Albiny Paquette

Joseph-Henri-Albiny Paquette (October 7, 1888 - September 25, 1978) was a Quebec politician and radiologist. He was a cabinet minister under Maurice Duplessis' Union Nationale government for 17 years.

Born in Marieville, Quebec, Paquette studied in medical sciences at Université Laval. After additional studies and training at Bellevue Hospital in New York City, Paquette worked first for the Canadian Red Cross in the Middle East, then in the Canadian Forces as a Medical Officer. He would also worked for several hospitals in Europe including in Paris and in England.

Paquette returned to Quebec in 1919 and practiced medicine in Mont-Laurier until his entry to political politics and his nine-year stint as mayor of that city. Paquette was first elected as a member of the Action libérale nationale, then the Union Nationale in the 1935 elections. Paquette would remained as the Legislative Assembly of Quebec Member for Labelle until 1958 and would served from 1936 to 1939 and 1944 to 1958 as Minister of Health in the Duplessis Cabinet. In 1958, he was appointed to the Legislative Council of Quebec for the division of Rougemont, which he represented until 1967.

He received several honors, distinctions and medals for his medical work including honorary doctorates for Université Laval, Université de Montréal and Bishop's College. Among his other rewards included the Military Medal of the British Government, the Medal of the Canadian Centennial and the honor cross of the French government. He was decorated by the Prince of Wales in 1919.

External link/Reference

* [http://www.assnat.qc.ca/fra/Membres/notices/o-p/PAQUJHA.htm Bioography of Albiny Paquette] fr icon

s-ttl|title=MLA for Labelle
years=1935–1958s-ttl|title=Legislative Councillor for Rougemont
years=1958–1967