He was a cabinet minister for 17 years in Maurice Duplessis's Union Nationale government.

Born in Marieville, Quebec, Paquette studied in medical sciences at the Montreal campus of Université Laval.

After additional studies and training at Bellevue Hospital in New York City, Paquette worked first for the Canadian Red Cross in the Balkans and then in the Canadian Expeditionary Force as a medical officer.

Paquette returned to Quebec in 1919 and practiced medicine in Mont-Laurier until his entry into municipal politics and his nine-year stint as mayor of that city.

Establishments made during his tenure as health minister included: In 1958, he was appointed to the Legislative Council of Quebec for the division of Rougemont and resigned in 1967.