- Born
- December 30, 1959
- Career
- Political staffer in the Robert Bourassa government in Quebec City; spent almost 20 years in the communications and public service fields.
- Political Experience
- Represented the electoral district of Louis-Saint-Laurent in the House of Commons of Canada from 2006 to 2011 as a member of the Conservative Party. Served as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Minister for La Francophonie, and Minister of International Co-operation. Appointed to the Senate on June 13, 2011. Previously a member of the provincial Action démocratique du Québec.
- Notable
- Appointed to the Senate after losing her House of Commons seat in the 2011 federal election. Resigned from the Conservative caucus in 2017 to sit as a non-affiliated senator, later joining the Independent Senators Group and then the Canadian Senators Group, where she served as interim deputy leader.
Based on publicly available information — may contain inaccuracies
Business & Financial Interests
Before entering federal politics, Josée Verner had a career in communications and public administration. She worked as the director of communications for the former rector of Université Laval and also served as a political aide to a Quebec provincial minister. After being elected as a Member of Parliament in 2006, she held several senior cabinet positions in the federal government. Since her appointment to the Senate, her public disclosures list various investments in publicly traded securities and investment funds, which is common for public office holders.
Key Relationships & Connections
Josée Verner's most significant political relationship is with former Prime Minister Stephen Harper. She was a prominent Quebec lieutenant for Harper and served in his cabinet in several key roles, including Minister of International Cooperation, Minister of Canadian Heritage, and Minister for La Francophonie. Harper appointed her to the Senate in 2011. Although she was appointed as a Conservative, she later joined the Canadian Senators Group, an independent, non-partisan group in the Senate.
Public Controversies
During her time as Minister of Canadian Heritage, Verner faced significant criticism over funding cuts to arts and culture programs. The government's decision to cut $45 million from certain programs sparked protests across the country from the arts community in 2008. She defended the cuts as a way to ensure taxpayer money was being used efficiently. Her appointment to the Senate in 2011 also drew controversy. She was appointed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper just a few months after she lost her seat as a Member of Parliament in the federal election. Critics at the time described the appointment as an example of political patronage, rewarding a defeated candidate with a Senate seat.