Biographic Notes

Born in Damascus (Syria) on June 17, 1958

Education

• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering, Université Laval (1984)
• Master's degree in civil engineering, Université Laval (1986)
• Master's degree in management, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (1989)

Professional experience

• Lecturer in management, Université Laval, Université du Québec à Rimouski (campus Lévis), INRS-Eau (1989-2001)
• Member of the board of directors for three terms of office, Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (1992-1995, 1995-1998, 1998-2001)
• Member, National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (1994-2002)
• Senior vice-president, Roche Ltd. Consulting Group (1998-2003)
• President, Board of Trade and Industry of Metropolitan Québec (2000-2001)
• Vice-president, Québec Board of Trade (2001-2003)

Community and Political Involvement

• Member of the board of directors, Canadian Council of Professional Engineers
• Member of the board of directors, Junior Achievement, Québec region (1989)
• Founding member of the Board for the Restoration of the Québec Bridge (1989)
• Chair of the board of directors, Lauberivière Foundation (1990-1993)
• President of the Québec/Chaudière-Appalaches regional section of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec
• Chair of the board of directors, Conseil régional de l'environnement Chaudière-Appalaches (1992-1993)
• Member of the board of directors, The Canadian Institute (1993-1994)
• Member of the board of directors, Conseil régional de Concertation et de Développement de la région Chaudière-Appalaches (1993-1994)
• Member of the board of directors, GATIQ (task force on the technological and industrial advancement of the Québec area) (1994-2001)
• Member (1994-2001) and vice-president (1999-2001), Centraide-Québec
• President, Forum Énergie de la Capitale (1995-1999)
• Member of the board of directors, Hôpital Laval Foundation (1998-2000)
• Chair of the board of directors, AmériContact (2000-2001)
• Member of the Capital-Québec committee (2000-2001)
• President, task force on the renewal of the Québec public service (2001-2002)
• Winner of the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers award for community service and social involvement
• Winner of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec volunteer engineer of the year award
• Winner of an award from the Québec/Chaudière-Appalaches regional section of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec for volunteer services as president

Political, parliamentary and ministerial offices

Elected as Member for Louis-Hébert in the general election held on April 14, 2003

• Minister of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Parks from April 29, 2003 to February 18, 2005
• Minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale region from April 29, 2003 to February 18, 2005
• Member of the Comité ministériel de la prospérité économique et du développement durable from April 29, 2003 to February 18, 2005
• Member of the Comité ministériel à la décentralisation et aux régions from October 7, 2004 to February 18, 2005
• Member of the Committee on Public Finance from March 8, 2005 to February 21, 2007
• Chair of the Committee on Public Finance from March 9, 2005 to February 21, 2007
• Member of the Committee on the National Assembly from March 9, 2005 to February 21, 2007

Reelected as Member for Louis-Hébert in the general election held on March 26, 2007

• Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity from April 18, 2007 to December 18, 2008
• Member of the Conseil du trésor from April 18, 2007 to December 18, 2008
• Vice-chair of the Comité ministériel du développement social, éducatif et culturel from April 18, 2007 to December 18, 2008
• Member of the Comité ministériel de la prospérité économique et du développement durable from April 18, 2007 to December 18, 2008

Reelected as Member for Louis-Hébert in the general election held on December 8, 2008

• Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity from December 18, 2008 to August 10, 2010
• Minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale region since December 18, 2008
• Member of the Comité des priorités économiques since January 15, 2009
• Vice-chair of the Conseil du trésor since January 15, 2009
• Member of the Comité ministériel du développement des régions et de l'occupation du territoire from January 15, 2009 to August 10, 2010
• Member of the Comité ministériel du développement social, éducatif et culturel from January 15, 2009 to August 10, 2010
• Member of the Comité des priorités since June 23, 2009
• Minister of Labour from September 9, 2009 to August 10, 2010
• Vice-chair of the Comité ministériel de la prospérité économique et du développement durable from August 11, 2010 to February 8, 2011
• Minister of Transport from August 11, 2010 to September 6, 2011
• Chair of the Comité ministériel de la prospérité économique et du développement durable since February 9, 2011
• Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade since September 7, 2011

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