[1] He was born on September 5, 1936, in Montreal to working-class family with English speaking father of Irish Quebecer descent and a francophone mother.
[2] Burns trained as a labour lawyer at the University of Montreal on a scholarship and became a legal advisor to the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN) trade union.
Initially a federalist, Burns became a nationalist as a result of his experiences representing francophone workers against English bosses and was persuaded to stand as a Parti Québécois candidate in 1970.
[2] Burns won a seat to the National Assembly of Quebec in 1970 in the district of Maisonneuve having defeated former Rassemblement pour l'indépendance nationale leader Marcel Chaput for the Parti Québécois's nomination.
He also commented on the Charbonneau Commission inquiry into corruption saying he was "disgusted" by allegations that construction and engineering companies flouted his electoral financing law by making illegal donations to political parties.