In 1970, Claude Charron entered provincial politics. He was elected to the National Assembly of Quebec as the Parti Québécois candidate in the riding of Saint-Jacques (now part of Sainte-Marie—Saint-Jacques) and was reelected in 1973, 1976, and 1981. Following the election of his party to power in 1976 he was appointed Minister responsible for High Commission on Youth, Recreation and Sports and in 1979 was named the Government House Leader and Minister responsible for Parliamentary Affairs. In February 1982 Charron resigned his cabinet position after pleading guilty to a charge of shoplifting in the Eaton's Montreal department store. In November of that year he was charged with drunk driving and resigned his seat in the Quebec National Assembly. The following year Charron published his memoir in the French language under the title Désobéir. In this book he confirmed his homosexuality.

Since leaving politics Charron has worked in radio and television, notably with the TVA network and Radio-Canada, and has contributed to the news magazine L'actualité. He is currently the correspondent for TVA in Paris but had worked alongside with Pierre Bruneau during the special televised program for the 2007 Quebec elections.

References

• Quebec National Assembly biography
• New York Times report on Claude Charron's resignation from Cabinet
• CBC electoral report on the Sainte-Marie-Saint Jacques riding