bertrand worked for 33 years in the insurance business as a chartered life underwriter, a certified insurance and a life insurance broker and was the president of two insurance firms from 1976 to 1997. he was also an administration member of the junior chambers of french canada, the canadian life insurance association, the association of quebec city life underwriters, the provincial association of quebec life underwriters and the insurance brokers association of quebec. he was also an active member of the parti québécois, being the president of the party in the capitale-nationale region.