Jean-Robert Gauthier
- December 10, 2009
- 80 years
- stroke
About Jean-Robert Gauthier
Jean-Robert Gauthier, 80, Canadian MP for Ottawa East (1972–1974), Ottawa—Vanier (1974–1994); Senator (1994–2004), stroke.
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Full Biography
|Jean-Robert Gauthier, CM OOnt (October 22, 1929 – December 10, 2009) was a Canadian politician.
Background
A chiropractor by training, he entered politics as trustee on a local school board. He was elected to the House of Commons of Canada to represent the riding of Ottawa East in the 1972 election as a Liberal Party Member of Parliament. He remained its representative for several decades winning by large majorities each time in the safe Liberal seat.
In 1984, he was appointed opposition whip and became a member of the party's shadow cabinet. His highest profile came during his time as official languages critic for the Liberal caucus, in which Gauthier was a strident defender of official bilingualism. Locally, he was known for campaigning to have an aquarium built in Ottawa. With the Liberal victory in the 1993 election, he ran for Speaker of the House but lost to Gilbert Parent.
In 1994, he was appointed to the Senate, where he fought for the rights of French-speaking Canadians. He retired on his 75th birthday in 2004. In the Senate, he listed his Senate division as "Ontario" from November 23, 1994, to December 3, 2001, and as "Ottawa – Vanier" from December 4, 2001, until his retirement.
He was made an Officer of the Legion of Honour by the French Government in 2002. In September 2006, the Jean-Robert Gauthier Catholic Elementary School opened in the Barrhaven district of Ottawa.He was made a member of the Order of Canada in 2007. In 2009, he was made a member of the Order of Ontario.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Robert_Gauthier
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Jean-Robert Gauthier's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date was Jean-Robert Gauthier born?
- A.October 22, 1929correct
- B.November 23, 1929
- C.December 10, 2009
- D.October 22, 1934
The biography states that Jean-Robert Gauthier was born on October 22, 1929.
Source: Introduction
2.What was Jean-Robert Gauthier's profession before entering politics?
- A.Journalist
- B.Teacher
- C.Lawyer
- D.Chiropractorcorrect
Jean-Robert Gauthier was a chiropractor by training before he entered politics.
Source: Background
3.In which election year did Jean-Robert Gauthier first win a seat in the House of Commons?
- A.1984
- B.1993
- C.1994
- D.1972correct
Jean-Robert Gauthier was elected to the House of Commons to represent Ottawa East in the 1972 election.
Source: Background
4.For which specific project in Ottawa was Jean-Robert Gauthier known for campaigning?
- A.An airport terminal
- B.A sports stadium
- C.An aquariumcorrect
- D.A national library
Locally, Jean-Robert Gauthier was known for his efforts to have an aquarium built in Ottawa.
Source: Background
5.Which position was Jean-Robert Gauthier appointed to in 1984?
- A.Prime Minister
- B.Minister of Finance
- C.Opposition whipcorrect
- D.Speaker of the House
In 1984, Jean-Robert Gauthier was appointed opposition whip and became a member of the shadow cabinet.
Source: Background
6.Against whom did Jean-Robert Gauthier lose the race for Speaker of the House in 1993?
- A.Gilbert Parentcorrect
- B.John Turner
- C.Jean Chrétien
- D.Paul Martin
Following the 1993 election, Jean-Robert Gauthier ran for Speaker of the House but was defeated by Gilbert Parent.
Source: Background
7.What was Jean-Robert Gauthier's primary focus as a critic for the Liberal caucus?
- A.Military spending
- B.Official bilingualismcorrect
- C.Environmental protection
- D.Economic development
As the official languages critic for the Liberal caucus, Jean-Robert Gauthier was a strident defender of official bilingualism.
Source: Background
8.In what year did Jean-Robert Gauthier retire from the Senate?
- A.2004correct
- B.2002
- C.2001
- D.2006
Jean-Robert Gauthier retired from the Senate upon reaching his 75th birthday in 2004.
Source: Background
9.When did Jean-Robert Gauthier hold the Senate division designation of 'Ottawa – Vanier'?
- A.2004 to 2009
- B.2001 to 2004correct
- C.1994 to 2001
- D.1974 to 1994
Jean-Robert Gauthier listed his Senate division as Ottawa – Vanier from December 4, 2001, until his retirement.
Source: Background
10.Which award did the French Government bestow upon Jean-Robert Gauthier in 2002?
- A.Officer of the Legion of Honourcorrect
- B.Order of Canada
- C.Order of Ontario
- D.Companion of the Order of Canada
In 2002, the French Government made Jean-Robert Gauthier an Officer of the Legion of Honour.
Source: Background
11.Where is the Jean-Robert Gauthier Catholic Elementary School located?
- A.Orléans district
- B.Vanier district
- C.Barrhaven districtcorrect
- D.Downtown Ottawa
The Jean-Robert Gauthier Catholic Elementary School opened in the Barrhaven district of Ottawa in 2006.
Source: Background
12.In what year was Jean-Robert Gauthier made a member of the Order of Canada?
- A.2007correct
- B.2009
- C.2006
- D.2002
Jean-Robert Gauthier received an appointment as a member of the Order of Canada in 2007.
Source: Background
13.What was the last major honor received by Jean-Robert Gauthier as listed in the biography?
- A.Member of the Order of Ontariocorrect
- B.School naming dedication
- C.Member of the Order of Canada
- D.Legion of Honour
The biography concludes by noting that Jean-Robert Gauthier was made a member of the Order of Ontario in 2009.
Source: Background
14.Which political party did Jean-Robert Gauthier represent in the House of Commons?
- A.Liberal Partycorrect
- B.New Democratic Party
- C.Bloc Québécois
- D.Conservative Party
Jean-Robert Gauthier was elected to the House of Commons as a member of the Liberal Party.
Source: Background
15.What was the cause of death for Jean-Robert Gauthier?
- A.Natural causes
- B.Cancer
- C.Heart failure
- D.Strokecorrect
The biography lists a stroke as the cause of death for Jean-Robert Gauthier.
Source: Introduction
16.What was Jean-Robert Gauthier's age at the time of his death?
- A.85
- B.75
- C.82
- D.80correct
Jean-Robert Gauthier is identified as being 80 years old in the introduction.
Source: Introduction
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