Mr. Fontaine confers a university degree in political science, administration and industrial relations. Over the past years, Mr. Fontaine has been recognized for his skills in achieving consensus, diplomatic approach, political sensibility and strategic vision. Also, he has accrued an impressive expertise in electoral matter and electoral training. He developed a significant experience in electoral processes, political financing, control of election expenses, regional redistribution for national compensation and international cooperation.
In fact, he worked over 35 years for the Chief Electoral Officer of Québec during which he occupied various positions, such as Electoral Operations Coordinator, Head of the Training department for electoral officials, Secretary General of the Chief Electoral Officer of Québec, Secretary of the Commission de la représentation électorale and, finally, Assistant to the President of the Commission de la représentation électorale. As a Senior Administrator, he acquired an unequivocal expertise in management, planning, organization, training and international cooperation.
For example, in 2005, for the Republic of Burundi, he was part of the electoral team for the training session of the Independent Electoral Commission. In July 2007, for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he led a needs assessment mission. In January 2010, for the members of the Independent Electoral Commission for the Central African Republic, he acted as an electoral expert on an immersion mission. And, in October 2012, in Madagascar, he served as an electoral expert, in a seminar to exchange experiences and appropriation of the electoral laws. Also, as an observer, he participated in several electoral observation missions in Mexico (July 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2012) and in Bolivia for the Bolivian presidential elections (December 2009). It is important to mention that Mr. Fontaine has occupied the central functions for the coordination of the Network of Francophone Electoral Skills (RECEF). This Network was created in Québec City, on August 2011. Mr. Fontaine was a member of the board of directors of the Société des relations internationales de Québec (SORIQ), an organization which he chaired from September 2008 to September 2011.
