Background
Fournier was born in Châteauguay, Quebec.
Fournier was born in Châteauguay, Quebec.
He studied at the Université de Montréal and obtained a law degree and later a master"s degree in public law.
He was the interim leader of the Quebec Liberal Party from 2012 to 2013. He currently represents the riding of Saint-Laurent in the National Assembly, and previously represented the riding of Châteauguay from 1994 to 2008. He served as the Minister of Revenue, Government House Leader, Minister of Education, Minister of Municipal Affairs, and Attorney General in the Government of Jean Charest.
He was admitted to the Barreau du Québec in 1982.
He was a lawyer for nearly ten years. He later worked at the offices of the Ministry of Governmental Affairs, Employment and Justice.
He was also a radio host at community radio station CHAI-FM and was an organizer of the 1986 Quebec Winter Games. He was also the president of the Chateauguay Chamber of Commerce and was named Outstanding Citizen in 1987 by the city.
Before the Quebec Liberal Party took power in the 2003 election, Fournier at various moments served as the chief whip of the official opposition, critic for Canadian intergovernmental affairs, as well as critic for health.
After his 2003 re-election, he was named the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Sports and Recreation and from 2005 to 2007, he was the Minister of Education, Leisure and Sports for Quebec, Canada. Fournier replaced Pierre Reid in the midst of the 2005 Quebec student protests in which over 200 000 college and university students protested the Liberals cuts in bursary funds in the 2004 budget. Fournier and the students groups settled a deal in April 2005 which included involvement from the federal government and its bursary program
On October 31, 2008, Fournier announced he would retire from politics.
On November 17, 2009, it was announced Fournier would join the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, Michael Ignatieff, as principal secretary. On August 9, 2010 it was announced that Fournier would run in a by-election in the district of Saint-Laurent to replace Jacques Dupuis, who was retiring from provincial politics.
Two days later, Fournier was appointed the Minister of Justice and the Reform of Democratic Institutions by Premier Jean Charest as part of a wider cabinet shuffle, despite his not yet holding a seat in the National Assembly. He was reelected by a wide margin on September 13, 2010.
Following large student protests opposing tuition increases, Fournier supported the passage of Bill 78, a Quebec law drafted in response to the protests.
After student groups vowed civil disobedience to oppose the law, Fournier declared the practice "a nice word for vandalism."
On September 12, 2012, Fournier was named interim Leader of the Quebec Liberal Party, replacing Jean Charest.