Advertisement

Tribute held to honour late Quebec politician and feminist Lise Payette

​A public tribute was held Saturday for Lise Payette, the celebrated journalist, feminist and former Parti Québécois minister, who died last month at the age of 87.

The tribute is in place of a funeral because Payette asked for there not to be any religious ceremony in honour of her death.

New Quebec Premier François Legault and several other dignitaries spoke at the ceremony.

​"She showed in many ways that women were as strong as men, and I think she contributed a lot to modern Quebec,'' Legault said outside the memorial at The Imperial theatre.

He said his best memory of her came just before the Quebec election, when he promised her that he'd name a gender-balanced cabinet if elected.

"Ms. Payette, I kept my word,'' he said.

Graham Hughes/THE CANADIAN PRESS
Graham Hughes/THE CANADIAN PRESS

​Several of the women who attended said Payette's fearlessness had paved the way for them as female politicians.

"She was one of the first to really break this wall we have above our head in politics,'' said Manon Massé, co-spokesperson for Québec solidaire.

Members of the public have been invited to sign their condolences in a register at Montreal's city hall, starting this morning, before the ceremony.

Jacques Boissinot/Canadian Press
Jacques Boissinot/Canadian Press

Mayor Valérie Plante also described Payette as an inspiration for herself and other women with political ambitions.

"I keep saying it over and over, but in politics we need to have more [rolemodels], so more women can picture themselves, can see themselves in those leadership positions,'' she said.

Payette was a prominent figure in Quebec politics and media throughout her life, beginning her career as a broadcaster for Radio-Canada.

She first hosted a morning radio program called Place aux Femmes and later the popular evening talk show Appelez-moi Lise.

Graham Hughes/THE CANADIAN PRESS
Graham Hughes/THE CANADIAN PRESS

Payette joined the PQ and was elected in 1976 and appointed to René Lévesque's first cabinet.

Payette was minister of consumer affairs, co-operatives and financial institutions. She was also the province's first minister responsible for the status of women.

With files from The Canadian Press.