bédard ran for mna in chicoutimi in 1998 and was elected. while he was not named in a ministry position, he was the parliamentary assistant to the minister of state for education and youth from march 21, 2001 to december 5, 2001, parliamentary assistant to the minister of state for education and employment from december 5, 2001 to january 30, 2002 and parliamentary assistant to the minister of state for administration and the public service and chair of the conseil du trésor from january 30, 2002 to april 29, 2003. he was secretary of state for the renewal of the public service from january 30, 2002 to april 29, 2003.