Former Quebec Liberal cabinet minister Benoît Pelletier has died in Mexico at the age of 64.
His family announced his death, describing him as a caring spouse and dedicated father who was strongly committed to Quebec and the French language.
Pelletier, who was a well-known University of Ottawa law professor, entered provincial politics in 1998 by winning a seat in the western Quebec Chapleau riding for Jean Charest’s Liberals.
He led the Liberal party’s special committee on Quebec’s political and constitutional future, and was seen as the architect of the Charest Liberals’ constitutional platform.
Upon the party's ascent to power in 2003, Pelletier was appointed as the Canadian intergovernmental affairs minister, a role he held until leaving politics in 2008.
Following his political career, Pelletier returned to practicing law and teaching. In 2015, he was appointed to the federal government’s committee to study medical aid in dying.
His family chose not to disclose the cause of his death.
