Parti canadien (1942)
Encyclopedia
The Parti canadien was an anti-conscription
ist party formed by Member of Parliament Liguori Lacombe
in 1942. Lacombe was the MP for Laval—Two Mountains
and an isolationist
, who opposed Canada
's participation in World War II
and the implementation of conscription
. Lacombe, a Liberal
MP since 1925, quit the Liberal caucus and won re-election in the 1940 federal election
as an Independent Liberal before forming the Parti canadien.
Lacombe founded the party in order to oppose Mackenzie King's plan to hold a plebiscite on conscription
. Lacombe sat in Parliament as an unofficial representative of the Canadian Party after its formation. In 1942 federal by-election
s held in Quebec, two candidates ran under the name "Parti canadien" (Canadian Party) possibly inspired by the pre-Confederation Parti canadien
of anti-British nationalists. The party stood candidates against Liberal Louis St. Laurent
in Quebec East
and Gaspard Fauteux in Montreal St. Mary
. Due to a wartime political truce between the Liberal and Conservative parties, the Parti canadien candidates were the primary opponents to the Liberals in these two by-elections. Joseph Raoul Périllard finished second behind Fauteux in St. Mary and Paul Bouchard was St. Laurent's only opponent in Quebec East finishing 4,000 votes behind him.
Lacombe subsequently used the party as a platform to campaign for a "no" vote during the April plebiscite on conscription. In June he invited Quebec Liberal MPs who opposed conscription to join his party but had no takers.
In September 1942 the Bloc populaire canadien
was formed. Lacombe worked with, but did not join the new formation which became the primary anti-conscriptionist vehicle in Quebec.
Lacombe subsequently joined the "Independent Group" of anti-conscription MPs led by Frédéric Dorion
.
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
ist party formed by Member of Parliament Liguori Lacombe
Liguori Lacombe
Joseph-Roméo-Liguori Lacombe, generally known as Liguori Lacombe was a Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons from 1925 to 1930 and again from 1935 to 1948...
in 1942. Lacombe was the MP for Laval—Two Mountains
Laval—Two Mountains
Laval—Two Mountains was a federal electoral district in the province of Quebec, Canada that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1917 to 1949.This riding was created in 1914 from Laval and Two Mountains ridings.It initially consisted of:...
and an isolationist
Isolationism
Isolationism is the policy or doctrine of isolating one's country from the affairs of other nations by declining to enter into alliances, foreign economic commitments, international agreements, etc., seeking to devote the entire efforts of one's country to its own advancement and remain at peace by...
, who opposed Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's participation in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the implementation of conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
. Lacombe, a Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
MP since 1925, quit the Liberal caucus and won re-election in the 1940 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1940
The Canadian federal election of 1940 was the 19th general election in Canadian history. It was held March 26, 1940 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 19th Parliament of Canada...
as an Independent Liberal before forming the Parti canadien.
Lacombe founded the party in order to oppose Mackenzie King's plan to hold a plebiscite on conscription
Conscription Crisis of 1944
The Conscription Crisis of 1944 was a political and military crisis following the introduction of forced military service in Canada during World War II. It was similar to the Conscription Crisis of 1917, but was not as politically damaging....
. Lacombe sat in Parliament as an unofficial representative of the Canadian Party after its formation. In 1942 federal by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
s held in Quebec, two candidates ran under the name "Parti canadien" (Canadian Party) possibly inspired by the pre-Confederation Parti canadien
Parti canadien
The Parti canadien or Parti patriote was a political party in what is now Quebec founded by members of the liberal elite of Lower Canada at the beginning of the 19th century...
of anti-British nationalists. The party stood candidates against Liberal Louis St. Laurent
Louis St. Laurent
Louis Stephen St. Laurent, PC, CC, QC , was the 12th Prime Minister of Canada from 15 November 1948, to 21 June 1957....
in Quebec East
Quebec East
Quebec East was a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 2004....
and Gaspard Fauteux in Montreal St. Mary
St. Mary (electoral district)
St. Mary was a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1892 to 1953.This riding was created in 1892 from parts of Montreal East riding....
. Due to a wartime political truce between the Liberal and Conservative parties, the Parti canadien candidates were the primary opponents to the Liberals in these two by-elections. Joseph Raoul Périllard finished second behind Fauteux in St. Mary and Paul Bouchard was St. Laurent's only opponent in Quebec East finishing 4,000 votes behind him.
Lacombe subsequently used the party as a platform to campaign for a "no" vote during the April plebiscite on conscription. In June he invited Quebec Liberal MPs who opposed conscription to join his party but had no takers.
In September 1942 the Bloc populaire canadien
Bloc populaire canadien
The Bloc populaire canadien was a political party in the Canadian province of Quebec from 1942 to 1947. It was founded on September 8, 1942 by opponents of conscription during World War II...
was formed. Lacombe worked with, but did not join the new formation which became the primary anti-conscriptionist vehicle in Quebec.
Lacombe subsequently joined the "Independent Group" of anti-conscription MPs led by Frédéric Dorion
Frédéric Dorion
Frédéric Dorion was a Quebec politician and chief justice. He led a group of Independent MPs in the Canadian House of Commons who were opposed to the implementation of conscription during World War II....
.