Overview

Gil Rémillard was born in Hull (now Gatineau) on November 25, 1944, to Jeannine Desjardins of Lachute and Carmel Rémillard of Hull. He has two brothers, Jean and Martin, and a sister, Sylvie. He is married to Marie DuPont, also from Hull, and they have one son, Nicholas, who is married to Elyzabeth Côté. Nicholas and Elyzabeth have two sons, Mathieu and William.

Gil Rémillard holds degrees in Philosophy (1965), Political Science and Economics (1968) from the University of Ottawa, and a Doctorate in Law (1972) from France. Over his career, he has worked in academia, law and politics.

After completing his doctorate in France and England, Gil returned to Canada in 1973. Alongside his wife, Marie, who completed a master’s degree in communications, he began teaching constitutional and administrative law at Laval University's Faculty of Law. He also practised law at the firm Chouinard, Rémillard, Bussière et Robinson. During this time, he advised both the Québec and Canadian governments on the reform of administrative agencies. In 1984, he became a special advisor on constitutional matters to the Canadian Prime Minister, Brian Mulroney, and served as an advisor to the Canadian delegation at the United Nations (1983–1985) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He later became an advisor to the Canadian Department of Justice on international free trade discussions in 1998.

Gil entered politics and was elected Member of the National Assembly (MNA) for Jean-Talon County (Québec City) on December 2, 1985. Ten days later, he was appointed as a minister in Premier Robert Bourassa's Liberal government, where he held several key positions: Minister of Canadian Affairs, Minister of International Relations, Minister of Public Security, and Minister of Justice.

As Québec’s Minister of Justice, a role he held for nearly six years, Gil worked closely with the courts, the Bar, and the Chambre des notaires to improve access to justice. He led the creation of Québec’s new Civil Code, which took effect on January 1, 1994. As Minister of Canadian Intergovernmental Affairs, he was instrumental in negotiating the Meech Lake Accord (1987) and the Charlottetown Accord (1992). Although these accords were not officially incorporated into the Canadian Constitution, they have significantly shaped the understanding and practice of Canadian federalism.

Practice Areas

• Administrative Law
• Natural Resources & Energy

Bar Information

Called to the bar: 1969 (QC)