He served as Canadian delegate to the United Nations General Assembly in 1976, and parliamentary secretary to the Transport minister from 1977 to 1979.

[3] The added responsibility was short-lived, however, as both the Liberal government and Lapointe were defeated in the subsequent fall federal election.

Returning to private life, Lapointe became president of the International Aeroplane Company, and then vice-president of business development for Lavalin.

In January 2007, as head of Tourism Montreal, he said the city was filthy and more should be done to make it tidy for visitors, leading Mayor Gérald Tremblay to ask for his resignation.

[6] Lapointe was openly gay among his caucus colleagues, but never publicly spoke about his sexuality to the media during his time in Parliament.