was not running in the next federal election.[3] He was rumoured to have considered resigning from the Bloc following the election of Mario Beaulieu as leader but remained with the party following the resignations of André Bellavance and Jean-François Fortin and was, with Louis Plamondon, one of two Bloc MPs until the House of Commons dissolved for the 2015 election.[3]

It was reported in February 2017 that Patry had joined the militant far-right anti-Muslim group, La Meute (Wolf Pack) and is leader of the group's "clan" in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region.[4]

Electoral record

Source: Elections Canada

Notes and References

  1. News: NDP MP Claude Patry defects to join the Bloc Quebecois. The Globe and Mail. 28 February 2013. 28 February 2013.
  2. News: Mulcair calls on Patry to resign seat after defection to Bloc. 26 May 2013. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 28 February 2013.
  3. News: MP André Bellavance leaves Bloc Québécois Will spend the rest of his term as an independent . August 25, 2014 . Montreal Gazette . August 25, 2014 .
  4. Web site: Former NDP/Bloc MP Claude Patry joins far-right group la Meute.