- Born
- February 12, 1949
- Education
- bachelor's degree in educational psychology from the Université de Montréal and a master's degree in administration from L'École nationale d'administration publique in Quebec City
- Career
- former provincial civil servant in Quebec, and was regional director for the Department of Recreation, Game and Fisheries and for the Department of the Environment before becoming Deputy Minister for the Department of Regions
- Political Experience
- appointed to the Senate of Canada on January 29, 2010, representing the province of Quebec under the banner of the Conservative Party of Canada. He retired from the Senate on February 12, 2024
- Notable
- founding president of the Murdered or Missing Persons' Families' Association; co-founder of the Le Nid centre, a shelter for abused women in Val-d'Or, and of a camp for underprivileged youth in Estrie; resigned from Conservative caucus in June 2015, readmitted November 2016; linked to far-right groups
Based on publicly available information — may contain inaccuracies
Business & Financial Interests
Before his appointment to the Senate, Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu had a long career as a public servant in the Quebec government. He held several senior positions within the province's Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Public Security, focusing on correctional services and programs for victims of crime. His public disclosures as a senator have not indicated significant outside business holdings or board memberships.
Key Relationships & Connections
Mr. Boisvenu was appointed to the Senate in 2010 on the advice of then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He is a prominent advocate for victims' rights, a role that grew after the murder of his daughter. He co-founded the Murdered or Missing Persons' Families' Association (MMPFA), which became a well-known advocacy group in Canada, giving him connections to victims' groups and law enforcement organizations across the country.
Potential Conflicts of Interest
Senator Boisvenu faced an investigation by the Senate's internal economy committee concerning his relationship with a staff member. It was revealed he was in a personal relationship with his executive assistant, Isabelle Lapointe, while also being responsible for her employment, salary, and expenses. This raised conflict of interest concerns regarding the hiring of staff and the use of public funds. The committee reviewed the situation, and the staff member eventually left her position in his office.
Public Controversies
Senator Boisvenu was the subject of public controversy regarding his relationship with his executive assistant, which led to an ethics review by a Senate committee. The situation drew media attention to the rules governing senators' staffing and office budgets. In a separate incident, he reportedly faced questions about his travel expense claims. It was alleged that he claimed living expenses for his Ottawa residence while also claiming per diems for being in the city. He later repaid a portion of the housing expenses he had claimed.