Guy Caron

NDP MP Guy Caron was born and raised where the salt water meets the fresh in the St. Lawrence River at Rimouski, Quebec. Guy never spoke English before attending the University of Ottawa where he graduated with a degree in communications. So quick was Guy to learn the English language that he was named floor advisor of the university's student residence. Guy followed up his BA with an MA in economics from the Univeristé du Québec à Montréal. Unable to find work in Montreal he moved to Toronto where he became the French media relations director for the Canadian Race Relations Foundation. While Guy was working in Toronto, a city councillor by the name of Jack Layton was running for the leadership of the federal NDP and he found himself involved in Jack's campaign. In 2004, he was persuaded to run for the NDP in the riding of Rimouski. Guy finished fourth with only 7% of the vote. Not one to give up after the first attempt, Guy ran again in 2006 and again in 2008, never finishing higher than fourth. In 2011 under the NDP sweep of Quebec where the party won 58 of the province's 75 seats Guy finally won the riding of Rimouski-Neigette-Témiscouata-Les Basques. Guy Caron is married to Valerie Stansfield and together they have two children. Catherine Clark spoke to NDP MP Guy Caron about his life Beyond Politics.