He was employed by Crown Zellerbach, a paper manufacturing company, then went on to operate a general store in Coal Harbour.
In 1986, he ran for the leadership of the Social Credit Party; he placed 11th out of 12 candidates on the first ballot, and withdrew, endorsing eventual winner Bill Vander Zalm.
He was alleged to have breached the confidentially provisions of the Financial Institutions Act, leading Johnston to request his resignation.
Couvelier complied, but was publicly defiant: denying the allegations, requesting Johnston release the review that persuaded her to fire him, and challenging her to "lay a charge, so I can defend myself in court."
Couvelier had obtained his own legal advice that argued his innocence, and said he had a "suspicion of what drives this", which reporters took as a reference to leadership ambitions.