Parti national social chrétien
Encyclopedia
The Parti National Social Chrétien was a Canadian
political party
formed by Adrien Arcand
in February 1934. The party identified with anti-semitism
, and German
leader Adolf Hitler's
Nazism
. The party was later known, in English, as the Canadian National Socialist Unity Party or National Unity Party.
in February 1934. It was known in English as the Christian National Socialist Party. Arcand was a Quebec
-based fascist and anti-semite. An admirer of Adolf Hitler
, Arcand referred to himself as the "Canadian führer".
In October 1934, the party merged with the Canadian Nationalist Party, which was based in the Prairie provinces
. By the mid 1930s, the party had some success, with a few thousand members mainly concentrated in Quebec, British Columbia
and Alberta
.
In June 1938, it merged with Nazi
and other racist clubs in Ontario
and Quebec
, many of which were known as Swastika
clubs, to form the National Unity Party at a national convention held in Kingston, Ontario
. At a time of English-French Canadian tension, Arcand tried to create a pan-Canadian (English and French) nationalist political movement. It was based on the National Socialist (Nazi) Party in Germany
. Arcand then proceeded to Toronto where his new party held a rally of 800 supporters at Massey Hall
. However, the anti-fascist Canadian League for Peace and Democracy held a simultaneious rally of 10,000 people at Maple Leaf Gardens
in opposition to Arcand.
The group was known colloquially as the "Blue Shirts", and commonly fought with immigrants, Canadian minorities and leftist groups. The group boasted that it would seize power in Canada, but the party exaggerated its own influence.
of the War Measures Act
, and Arcand and many of his followers were arrested and detained for the duration of the war
.
in the riding of Richelieu—Verchères
as a candidate for the National Unity Party. He placed second, winning 5,590 votes (29.1% of the total). He came in second again with 39 per cent of the vote when he ran as a "Nationalist" in Berthier—Maskinongé—delanaudière
in the 1953 federal election
.
The party's last public act was a rally held on November 14, 1965 in Montreal's Paul Sauvé Arena with 850 of Arcand's followers in attendance.
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...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
formed by Adrien Arcand
Adrien Arcand
Adrien Arcand was a Montreal journalist who led a series of fascist political movements between 1929 and his death in 1967...
in February 1934. The party identified with anti-semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
, and German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
leader Adolf Hitler's
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
Nazism
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
. The party was later known, in English, as the Canadian National Socialist Unity Party or National Unity Party.
1930s
The party was formed by Adrien ArcandAdrien Arcand
Adrien Arcand was a Montreal journalist who led a series of fascist political movements between 1929 and his death in 1967...
in February 1934. It was known in English as the Christian National Socialist Party. Arcand was a Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
-based fascist and anti-semite. An admirer of Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
, Arcand referred to himself as the "Canadian führer".
In October 1934, the party merged with the Canadian Nationalist Party, which was based in the Prairie provinces
Canadian Prairies
The Canadian Prairies is a region of Canada, specifically in western Canada, which may correspond to several different definitions, natural or political. Notably, the Prairie provinces or simply the Prairies comprise the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, as they are largely covered...
. By the mid 1930s, the party had some success, with a few thousand members mainly concentrated in Quebec, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
and Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
.
In June 1938, it merged with Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
and other racist clubs in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, many of which were known as Swastika
Swastika
The swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient...
clubs, to form the National Unity Party at a national convention held in Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
. At a time of English-French Canadian tension, Arcand tried to create a pan-Canadian (English and French) nationalist political movement. It was based on the National Socialist (Nazi) Party in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Arcand then proceeded to Toronto where his new party held a rally of 800 supporters at Massey Hall
Massey Hall
Massey Hall is a venerable performing arts theatre in the Garden District of downtown Toronto. The theatre originally was designed to seat 3,500 patrons but, after extensive renovations in the 1940s, now seats up to 2,765....
. However, the anti-fascist Canadian League for Peace and Democracy held a simultaneious rally of 10,000 people at Maple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens is an indoor arena that was converted into a Loblawssupermarket and Ryerson University athletic centre in Toronto, on the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church Street in Toronto's Garden District.One of the temples of hockey, it was home to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the...
in opposition to Arcand.
The group was known colloquially as the "Blue Shirts", and commonly fought with immigrants, Canadian minorities and leftist groups. The group boasted that it would seize power in Canada, but the party exaggerated its own influence.
Banned
On May 30, 1940, the party was banned under the Defence of Canada RegulationsDefence of Canada Regulations
The Defence of Canada Regulations were a set of emergency measures implemented under the War Measures Act a week before Canada's entry into World War II in the fall of 1939....
of the War Measures Act
War Measures Act
The War Measures Act was a Canadian statute that allowed the government to assume sweeping emergency powers in the event of "war, invasion or insurrection, real or apprehended"...
, and Arcand and many of his followers were arrested and detained for the duration of the war
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...
.
Post-war
Arcand ran in the 1949 federal electionCanadian federal election, 1949
The Canadian federal election of 1949 was held on June 27 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 21st Parliament of Canada. It was the first election in Canada in almost thirty years in which the Liberal Party of Canada was not led by William Lyon Mackenzie King. King had...
in the riding of Richelieu—Verchères
Richelieu—Verchères
Richelieu—Verchères was a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1935 to 1968.This riding was created in 1933 from parts of Chambly—Verchères, Richelieu, St...
as a candidate for the National Unity Party. He placed second, winning 5,590 votes (29.1% of the total). He came in second again with 39 per cent of the vote when he ran as a "Nationalist" in Berthier—Maskinongé—delanaudière
Berthier—Maskinongé—delanaudière
Berthier—Maskinongé—delanaudière was a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1953 to 1968.This riding was created in 1952 from Berthier—Maskinongé...
in the 1953 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1953
The Canadian federal election of 1953 was held on August 10 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 22nd Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Louis St...
.
The party's last public act was a rally held on November 14, 1965 in Montreal's Paul Sauvé Arena with 850 of Arcand's followers in attendance.
See also
- Fascism in CanadaFascism in CanadaFascism in Canada consisted of a variety of movements and political parties in Canada during the twentieth century. Largely a fringe ideology, fascism has never commanded a large following amongst the Canadian people, and was most popular during the Great Depression...
- List of political parties in Canada