Paul Joseph Chartier
Encyclopedia
Paul Joseph Chartier was a Canadian man who died when a bomb he was preparing exploded in a washroom of the Parliament of Canada
. It is believed that he was preparing to bomb the House of Commons
.
Born in rural Alberta to parents who owned a small hotel, Chartier became a trucker at age 20. However, in 1960 he ran into financial trouble and was forced to declare bankruptcy and sell his truck. He was also investigated for fraud and his marriage failed. Moving to Toronto, he settled in a rooming house on Major Street.
After his death, police found a number of writings and letters earlier sent to newspapers were uncovered. He stated that because of government actions, no one could afford to live and that politicians were rich and greedy. He attacked politicians and homosexuals in his writings. He wrote that his plan was to "exterminate as many members as possible," and that he was prepared to die in the process. He declared his desire to become Prime Minister
of Canada, and stated that he would appoint Toronto alderman June Marks
as his Vice President. When police raided his apartment, they found several other sticks of dynamite.
Before the attack, Chartier had purchased ten sticks of dynamite in Newmarket, Ontario
. After assembling a bomb, he travelled to Ottawa and entered the gallery of the House of Commons. At the time, visitors to Parliament were not searched. He watched the proceedings for a time, and then departed for a nearby washroom. There he lit the fuse of his dynamite
-based bomb, likely intending to return to the gallery and throw it upon the Members of Parliament
below. However, the bomb exploded as Chartier exited the washroom. He was carrying it in his right hand, and it blew off his arm and tore open his torso, killing him instantly, but harming no one else. The washroom was heavily damaged, but the thick wooden door contained the blast in that room. No other part of the Centre Block itself was seriously damaged.
An investigation concluded Chartier was mentally unbalanced, and recommended increasing security at Parliament Hill and restricting the sale of explosives. At the time, it was the most violent event in the history of the Parliament, though there have since been events of comparable magnitude.
Parliament Hill
Parliament Hill , colloquially known as The Hill, is an area of Crown land on the southern banks of the Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa, Ontario. Its Gothic revival suite of buildingsthe parliament buildings serves as the home of the Parliament of Canada and contains a number of architectural...
. It is believed that he was preparing to bomb the House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
.
Born in rural Alberta to parents who owned a small hotel, Chartier became a trucker at age 20. However, in 1960 he ran into financial trouble and was forced to declare bankruptcy and sell his truck. He was also investigated for fraud and his marriage failed. Moving to Toronto, he settled in a rooming house on Major Street.
After his death, police found a number of writings and letters earlier sent to newspapers were uncovered. He stated that because of government actions, no one could afford to live and that politicians were rich and greedy. He attacked politicians and homosexuals in his writings. He wrote that his plan was to "exterminate as many members as possible," and that he was prepared to die in the process. He declared his desire to become Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of Canada, and stated that he would appoint Toronto alderman June Marks
June Marks
June Marks was a Toronto community activist and politician.She first ran for city council in 1962 in Ward 2 but was defeated. She was elected on her second attempt in 1964 and, in 1966, won city-wide election to the Toronto Board of Control and also served on Metro Toronto Council...
as his Vice President. When police raided his apartment, they found several other sticks of dynamite.
Before the attack, Chartier had purchased ten sticks of dynamite in Newmarket, Ontario
Newmarket, Ontario
Newmarket is a town in Southern Ontario located approximately 50 km north of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area and is connected to Toronto by freeway, and is served by three interchanges along Highway 404. It is also connected to Highway 400 via Highway 9...
. After assembling a bomb, he travelled to Ottawa and entered the gallery of the House of Commons. At the time, visitors to Parliament were not searched. He watched the proceedings for a time, and then departed for a nearby washroom. There he lit the fuse of his dynamite
Dynamite
Dynamite is an explosive material based on nitroglycerin, initially using diatomaceous earth , or another absorbent substance such as powdered shells, clay, sawdust, or wood pulp. Dynamites using organic materials such as sawdust are less stable and such use has been generally discontinued...
-based bomb, likely intending to return to the gallery and throw it upon the Members of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
below. However, the bomb exploded as Chartier exited the washroom. He was carrying it in his right hand, and it blew off his arm and tore open his torso, killing him instantly, but harming no one else. The washroom was heavily damaged, but the thick wooden door contained the blast in that room. No other part of the Centre Block itself was seriously damaged.
An investigation concluded Chartier was mentally unbalanced, and recommended increasing security at Parliament Hill and restricting the sale of explosives. At the time, it was the most violent event in the history of the Parliament, though there have since been events of comparable magnitude.
Further reading
- James Fontana. The Mad Bomber of Parliament Hill In this book published in 2005 by Borealis Publishers, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Fontana describes in detail how Chartier plotted to bomb Parliament, how he smuggled the bomb into the House of Commons and the curious circumstances causing the plot to fail even as it destroyed Chartier.