Robert Pharand
Encyclopedia
Robert Pharand was a francophone activist and candidate for the leadership of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party in 1971
. At the time he was a 26 year old graduate student at the University of Ottawa
and ran to represent the views of an Ottawa
area Young Progressive Conservative clubs which French Canadian
students had joined in hopes of drawing attention to the concerns of Franco-Ontarian
s. Pharand announced his candidacy on January 31, 1971, less than two weeks prior to the February 12th convention in which he received seven votes and was eliminated on the first ballot. The Tory campus clubs at the University of Ottawa, Carleton University
and St. Patrick's College
decided to field their own candidate because the other candidates had not been specific enough on the issues of economic nationalism
and education. The bilingual Pharand, who was born and raised in Hull, Quebec, was a proponent of Canadian economic nationalism
through control of industry and by preventing the sale of Canadian companies to foreign investors. Pharand called for a better deal for French Canadian
s in the province. and that the University of Ottawa become an exclusively French-speaking institution in order to help preserve French culture in the province. He also bucked existing Tory policy by advocating the extension of funding for Catholic schools
until Grade 13. It was not until 1985 that the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party would reverse its long-standing opposition to extending separate school funding and implement the proposal.
According to news reports, at the time of his candidacy Pharand was married and held degrees in business administration and science and was pursuing a masters degree in mathematics
Pharand was the only fully bilingual candidate in the leadership race and the only one to address the convention in both English and French during his campaign speech to delegates.
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership convention, 1971
A Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership election was held on February 12, 1971 to replace retiring Progressive Conservative leader and incumbent premier John Robarts...
. At the time he was a 26 year old graduate student at the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
and ran to represent the views of an Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
area Young Progressive Conservative clubs which French Canadian
French Canadian
French Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
students had joined in hopes of drawing attention to the concerns of Franco-Ontarian
Franco-Ontarian
Franco-Ontarians are French Canadian or francophone residents of the Canadian province of Ontario. They are sometimes known as "Ontarois"....
s. Pharand announced his candidacy on January 31, 1971, less than two weeks prior to the February 12th convention in which he received seven votes and was eliminated on the first ballot. The Tory campus clubs at the University of Ottawa, Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
and St. Patrick's College
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
decided to field their own candidate because the other candidates had not been specific enough on the issues of economic nationalism
Economic nationalism
Economic nationalism is a term used to describe policies which emphasize domestic control of the economy, labor and capital formation, even if this requires the imposition of tariffs and other restrictions on the movement of labor, goods and capital. It opposes globalization in many cases, or at...
and education. The bilingual Pharand, who was born and raised in Hull, Quebec, was a proponent of Canadian economic nationalism
Canadian nationalism
Canadian nationalism is a term which has been applied to ideologies of several different types which highlight and promote specifically Canadian interests over those of other countries, notably the United States...
through control of industry and by preventing the sale of Canadian companies to foreign investors. Pharand called for a better deal for French Canadian
French Canadian
French Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
s in the province. and that the University of Ottawa become an exclusively French-speaking institution in order to help preserve French culture in the province. He also bucked existing Tory policy by advocating the extension of funding for Catholic schools
Separate school
In Canada, separate school refers to a particular type of school that has constitutional status in three provinces and statutory status in three territories...
until Grade 13. It was not until 1985 that the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party would reverse its long-standing opposition to extending separate school funding and implement the proposal.
According to news reports, at the time of his candidacy Pharand was married and held degrees in business administration and science and was pursuing a masters degree in mathematics
Pharand was the only fully bilingual candidate in the leadership race and the only one to address the convention in both English and French during his campaign speech to delegates.
External links
- The Campaign for Equality at the New Wave Covention - an account of the Pharand campaign by one of his supporters, James D. Harbick.