André Bissonnette

Article summary

André Bissonnette, (born June 25, 1945) is a Canadian businessman and former politician. Born in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Bissonnette, a businessman in the manufacturing industry, was elected to the House of Commons of Canada in the 1984 election as the Member of Parliament for Saint-Jean, Quebec, in the Progressive Conservative landslide that brought Brian Mulroney to power. He was appointed by the new prime minister to the Cabinet as Minister of State for Small Business (1984–1986), and Minister of State for Transport (1986–1987). He was forced to resign from Cabinet on January 19, 1987, when it became known that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police was investigating his alleged involvement in land speculation in his riding. The real estate in question was eventually sold to weapons manufacturer Oerlikon Aerospace to build its facilities in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Bissonnette was formally accused of wrongdoing but eventually acquitted by a local jury. He did not run for re-election in the 1988 election and left politics.

Key claims

1. date of birth: 1945-06-25 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
2. date of birth: 1984 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
2. The record states that the date of birth is "1945-06-25". What evidence would count against this claim?
3. The record states that the date of birth is "1984". What evidence would count against this claim?
4. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
5. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1370381534