Doctor Gaétan Barrette MNA
Minister of Health
In office April 23, 2014 – October 18, 2018
Premier	Philippe Couillard
Preceded by	Réjean Hébert
Succeeded by	Danielle McCann
Member of the National Assembly of Quebec for La Pinière
In office April 7, 2014 – August 28, 2022
Preceded by	Fatima Houda-Pepin
Succeeded by	Linda Caron
Personal details
Born	(1956-07-05) July 5, 1956 La Tuque, Quebec
Political party	Quebec Liberal Party Coalition Avenir Québec (formerly)
Residence(s)	Brossard, Quebec
Alma mater	Université de Montréal University of Grenoble University of California, San Diego
Profession	Radiologist

Gaétan Barrette (born July 5, 1956) is a Canadian politician in Quebec, who was elected to the National Assembly of Quebec in the 2014 election.^[1] He represented the electoral district of La Pinière as a member of the Quebec Liberal Party until retiring from politics at the 2022 Quebec general election.

Prior to his election to the legislature, he was a radiologist at Montreal's Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont. He ran in the 2012 election as a candidate of the Coalition Avenir Québec in Terrebonne, but ran as a Liberal in 2014.^[2] He was named Minister of Health and Social Services on April 24, 2014. His tenure as heath minister was considered so controversial that leader Philippe Couillard instead tapped Getrude Bourdon, who resigned from her role as the CEO of the Laval University hospital to run as a candidate in the riding of Jean-Lesage if the party won the 2018 election.^[3]

Indigenous Health

As Health Minister of Quebec, in 2018 Dr. Barrette opposed the families and physicians who were fighting against Quebec's practise of not allowing Indigenous families to accompany their critically ill children on flight transportation for urgent care. He was recorded making the comment "I guarantee you that there will be at least one instance in the next six months where someone will not be allowed to get on the plane. Why? Because no one — agitated, drugged, under whatever influence — would get on the plane at any cost. That will not happen. And that happens all the time." Indigenous leaders called for his immediate resignation, and did not accept his delayed, eventual apology. The ministry did later change regulations to allow for caregivers or parents to accompany their ill children on urgent medical air transfers, after years of discussions.^[4]

Electoral record

* Result compared to Action démocratique

References

External links

• National Assembly profile