Canadian politician and diplomat. Premier of Québec. A native of Joliette, he studied at the Saint-Viateur academy, then followed private courses. He worked with the National Canadian National Railways as a messenger, from 1914 to 1921, then as a machinist, from 1921 to 1931. Then, he worked as a chief mechanical engineer at Acme Glove Work Ltd., in Joliette, from 1931 to 1935. He served as Secretary of the International Association of Machinists for the district of Joliette, in 1932 and 1933. In 1936, he cofounded “Barrette and Lépine, insurance brokers”. During World War II, he served as President of the regional council of labour. In 1930, he founded and chair until 1936 the Young Conservatives Association of the district of Joliette. Although having been defeated as a Conservative candidate for the district of Joliette in the general election of 1935, he succeeded the next year as a Union Nationale candidate and therefore was sent to represent the Joliette electors in the Legislative Assembly. He was re-elected in 1939, 1944, 1948, 1952, 1956 and 1960. From August 30, 1944 to January 8, 1960, he served as Minister for Labour in the cabinets of Premiers Duplessis and Sauvé. He was chosen chief of the Union Nationale party, on January 8, 1960. Effective that date, he became Premier of Québec, President of the Executive Council and Minister for Labour : he kept that function until July 5, 1960, shortly after the Liberal victory in the general election. On September 15, 1960, he resigned as member of the Legislative Assembly and chief of the Union Nationale party. Prime minister Diefenbaker named him Ambassador of Canada to Greece, on April 4, 1963 : he stayed in that position until July 12, 1966. He was honorary lieutenant colonel of the Regiment of Joliette, captain of the squadron "D" of the frontier guards and Secretary of the Association of the young businessmen of Joliette. He was made Doctor of social sciences “honoris causa” by Laval University in 1945, he also accepted the title of doctor “rerum civilium scientia” of the University of Montréal in 1948, the title of doctor “jure civili” of Bishop' s College in 1954, then the title of “atriusque doctor juris” of McGill University. He published “Considérations sur les relations industrielles en démocratie”, in 1953, “Le Communisme est-il une menace?” , in 1954, and “Mémoires”, in 1966. He passed away in Montréal.