Louis Plamondon has made history as the longest-serving Member of Parliament in Canadian history, receiving recognition from his peers in the House of Commons for his remarkable tenure.
At 82 years old, Plamondon marked his 15,059th consecutive day as an MP on Wednesday, surpassing former prime minister Wilfrid Laurier’s record for continuous service earlier in the week. Laurier held the House for a total of 16,411 days but had a brief interruption in 1877 when he lost his seat, breaking his streak of unbroken service.
During a light-hearted tribute to Plamondon, Liberal MP Marc Miller jokingly remarked, “I don’t know if it’s a good sign for the future of our country if a sovereignist has broken the record of as great a Canadian as Wilfred Laurier.” Miller playfully acknowledged Plamondon’s founding of the Bloc Québécois in 1990 after leaving the Progressive Conservative caucus in 1984.
Plamondon has represented the same riding, now named Bécancour-Nicolet-Saurel-Alnôbak, along the St. Lawrence River for 13 consecutive elections. Bloc Québécois Leader Yves François Blanchet likened Plamondon to a “Céline Dion of Parliament” and humorously suggested he should be disqualified from setting more records.
Expressing gratitude for the accolades from his colleagues, Plamondon humbly stated that serving his constituents was an indescribable honor. Despite his impressive track record, he has no intentions of retiring and plans to run in the next election, provided his health remains robust.
Acknowledging the toll politics has taken on his personal life, especially after the recent passing of his wife, Plamondon emphasized the isolating nature of political life. Despite the challenges, he remains dedicated to his constituents, frequently attending events and engaging with the community.
Noteworthy moments in Plamondon’s career include serving as the Bloc’s House leader, caucus chair, and briefly as the interim Speaker of the House in 2023. Reflecting on his role as a separatist Speaker, Plamondon found amusement in the reactions, with even federalists acknowledging his contributions.