Stéphane Dion, from yesterday to today

The son of political economist Léon Dion and Denise Kormann, his mother of French origin, Stéphane Dion, born on September 28, 1955 in Quebec, is an enthusiastic federalist. Teaching was his first career, however, specializing in political science the media asked him to comment on the 1995 Quebec Referendum campaign.

Dion defended Canadian unity and the rights of Quebecers against a possible unilateral declaration of independence. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien noticed Dion's commitment for Canada and invited him to join the government in January 1996, as Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs and President of the Privy Council.

Married to Janine Krieber and father of Jeanne, Dion was elected to Parliament in a by-election on March 25, 1996 in the district of Saint-Laurent-Cartierville. He was re-elected in this liberal stronghold in 1997, 2000, 2004 and 2006.

Named Minister of the Environment by Paul Martin in July 2004, Dion prepared the country for the challenges of a sustainable economy. He also worked in the preparation of the greenest budget since Confederation.

Dion is particularly recognized as chair of the Conference on Climate Change held December 2005 in Montreal. He obtained an international agreement which extended the Kyoto Protocol. In addition, in marking his move to Minister of Environment, he named his dog Kyoto.

After the defeat of the Liberal government in January 2006, Dion was named official opposition spokesperson on Foreign Affairs by Interim Party Leader Bill Graham. He had little time as a candidate leading up to the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada.

After a ten month race, he was surprisingly elected by the Liberal delegates on the fourth ballot. His challenge is now to unify and renew the Liberal team, in order to propose to Quebecers and to the Canadians to trust him at the next elections, probably in a year from now. (Translated by Michael Beigleman)