He attempted to win a seat in the House of Commons of Canada as a Progressive Conservative candidate, but was defeated in the 1974 and 1980 federal elections.

He argued against measures that would undermine the country's cultural sovereignty during negotiations leading to the Canada–United States Free Trade Agreement.

He was moved out of the Communications portfolio to that of Minister of Energy in 1986 when it appeared to Mulroney that Masse might be an obstacle to the free trade negotiations.

Masse was moved back to Communications following the 1988 election and the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement.

Since leaving federal politics Masse, a moderate Quebec nationalist, has served in a number of positions under the Parti Québécois governments of Jacques Parizeau and Lucien Bouchard.

He served as president of the Conseil de la langue française du Québec in 1995, and as Quebec's delegate-general in France from 1996 to 1997.