Jean-Robert Gauthier

Dr. Jean-Robert Gauthier, Order of Canada, Order of Ontario (born October 22, 1929) is a retired Canadian politician.

A chiropractor by training, he entered politics as trustee on a local school board. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons to represent the riding of Ottawa East in the Canadian federal election, 1972 as a Liberal Party of Canada Member of Parliament. He remained its representative for several decades winning by large majorities each time in the safe Liberal seat.

In 1984, he was appointed opposition whip, became a member of the party's shadow cabinet. His highest profile came during his time as official languages critic for the Liberal caucus, in which Gauthier was a strident defender of Official bilingualism in Canada. Locally, he was known for campaigning to have an aquarium built in Ottawa. With the Liberal victory in the Canadian federal election, 1993, he ran for Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons, but lost by one vote to Gilbert Parent.

In 1994, he was appointed to the Canadian Senate. In the Senate, he fought for the rights of French speakers. He retired on his 75th birthday in 2004. In the Senate, he listed his Senate Division as "Ontario" from November 23, 1994 to December 3, 2001, and as "Ottawa - Vanier" from December 4, 2001 until his retirement.

He was made a member of the Order of Canada in 2006. In 2009, he was made a member of the Order of Ontario.

He was made an Officer of the Legion of Honour by the French Government in 2002

In September 2006, Jean-Robert Gauthier Catholic Elementary School opened in Barrhaven.