• Self-introduction video

Political, parliamentary and ministerial offices

Elected as Member for Richmond in the general election held on October 29, 1973

Elected as Member for Richmond in the general election held on April 13, 1981

• Official Opposition critic for mining from November 9, 1981 to March 10, 1983
• Official Opposition critic for highways from March 23, 1983 to October 23, 1985
• Member of the Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food from March 15, 1984 to October 23, 1985
• Chair of the Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food from June 20, 1984 to October 23, 1985

Reelected as Member for Richmond in the general election held on December 2, 1985

• Parliamentary secretary of the Québec Section, International Assembly of French-Speaking Parliamentarians (AIPLF) from December 2, 1985 to September 25, 1989
• Member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) from December 2, 1985 to September 25, 1989
• Chief Government Whip from December 12, 1985 to October 11, 1989
• Member of the Committee on the National Assembly from December 12, 1985 to August 9, 1989
• Member of the Office of the National Assembly from December 19, 1985 to August 9, 1989
• Member of the Committee on Planning and Infrastructures from February 5, 1986 to March 15, 1988
• Member of the Committee on Institutions from February 5, 1986 to October 20, 1987
• Author of the Vallières report on the tertiary road network, the environment and contractual claims from June 12, 1986 to December 16, 1986

Reelected as Member for Richmond in the general election held on September 25, 1989

• Minister for Transport from October 11, 1989 to October 5, 1990
• Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food from October 5, 1990 to February 19, 1992
• Minister for Regional Development from October 5, 1990 to February 19, 1992
• Minister responsible for Fisheries from October 5, 1990 to February 19, 1992
• Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Minister responsible for Fisheries from February 19, 1992 to January 11, 1994
• Member of the Committee on the National Assembly from January 11, 1994 to July 24, 1994
• Chief Government Whip - first holder of this position to sit in Cabinet from February 11, 1994 to July 24, 1994
• Member of the Office of the National Assembly from March 29, 1994 to July 24, 1994

Reelected as Member for Richmond in the general election held on September 12, 1994

• Official Opposition critic for agriculture from November 12, 1994 to February 26, 1996
• Chair of the Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food from December 1, 1994 to October 28, 1998
• Member of the Committee on the National Assembly from December 1, 1994 to October 28, 1998
• Member of the Subcommittee on Parliamentary Reform from May 17, 1995 to October 28, 1998
• Vice-chair of the National Assembly Delegation for Relations with Europe (DANRE) from January 31, 1996 to October 28, 1998
• Critic for regional development from February 26, 1996 to October 28, 1998

Reelected as Member for Richmond in the general election held on November 30, 1998

• Vice-chair of the Delegation of the National Assembly for Relations with European Institutions (DANRIE) from November 30, 1998 to March 12, 2003
• Member of the Québec Section, France-Québec Interparliamentary Committee (CIFQ) and Chair, Québec Section, Liaison group for relations with the French Senate from November 30, 1998 to March 12, 2003
• Official Opposition critic for agriculture from January 19, 1999 to October 19, 2000
• Chair of the Committee on Planning and the Public Domain from March 4, 1999 to March 12, 2003
• Member of the Committee on the National Assembly from March 4, 1999 to March 12, 2003

Reelected as Member for Richmond in the general election held on April 14, 2003

• Chief Government Whip from April 29, 2003 to February 18, 2005
• Member of the Committee on the National Assembly from June 4, 2003 to February 18, 2005
• Member of the Subcommittee on Parliamentary Reform from June 4, 2003 to February 18, 2005
• Substitute member of the Office of the National Assembly from June 10, 2003 to March 8, 2005
• Member of the Comité ministériel à la décentralisation et aux régions from October 7, 2004 to April 18, 2007
• Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food from February 18, 2005 to April 18, 2007
• Member of the Conseil du trésor from February 18, 2005 to February 28, 2006
• Member of the Comité ministériel de la prospérité économique et du développement durable from February 18, 2005 to April 18, 2007
• Minister responsible for the Centre-du-Québec region from February 27, 2006 to April 18, 2007

Reelected as Member for Richmond in the general election held on March 26, 2007

• Chair of the Government Caucus from April 18, 2007 to September 10, 2008
• Member of the Comité ministériel du développement social, éducatif et culturel from April 18, 2007 to November 5, 2008
• Member of the Comité ministériel de la prospérité économique et du développement durable from April 18, 2007 to November 5, 2008
• Member of the Comité ministériel au développement des régions from April 18, 2007 to November 5, 2008
• Chair of the Government Caucus from October 21, 2008 to November 5, 2008

Reelected as Member for Richmond in the general election held on December 8, 2008

• President of the National Assembly from January 13, 2009 to April 1, 2011
• Chair of the Office of the National Assembly from January 13, 2009 to April 1, 2011
• Chair of the Committee on the National Assembly from January 13, 2009 to April 1, 2011
• Chair of the Subcommittee on Parliamentary Reform from January 13, 2009 to April 1, 2011
• Chair of the Québec Section, Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) from January 13, 2009 to April 1, 2011
• Chair of the Québec Section, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) from January 13, 2009 to April 1, 2011
• Chair of the Québec Section, Parliamentary Confederation of the Americas (COPA) from January 13, 2009 to April 1, 2011
• Chair of the Delegation of the National Assembly for Relations with the United States (DANREU) from January 13, 2009 to April 1, 2011
• Chair of the Delegation of the National Assembly for Relations with the French-speaking community of Belgium/Wallonia/Belgium (DANRB) from January 13, 2009 to April 1, 2011
• Chair of the National Assembly Delegation for Relations with the French National Assembly (DANRANF) from January 13, 2009 to April 1, 2011
• Chair of the National Assembly Delegation for Relations with Bavaria (DANRBA) from January 13, 2009 to April 1, 2011
• Chair of the National Assembly Delegation for Relations with the French Senate (DANRSF) from January 13, 2009 to April 1, 2011
• Chair of the National Assembly Delegation for Relations with Catalonia (DANRC) from January 13, 2009 to April 1, 2011
• Chair of the National Assembly Delegation for Relations with European Institutions (DANRIE) from January 13, 2009 to April 1, 2011
• Chair of the Québec Section, New Brunswick_Québec Parliamentary Association (NBQPA) from January 13, 2009 to April 1, 2011
• Chair of the Québec Section, Ontario_Québec Parliamentary Association (APOQ) from January 13, 2009 to April 1, 2011
• Chair of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) from July 6, 2009 to April 1, 2011
• Minister responsible for Canadian Intergovernmental Affairs and the Canadian Francophonie since September 7, 2011
• Minister responsible for the Reform of Democratic Institutions and Access to Information since September 7, 2011