From 1972 until 1985, he was professor of public law at Laval University, specializing in constitutional law and communications law. He was also legal counsel for departments of the governments of Quebec and of Canada.[1]
He ran as a candidate for the Quebec Liberal Party in the 1985 Quebec general election in the riding of Jean-Talon and was elected to the National Assembly.[2] In the second government of Robert Bourassa, he was appointed minister of International Relations (1985-1988), minister of Canadian Intergovernmental Affairs (1985-1994), minister of Justice (1988-1994) and minister of Public Security (1988-1989). He was reelected to the Assembly in the 1989 general election.[1]
