Vivian Barbot
Vivian Barbot (born July 7, 1941) is a Canadian teacher, activist, and politician. She is a former president of the Fédération des femmes du Québec, a former member of Parliament and former vice-president of the Bloc Québécois. She was the party's interim leader and president following the resignation of Gilles Duceppe in May 2011. Barbot became the first person of a visible minority group to lead a Canadian federal political party with parliamentary representation.
Vivian Barbot | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for Papineau | |
| In office February 6, 2006 – October 14, 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Pierre Pettigrew |
| Succeeded by | Justin Trudeau |
| Interim Leader of the Bloc Québécois | |
| In office May 3, 2011 – December 11, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Gilles Duceppe |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Paillé |
| Vice-President of Bloc Québécois | |
| In office May 15, 2009 – January 24, 2012 | |
| Succeeded by | Annie Lessard |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 7, 1941 Saint-Marc, Haiti |
| Political party | Bloc Québécois |
| Parent |
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| Residence | Montreal |
| Profession | President/manager, teacher |
Barbot was born in Saint-Marc, Haiti. She is the former Member of Parliament for the riding of Papineau. In the 2006 election, she scored a significant victory for the Bloc by defeating former Liberal Cabinet Minister Pierre Pettigrew, but was defeated two years later in the 2008 federal election by Justin Trudeau. Barbot ran against Trudeau in the 2011 election, but was once again defeated.
The 2011 election also saw the defeat of Gilles Duceppe and all but four Bloc MPs. As vice-president of the party, Barbot was appointed interim party leader and president following Duceppe's resignation and remained in the position until Duceppe's successor, Daniel Paillé, was elected on December 11, 2011.