Bordeleau began his career as an architect, working from 1966 to 1976.[2] He was elected for the first time in 1976 and re-elected in 1981[3] alongside Gilles Baril from Rouyn-Noranda–Témiscamingue.[4] During his mandate, he collaborated with Val-d'Or mayor André Pelletier to build a bypass around the city.[3] He was also parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Energy and Resources and the Minister of Manpower and Income Security. He was also vice-president of the council of deputies of the Parti Québécois[5] and Chairman of the Committee on Economics and Labor prior to his defeat in 1985.[2]
In 1985, Bordeleau's parliamentary office was vandalized and multiple files were stolen. During this time, demonstrators had been demanding the reopening of a factory, which had closed its doors the year prior.[6] Workers who had been laid off set up camp outside his office and condemned his absence in the drive to reopen the factory.[7] After his departure from the National Assembly of Quebec, he was political attaché to André Pelletier from 1994 to 1999.[2]
Bordeleau served on the Conseil des aînés from 2001 to 2005.[8] He was also President of the Comité de toponymie de la Ville de Val-d'Or and President of the Association Québec-France pour l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue.[2] In October 2013, he wrote the book Parole de gauchers alongside Léandre Normand. He was a member of the organizing committee of the Prix littéraire jeunesse Télé-Québec.[9][10] He also sat on the omité de rétablissement du caribou de Val-d'Or.[11]
Jean-Paul Bordeleau died in Abitibi-Témiscamingue on 29 January 2022, two days shy of his 79th birthday.[12]
