In 1791, Portelance married his cousin Marie-Josephte, daughter of François Périnault and widow of silversmith Jacques Varin. Soon afterwards, Portelance entered the lumber trade, supplying boards and planks for construction in Montreal. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada to represent Montreal County in 1804 and represented it until 1814.
In 1791, Portelance wed his first cousin Marie-Josephte, daughter of François Périnault and widow of silversmith Jacques Varin. Shortly thereafter, Portelance ventured into the logging industry, supplying lumber boards and planks for construction in Montreal. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada to represent Montreal County from 1804 until 1814.