Jean Tremblay (born November 29, 1948) is a Canadian businessman and politician who was mayor of Saguenay, Quebec, Canada, from 2002 to 2017.

[6][7] Tremblay received international attention from his fight to maintain the saying of Catholic prayers before city council meeting.

Tremblay supported the 21st-century merger of seven municipalities (Chicoutimi, Jonquière, La Baie, Laterrière, a portion of the territory of Canton-Tremblay, Lac Kénogami and Shipshaw) into a new city, later named Saguenay.

In 2005, he launched a case against multinationals to recover payment of taxes on private hydroelectric dams on the territory of the city.

[14] In April 2009, the polling firm Influence Communication, hired by Le Journal de Québec, published a study on the media weight of 11 mayors in Quebec.

Judge Yves Alain criticized Tremblay and said his testimony was rife with "hesitations and contradictions;" he said certain parts were "pure science fiction".

[16] In October 2010, the regional Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean of the Federation of Professional Journalists of Québec published a black file[17] on the municipal information in Saguenay.

The eight journalists from different media reported intimidation in their trying to collect data and alleged that records were altered; they said that the city administration and Tremblay threatened the freedom of the press.

[21] In September 2006, Christian Joncas and Alain Simoneau, activists from the Mouvement laïque québécois (MLQ) and the Coalition of Citizens of Saguenay, filed a complaint with the Commission on Human Rights and Youth Rights (CDPDJ) against Tremblay for reciting a short prayer at the beginning of each Saguenay City Council meeting.

The municipal prayer reads: "Almighty God, we thank you for the great blessings which You have given to Saguenay and its citizens, including freedom, opportunities for development and peace.

[23] In October of that year, following an investigation by the Commission on Human Rights, a mediation session was held between the parties to seek a resolution.

In September 2007, Tremblay presented a paper about the issue, "Memoir of reasonable accommodation, Ville Saguenay"[25] to the Bouchard-Taylor Commission during its hearings.

[26] On May 15, 2008, the CDPDJ ruled that the prayers at Saguenay City Council meetings violated provisions for freedom of conscience and religion in Quebec and Canadian society.

In August 2008, supported by the MLQ, Alain Simoneau filed a civil suit, claiming $100,000 in damages and fees for extrajudicial rights abuses and violation of freedom of religion and conscience.

[27] In February 2011, the Court of Human Rights ordered Tremblay and city of Saguenay to stop the prayer, to remove the religious symbols from the public rooms, and to pay 30 000 CAD as damages to Simoneau.

[28] Tremblay said he intended to appeal the ruling, and with the city council launched a fundraising campaign for donations to take the case to the Canadian Supreme Court.

"[33] On July 12, 2011, Canadian Press said the Tremblay 's fundraising campaign had raised $181,000, compared to the MLQ, which had received $25,000 in that period.

In April 2009, the firm Influence Communication, initiated by Le Journal de Québec, published a study on the media weight of 11 mayors of Quebec.