Pierre Pettigrew
Pierre Stewart Pettigrew (born in Quebec City in 1951) is a Canadian politician. He is currently serving in the Liberal cabinet of Paul Martin as Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, after having been re-elected as the Member of Parliament for the Montreal-area electoral district of Papineau.Pettigrew has a BA in Philosophy from the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (1972) and an MPhil in International Relations from Oxford University (1976).
Following the 1995 Quebec referendum Prime Minister Jean Chretien was committed to bringing in more star candidates from Quebec to his cabinet. He thus appointed Pettigrew amd Stéphane Dion to cabinet, even before they were in the house.
André Ouellet was made head of Canada Post opening the riding of Papineau—Saint-Michel. Pettigrew was elected to Parliament in a March 25, 1996 by-election. He was re-elected in 1997 and 2000, representing the new riding of Papineau—Saint-Denis. In 1996 he became Minister for International Cooperation and Minister responsible for La Francophonie.
As Minister for International Trade, he was heavily embroiled in the US - Canada softwood lumber dispute. He was also a vocal proponent of the WTO trade talks arguing forcefully that Canada's main goal of lowering agricultural subsidies would be of great benefit to the world's poorer nations.
On December 12, 2003 he was appointed Minister of Health and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs by newly-appointed Prime Minister Paul Martin. On July 20, 2004, he moved to his long-desired portfolio of Foreign Affairs minister, displacing Bill Graham.
Pettigrew is perhaps best known among the general public for being the most stylish cabinet minister, he is always immaculately dressed and every year is judged to have the best hair among male MPs.
| 27th Ministry - Government of Paul Martin | ||
| Cabinet Posts (3) | ||
| Preceded by: Bill Graham | Minister of Foreign Affairs (2004-) | Succeeded by: (incumbent) |
| Preceded by: Anne McLellan | Minister of Health (2003-2004) | Succeeded by: Ujjal Dosanjh |
| Preceded by: Stéphane Dion | Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs (2003-2004) | Succeeded by: Lucienne Robillard |
| Special Cabinet Responsibilities | ||
| Preceded by: ? | Minister responsible for Official Languages (2003-2004) | Succeeded by: Mauril Bélanger |
| 26th Ministry - Government of Jean Chrétien | ||
| Cabinet Posts (3) | ||
| Preceded by: Sergio Marchi | Minister for International Trade (1999-2003) | Succeeded by: Jim Peterson |
| Preceded by: Doug Young | Minister of Human Resources Development (1996-1999) | Succeeded by: Jane Stewart |
| Preceded by: Position created | Minister for International Cooperation (1996) | Succeeded by: Don Boudria |
| Special Cabinet Responsibilities | ||
| Preceded by: Position created | Minister responsible for La Francophonie (1996) | Succeeded by: Don Boudria |