BOOK LAUNCH ┃ Un village au Parlement : La mobilisation LGBTQ+ dans l’arène partisane canadienne
Please join us on December 11 at the IRPP offices for the launch of a new book, Un village au Parlement : La mobilisation LGBTQ+ dans l’arène partisane canadienne, by Valérie Lapointe, associate director of the Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation at IRPP.
How can we explain that LGBTQ+ communities, which were once criminalized, are now courted by political parties during election periods and have internal representation structures within political parties—both on the left and the right? How can we explain the presence of all political parties at Pride events during certain periods of the summer and the absence of certain political parties at other times? What kind of strategy has this social movement put in place to achieve so many gains in such a short period of time in the history of Canadian democracy?
While several researchers have examined the new social phenomenon of LGBTQ+ communities in Canadian democracy, this book is the first to trace the history of the relationship that the LGBTQ+ movement has built and maintained with political parties in Canada from 1960 to 2019. It explores two key dimensions of the relationship: the movement’s mobilization in the partisan arena and the parties’ responsiveness to this mobilization.
Based on interviews, election platforms, archives, and media sources, Un village au Parlement: la mobilisation LGBTQ+dans l’arène partisane canadienne (1960-2019) highlights the complex dynamics between identity claims and electoral calculations.
The event will begin at 6 p.m. at the IRPP offices (1470 Peel Street, Suite 200), and a reception will follow. Remarks will be made by Charles Breton, director of the Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation; Luc Turgeon, full professor at the School of Political Studies at the University of Ottawa; Mona Greenbaum, founder of the LGBT+ Family Coalition; and Réal Ménard, former Bloc Québécois MP. Space is limited; please reserve your place by contacting belliott@irpp.org.
Associate Director, Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation
Valérie holds a PhD in political science from the University of Ottawa, with a major in Canadian politics, and completed post-doctoral studies in comparative politics at the University of Edinburgh. A specialist in the political debates surrounding diversity within the Canadian federation and in contemporary Westminster-style democracies (Canada, UK), Valérie also has expertise in political parties and electoral dynamics within Canada and its provinces, and a keen interest in federalism. Her award-winning research has been published in national and international scientific journals and has received media coverage across the country.
In addition to her academic career, Valérie has several years of experience in politics for two governments in Quebec, where she held the position of political attaché and then political advisor, respectively in the Office of the Minister of Families (2012-2014) and the Office of the Minister of Justice and Canadian Relations (2018-2020). Among her political accomplishments are the ideation, creation and steering of the non-partisan Comité sur l’accompagnement des victimes d’agressions sexuelles et de violence conjugale, established in response to the #MeToo movement and from which stems the report Rebâtir la confiance (published in December 2020), which contains over 190 recommendations by some twenty experts.
Executive Director, Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation
Charles Breton is the Executive Director of the Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation at the Institute for Research on Public Policy, a role he has held since 2019. His research focuses on Canadian politics, comparative public policy, and public opinion. His work has been published in leading academic journals including the Canadian Journal of Political Science, the Journal of Politics, and Comparative Political Studies, as well as in applied outlets such as Policy Options and national newspapers.
Prior to his academic career, Charles worked as a researcher and journalist for current affairs programs at Radio-Canada. He later served as Research Director at Vox Pop Labs, where he led the development of innovative public opinion tools such as Vote Compass. He is a regular media commentator and expert analyst on Canadian politics and public policy. Charles holds a PhD in political science from the University of British Columbia.
Full Professor at the School of Political Studies at the University of Ottawa
Date and time
December 11, 2025
6:00 p.m. EST
Location
IRPP (1470 Peel St. #200, Montreal, QC)
Event Type
Book Launch
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About the Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation
The Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation is a permanent research body within the Institute for Research on Public Policy. Its mission is to build a deeper understanding of Canada as a federal community.
research initiative
