André Vallerand (; June 9, 1940 – August 3, 2026) was a Canadian administrator, businessman and politician. Vallerand served in the National Assembly of Quebec from 1985 to 1994 and was a cabinet minister in the governments of Robert Bourassa and Daniel Johnson.
Early life and career Vallerand was born in Quebec City. He held a bachelor's degree (1967) and a master's degree (1970) in economic sciences from Concordia University and lectured in economics at several Quebec universities from 1970 to 1981. He was an economic consultant at A. Vallerand et Associés Inc. from 1971 to 1977 and subsequently worked for the group SNC from 1977 to 1979. Between 1979 and 1985, he was president of the Montreal Chamber of Commerce and executive vice-president and director-general of the Montreal District Chamber of Commerce. In the latter capacity, he supported Montreal's candidacy to host the United Nations's international centre for genetics and biotechnology and lobbied for improvements to the city's telecommunications sector.Wendie Kerr, "Ottawa backs Montreal bid," Globe and Mail, 7 October 1982, B3; Carole Treiser, "Chambre studies telecommunications centre for Montreal," Montreal Gazette, 10 June 1985, A12.
He offered qualified support for the Quebec government's white paper on taxation in January 1985, describing it as a "step in the right direction" but calling for further structural changes in favour of the corporate sector. He supported the government's proposal to eliminate family allowances.Fran Halter and Jan Ravensbergen, "Tax plan doesn't go far enough experts say," Montreal Gazette, 11 January 1985. Later in the year, he announced the Chamber of Commerce's support for a large-scale hydro-electricity scheme proposed by Robert Bourassa, then the leader of Quebec's opposition Liberal Party."Chambre de commerce backing Bourassa's power-sale scheme," Montreal Gazette, 22 May 1985, A5.
Provincial politics Vallerand was a star candidate for the Quebec Liberal Party in the 1985 Quebec provincial election and was narrowly elected in the northern Montreal division of Crémazie over incumbent Parti Québécois cabinet minister Guy Tardif.Eloise Morin, "Tearful supporters greet loser Tardif," Montreal Gazette, 3 December 1985, C5. The Liberal Party won a majority government in this election, and Vallerand was appointed to Bourassa's cabinet on December 12, 1985, as minister responsible for small and medium-sized businesses."Bourassa gets down to business with new team," Montreal Gazette, 13 December 1985, A4. Vallerand was the first person to hold this position. Minister responsible for small business Shortly after his appointment, Vallerand said that his priorities would include simplifying government regulations, ensuring easier access for Quebec businesses to capital markets, and increasing aid for export ventures.Benoit Aubin, "Ministers get down to business by seeking new staff for offices," Montreal Gazette, 17 December 1985, A6. In February 1986, he estimated that small businesses were creating two-thirds of new jobs in Quebec City and Montreal, and called for an "enterprise zone" to be created in Montreal's east end to compensate for job losses in the industrial sector.David Wimhurst, "Montreal's industries: Where did we go wrong?; Experts say roots of our economic woes go deep," Montreal Gazette, 15 February 1986, B4; David Wimhurst, "Special enterprise zone would create regulatory 'oasis' in city's east end," Montreal Gazette, 17 February 1986, B7. The idea of an enterprise zone was strongly supported by city councillor Robert Perrault. The following month, Premier Bourassa appointed Vallerand and fellow minister Daniel Johnson to draft a plan for an industrial zone in the region."East end to have special industry zone," Montreal Gazette, 11 March 1986, A5.
He organized a conference in Quebec City in March 1987 that was designed to improve ties between the government and Quebec's small businesses."Small businesses get chance to voice concerns," Montreal Gazette, 20 May 1987, H3. Later in the year, he announced that Quebec would work toward streamlining some aspects of its existing business regulations."Quebec scheme to help businesses cut red tape," Montreal Gazette, 27 October 1987, C1. Generally, he argued for changes in Quebec's labour laws to reflect a more pro-business position.Gregor Murray, "Liberals still silent on labor code reform," Montreal Gazette, 25 March 1986, B3. Minister responsible for international affairs Following a cabinet shuffle on June 23, 1988, Vallerand was appointed minister responsible for international affairs. This was a junior portfolio; Vallerand worked under Paul Gobeil, Quebec's minister of international relations.Sarah Scott, "Marx dumped as justice minister in 10-member cabinet shuffle," Montreal Gazette, 24 June 1988, A1.
Vallerand did not serve in this position for very long. In December 1988, several Anglophone members of Bourassa's cabinet resigned to protest the government's handling of Quebec's language laws. Vallerand was promoted to a full cabinet portfolio to fill one of the resulting vacancies, becoming minister of supply and services on December 21, 1988."Bourassa quickly fills cabinet gaps," Vancouver Sun, 21 December 1988, A7; Sarah Scott, "Bourassa patches cabinet; Link to commune costs Dutil his family portfolio," Montreal Gazette, 22 December 1988, A3. Minister of Supply and Services Vallerand held the supply and services portfolio for just under one year. In August 1989, he announced that Laval, Quebec's second-largest city, would finally receive its own courthouse by May 1991."Laval to get courthouse," 1 August 1989, A3. He later indicated that Montreal's Velodrome would be closed due to a poor economic performance and replaced by a natural museum.Sarah Scott, "Velodrome to become 'living science museum'," Montreal Gazette, 18 August 1989, A1. Shortly before the 1989 provincial election, he announced a three million dollar initiative for a new Sûreté du Québec building on Montreal's South Shore."SQ's $3-million South Shore post gets green light," Montreal Gazette, 7 September 1989, p. I1.
He was re-elected in the 1989 election. On October 11, 1989, he was reassigned as Quebec's minister of tourism. Minister of Tourism Vallerand served as tourism minister during the economic downturn of the early 1990s, a time when tourism revenues were further weakened by a strong Canadian dollar and strong promotional efforts from Quebec's regional competitors. He secured one of the few funding increases in Quebec's 1990 austerity budget, increasing the province's funds for tourism advertising from fourteen to twenty million dollars. In the same period, he worked with other provincial ministers to request that the Canadian government exempt tourism packages from Canada's new Goods and Services Tax (GST), a tax that Vallerand opposed in principle.Robert Winters, "Targeting the tourists; Quebec spends more to attract visitors and stem the growing tourism deficit," Montreal Gazette, 12 May 1990, G1; Elisabeth Kalbfuss, "Seguin is expected to call it quits today," Montreal Gazette, 12 September 1990, A7. See also Francois Shalom, "Weak economy expected to boost Quebec tourism," Montreal Gazette, 29 June 1990, D7, which notes the ironic effect of a weak economy boosting domestic tourism by Quebec residents. In September 1990, he announced that Quebec would issue a GST rebate on lodging for tourists travelling from outside the province.Philip Authier, "Tourists will get refund on GST minister says," Montreal Gazette, 13 September 1990, A5. Vallerand and federal minister Benoît Bouchard agreed on a one hundred million dollar plan to boost the tourism sector in January 1992, though revenues remained low throughout the year."Quebec tourism gets $100M boost," Ottawa Citizen, 31 January 1992, A8; "Tourism outlook bleak; Travel budgets will remain tight until recovery takes hold, board says," Montreal Gazette, 29 January 1993, D3.
In late 1990, Vallerand was the Quebec cabinet's primary representative in discussions to keep the financially struggling Montreal Expos baseball team in the city. He initially said that he would prefer the private sector to invest in the team without direct government support, though he added that he would not rule out the latter possibility.Ann Gibbon, "Quebec holds firm on Expos Sale preferred to private sector," Globe and Mail, 16 August 1990, C14. Ultimately, Quebec provided an eighteen million dollar low-interest loan to prevent the Expos from moving.Elisabeth Kalbfuss and Jeff Blair, "[The Quebec government has approved an $18-million,...]," Montreal Gazette, 9 November 1990, p. 1; "Province agrees to throw $18-million into Expo pot," Globe and Mail, 10 November 1990, A16.
Vallerand ordered the indefinite closure of Olympic Stadium in September 1991, after the collapse of a concrete beam in one of the building's public spaces (the building was almost empty at the time, and no one was injured).James Mennie, Mary Lamey, and Philip Authier, "Stadium to stay shut indefinitely; Quebec orders series of safety measures," Montreal Gazette, 21 September 1991, A1. He allowed the building to re-open in December, after the government had spent twenty-five million dollars on repairs and compensation for cancelled events.Irwin Block, "Big Owe will cost $25 million more: Vallerand; Officials say roof, beams must be fixed to protect $2-billion investment," Montreal Gazette, 12 November 1991, A3; Philip Authier, "Cabinet gives Big O green light to reopen; Stadium roof poses no danger this winter, engineering consultants say," Montreal Gazette, 28 November 1991, A3.
He was a vocal proponent of public casinos during his tenure as tourism minister, and in April 1992 he helped convince a divided cabinet to approve the Casino de Montréal and another casino project at the Manoir Richelieu in Pointe-au-Pic."Around the Nation," Ottawa Citizen, 21 May 1991, A12; Andre Picard, "Report says plan for casinos approved by Quebec cabinet No alcohol would be allowed, Radio-Canada indicates," Montreal Gazette, 18 April 1992, A5; Elizabeth Thompson and Philip Authier, "City okays deal to open casino on Ile Notre Dame; Quebec to announce plan for another in Charlevoix," Montreal Gazette, 15 December 1992, A1; Philip Authier and Elizabeth Thompson, "It's Quebec's turn to roll the dice; Casino operator wants mostly bilingual staff," Montreal Gazette, 16 December 1992, A1; Lynn Moore, "Manoir Richelieu gets go-ahead for casino," Montreal Gazette, 17 December 1993, A6.
Vallerand supported an initiative to re-launch a train line between Hull and Wakefield in January 1990."Train funding decision likely within month," Ottawa Citizen, 26 January 1990, B8; Francine Dube, "Wakefield steam train should know fate soon," Ottawa Citizen, B5. The line was officially re-launched in November of the same year."Funding approved for Wakefield train," Ottawa Citizen, 8 November 1990, B1.
Minister of Revenue Vallerand supported Daniel Johnson's successful bid to succeed Robert Bourassa as premier in 1993.Philip Authier, "Likely leadership candidates begin fighting over campaign; Bacon says she won't enter Liberal race," Montreal Gazette, 30 September 1993, A7. When Johnson became premier on January 12, 1994, he appointed Vallerand as minister of revenue.