Rita Dionne-Marsolais (born April 20, 1947) is a former Quebec politician and economist. She was the Member of National Assembly of Quebec for the riding of Rosemont in the Montreal region and represented the Parti Québécois from 1994 to 2008.

Rita Dionne-Marsolais
MNA for Rosemont
In office
September 12, 1994 – December 8, 2008
Preceded byGuy Rivard
Succeeded byLouise Beaudoin
Personal details
Born (1947-04-20) April 20, 1947 (age 77)
Sherbrooke, Quebec
Political partyParti Québécois
Residence(s)Montreal, Quebec
Professioneconomist

Dionne-Marsolais went at the Université de Montréal and obtained a bachelor's degree in economics and a master's degree in econometrics. She later became an economist at Hydro-Québec and was an assistant to the company's president. She was also the vice-president in the development sector for the Société générale de financement. After being the Quebec delegate in New York, she was an economist for Price Waterhouse.

In addition, she was an administration member of the Ordre des architectes du Québec, the Quebec Bar, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the Saint-Luc Hospital in Montreal and the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal as well as the free trade committee. She would be later involved in politics as the treasurer of the Parti Québécois.

She entered politics in 1994 and was elected in Rosemont in 1994. She held several Cabinet positions including tourism (1994–1996), culture and communications (1994–1995), industry and trade (1996–1997) and revenue (1998). After being re-elected in 1998, she was named minister for revenue (1998–1999) and natural resources (2001–2003). She was also a member of several committees and a delegate member for relations with several world regions including the Middle East and Brazil.

While the Parti Québécois lost the 2003 elections to the Liberals, she was re-elected for a third term in 2003 and for a fourth term in 2007. In late October 2008, she announced her retirement from politics becoming effective when the general elections were announced on November 5, 2008. Former Minister Louise Beaudoin is the PQ candidate.[1]

Electoral record (partial)

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1998 Quebec general election: Rosemont
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Parti Québécois Rita Dionne-Marsolais 14,116 47.95 −1.30
Liberal Jonathan Sauvé 11,448 38.88 −2.02
Action démocratique Alain Arbour 3,029 10.29 +3.79
Bloc Pot Alexandre Néron 296 1.01
  Socialist Democracy Roy Semak 263 0.89 −1.20
Natural Law Michèle Beausoleil 199 0.68 −0.08
Communist Michèle Breton 90 0.31
Total valid votes 29,441 100.00
Rejected and declined votes 413
Turnout 29,854 77.36 −6.35
Electors on the lists 38,592
Source: Official Results, Le Directeur général des élections du Québec.
1994 Quebec general election: Rosemont
Party Candidate Votes %
Parti Québécois Rita Dionne-Marsolais 14,736 49.25
Liberal Nicole Thibodeau 12,236 40.90
Action démocratique Luc Leclerc 1,946 6.50
New Democratic Manon Leclerc 626 2.09
Natural Law Marc Roy 226 0.76
Commonwealth of Canada Normand Bélanger 149 0.50
Total valid votes 29,919
Rejected and declined votes 651
Turnout 30,570 83.71
Electors on the lists 36,518

References

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  • "Biography". Dictionnaire des parlementaires du Québec de 1792 à nos jours (in French). National Assembly of Quebec.
Political offices
Preceded by
Roger Bertrand
Minister/Delegate Minister of Revenue
1997–1999
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Daniel Paille
Minister of Industry and Commerce
1996–1997
Succeeded by
Roger Bertrand
Preceded by
Daniel Paille
Minister of Science and Technology
1996–1998
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Culture and Communications
1994–1995
Succeeded by