Biography of the Minister

The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Industry

Christian Paradis was first elected to the House of Commons on January 23, 2006 as the Member of Parliament for Mégantic–L'Érable (Quebec).

He was appointed Minister of Industry on May 18, 2011 before which he served as Minister of Natural Resources from January 2010, Public Works and Government Services from June 2008, Secretary of State (Agriculture) from January 2007 and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources from February 2006.

Since 2008, he has also fulfilled the role of Minister responsible for the Montreal region and the Prime Minister's Quebec lieutenant.

Prior to his election to Parliament, Mr. Paradis had a legal practice, specializing in corporate law, in his hometown of Thetford Mines where he remains actively involved in several community groups and charitable organizations.

Mr. Paradis graduated from the University of Sherbrooke in civil law and holds a graduate degree in corporate law from Laval University. He and his wife Julie have three children.