Former Liberal MNA found dead off Matane road

Nancy Charest, who was found dead Sunday, served a term in the National Assembly for the Quebec Liberal Party. (Photo: Facebook)

Nancy Charest, who served as Liberal MNA for the riding of Matane from 2003 to 2007, has been found dead.

The 54-year-old was found dead at 7 a.m. Saturday just outside a private road off Route 195, a sparely-populated part of Matapedia County in the Gaspe.

Initial reports suggest that her death is not being considered suspicious but police will interview more witnesses and await an autopsy before reaching any official conclusion.

Charest was an accountant and a tax lawyer and worked with finance and justice departments during her tenure in the National Assembly.

She entered the National Assembly in 2003 when she took the seat from the Parti Quebecois, beating Pascal Berube by a mere 33 ballots.

Charest then lost to Berube in another tight contest, coming up just 213 votes short in 2007.

She ran as a federal Liberal in 2008 but lost to Bloc Quebecois candidate MP Jean-Yves Roy by 616. Roy appeared to lose interest in the job soon after, leading BQ leader Gilles Duceppe to ask him if he wanted to complete his mandate.

Charest then ran again in the May 2011 federal election for Haute Gaspesie La Mitis-Matane-Matapedia but lost by almost 4,000 votes to BQ candidate-Jean-Francois Fortin, one of only four BQ candidates to win a seat.

There had been some speculation that Charest was considering running for the CAQ in an upcoming provincial election.

Among those expressing sadness at her death was former federal Liberal interim leader Bob Rae.

"Very sorry to learn of Nancy Charest's passing, former MNA and Liberal federal candidate, friend to so many of us," he tweeted Sunday.

Charest was not related to her former leader premier Jean Charest.