Joseph-Edmond-André Laurendeau (French pronunciation: [ʒozɛf ɛdmɔ̃ ɑ̃dʁe lɔʁɑ̃do]; March 21, 1912 – June 1, 1968) was a journalist, politician, co-chair of the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism, and playwright in Quebec, Canada.

The fact that he reached young adulthood as the Great Depression struck naturally influenced his social views.

[4] Starting in 1933, Laurendeau and several friends from the University of Montréal founded a neo-nationalist, separatist movement called "Jeune-Canada".

[4] While a member of Jeune-Canada, Laurendeau helped organize and spoke at a protest rally titled "Politicians and Jews".

[5] While claiming not to be anti-Semitic throughout their political career, Jeune-Canada's message of hatred was debated openly in the newspaper Le Devoir, and it was not until the death of Hitler that the group died down.

In 1963 Laurendeau wrote an article in the French edition of Maclean's magazine, which essentially denounced this period of his life as ignorant, youthful passion.

As a journalist and editorialist, Laurendeau broached a myriad of topics, from nationalism, to World War II, to federalism, to separatism and bilingualism/biculturalism, but always from essentially the same platform.

[7] In 1942, Laurendeau entered into politics in opposition to conscription, as a member of the Ligue pour la défense du Canada.

As editor, he was known first for his battles against Maurice Duplessis and later as a leading spokesman for the rising national identity of Quebec during the Quiet Revolution.

From 1963 until his death, Laurendeau served as co-chair, along with Davidson Dunton, of the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism, a position that brought him considerable criticism from his nationalist colleagues.