Claude Patry (born January 10, 1953) is a former Canadian Member of Parliament for the riding of Jonquière—Alma, who served a single term from 2011 Canadian federal election until 2015. He was elected as a member of the New Democratic Party, but crossed over to the Bloc Québécois on February 28, 2013.[1] He defeated incumbent MP Jean-Pierre Blackburn of the Conservative Party, who was Veterans Affairs Minister.

Claude Patry
Member of Parliament
for Jonquière—Alma
In office
May 2, 2011 – August 4, 2015
Preceded byJean-Pierre Blackburn
Succeeded byKarine Trudel
Personal details
Born (1953-01-10) January 10, 1953 (age 71)
Arvida, Quebec
Political partyBloc Québécois (2013-2015)
New Democrat (2011-2013)
SpouseFrancine Latilippe
ProfessionUnion representative

Patry was president of the Syndicat national des employés de l'aluminium d'Arvida, the union representing Rio Tinto Alcan workers in the riding.

Following his defection to the Bloc in 2013, Patry stated that "he voted for sovereignty in the 1980 and 1995 referendums and that he still hopes Quebec will one day become a country".[2]

In August 2014, Patry announced that he was not running in the next federal election.[3] He was rumoured to have considered resigning from the Bloc following the election of Mario Beaulieu as leader but remained with the party following the resignations of André Bellavance and Jean-François Fortin and was, with Louis Plamondon, one of two Bloc MPs until the House of Commons dissolved for the 2015 election.[3]

It was reported in February 2017 that Patry had joined the militant far-right anti-Muslim group, La Meute (Wolf Pack) and is leader of the group's "clan" in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region.[4]

Electoral record

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2011 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Claude Patry 22,900 43.4% -
Conservative Jean-Pierre Blackburn 18,569 35.2% -
Bloc Québécois Pierre Forest 9,554 18.1% -
Liberal Claude Ringuette 1,043 2.0% -
Green France Bergeron 652 1.2% -
Total valid votes/Expense limit 52,718 100.0%

Source: Elections Canada

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References

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  1. ^ "NDP MP Claude Patry defects to join the Bloc Quebecois". The Globe and Mail. 28 February 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  2. ^ "Mulcair calls on Patry to resign seat after defection to Bloc". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 28 February 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
  3. ^ a b "MP André Bellavance leaves Bloc Québécois Will spend the rest of his term as an independent". Montreal Gazette. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Former NDP/Bloc MP Claude Patry joins far-right group la Meute".