Roger Bertrand, born on July twenty-sixth, nineteen forty-seven, in Donnacona, Quebec, is a distinguished economist and civil servant who made significant contributions to Quebec's political landscape. He is the son of Georges Bertrand and Françoise Roy and pursued his education at the prestigious Université Laval and the Université de Paris X.
His career began as a research assistant at Université Laval from nineteen seventy-one to nineteen seventy-three, followed by a role at the Bureau de la statistique du Québec from nineteen seventy-three to nineteen seventy-eight. He later worked with the Secrétariat du Conseil du trésor from nineteen eighty to nineteen eighty-four and served as the director general for the Conseil de la santé et des services sociaux in the Quebec region.
Bertrand entered the political arena as a member of the Parti Québécois, representing Portneuf in the Quebec National Assembly from nineteen ninety-three to two thousand three. He was first elected in a by-election in nineteen ninety-three and subsequently re-elected in the general elections of nineteen ninety-four and nineteen ninety-eight. His leadership skills were recognized when he served as President of the National Assembly from nineteen ninety-four to nineteen ninety-six.
During his tenure, he held several key cabinet positions, including Minister of Revenue from nineteen ninety-six to nineteen ninety-seven, Minister of Industry and Commerce from nineteen ninety-seven to nineteen ninety-eight, and Minister of Health, Social Services, Youth Protection, and Rehabilitation from two thousand two to two thousand three. Despite his efforts, he was defeated by Jean-Pierre Soucy in the two thousand three election.
In two thousand five, Roger Bertrand was appointed president of the Groupe de Promotion pour la Prévention en Santé, further demonstrating his commitment to public health and welfare.