He was elected in the
1985 provincial election, defeating
Progressive Conservative candidate Jim Files by over 1,200 votes. He supported
Dave Barrett for the leadership of the federal
New Democratic Party in 1989.
Government The NDP won a majority government in the 1990 election, and Pouliot was named as
Minister of Mines and
Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs in
Bob Rae's government on October 1, 1990. He retained responsibility for Francophone Affairs throughout the Rae government. On July 31, 1991, he was transferred from Mines to the
Ministry of Transportation. On October 21, 1994, near the end of the Rae government's time in office, he was shifted back to
Northern Development and Mines.
Cabinet positions Opposition The NDP were defeated in the
1995 election, although Pouliot retained the Lake Nipigon riding without too much difficulty. In 1996, he supported
Howard Hampton's successful campaign to replace Rae as party leader. Pouliot's riding was eliminated by redistribution in 1996. He rarely spoke in the legislature thereafter, and he chose not to run again in the
1999 election. ==References==