Télesphore-Damien Bouchard
Encyclopedia
Télesphore-Damien Bouchard (December 20, 1881 – November 13, 1962) was a politician in Quebec
, Canada
.
Born in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec
, he was the mayor of the municipality from 1917 to 1930 and from 1932 to 1944 and president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities
in 1918. He also founded the Union des municipalites de la province de Quebec (Federation of municipalities in the province of Quebec) in 1919. He served as Liberal leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec
from 1936 to 1939, after Liberal leader Adélard Godbout
lost the 1936 election
and also narrowly lost his own seat. Bouchard served as opposition leader while Godbout remained leader of the Liberal Party.
After the Liberals returned to power in the 1939 election
, he served in Godbout's cabinet. Resigned in 1944 when he was appointed to the Senate
, where he remained until his death. Overall, he was the MLA for the district of Saint-Hyacinthe
from 1912 to 1919 and from 1923 to 1944.
A leading campaigner for public ownership of electric utilities, he became first president of Hydro-Québec
in April 1944. Two months later he was fired by Premier Godbout, after Bouchard made a series of anticlerical statements.
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....
, 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...
.
Born in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec
Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec
Saint-Hyacinthe is a city in southwestern Quebec east of Montreal on the Yamaska River. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 55,823. The city is located in Les Maskoutains Regional County Municipality of the Montérégie region, and is traversed by the Yamaska River which flows...
, he was the mayor of the municipality from 1917 to 1930 and from 1932 to 1944 and president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Federation of Canadian Municipalities
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities is a civic advocacy group representing many Canadian municipalities. It is an organization with no formal power but significant ability to influence debate and policy, as it is main national lobby group of mayors, councillors and other elected municipal...
in 1918. He also founded the Union des municipalites de la province de Quebec (Federation of municipalities in the province of Quebec) in 1919. He served as Liberal leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec
Legislative Assembly of Quebec
The Legislative Assembly of Quebec was the name of the lower house of Quebec's legislature until 1968, when it was renamed the National Assembly of Quebec. At the same time, the upper house of the legislature, the Legislative Council, was abolished...
from 1936 to 1939, after Liberal leader Adélard Godbout
Adélard Godbout
Joseph-Adélard Godbout was an agronomist and politician in Quebec, Canada. He served as the 15th Premier of Quebec briefly in 1936, and again from 1939 to 1944. He was also leader of the Parti Libéral du Québec .-Youth and early career:Adélard Godbout was born in Saint-Éloi...
lost the 1936 election
Quebec general election, 1936
The Quebec general election of 1936 was held on August 17, 1936 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The Union Nationale, led by Maurice Duplessis, defeated the incumbent Quebec Liberal Party, led by Adélard Godbout.This marked the end of slightly more...
and also narrowly lost his own seat. Bouchard served as opposition leader while Godbout remained leader of the Liberal Party.
After the Liberals returned to power in the 1939 election
Quebec general election, 1939
The Quebec general election of 1939 was held on October 25, 1939 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada...
, he served in Godbout's cabinet. Resigned in 1944 when he was appointed to the Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
, where he remained until his death. Overall, he was the MLA for the district of Saint-Hyacinthe
Saint-Hyacinthe (provincial electoral district)
Saint-Hyacinthe is a provincial electoral riding in the province of Quebec, Canada. Located in the Montérégie region, the riding includes the city of Saint-Hyacinthe as well as the municipalities of Saint-Damase, Saint-Dominique and Saint-Liboire...
from 1912 to 1919 and from 1923 to 1944.
A leading campaigner for public ownership of electric utilities, he became first president of Hydro-Québec
Hydro-Québec
Hydro-Québec is a government-owned public utility established in 1944 by the Government of Quebec. Based in Montreal, the company is in charge of the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity across Quebec....
in April 1944. Two months later he was fired by Premier Godbout, after Bouchard made a series of anticlerical statements.
See also
- Politics of QuebecPolitics of QuebecThe politics of Quebec are centred on a provincial government resembling that of the other Canadian provinces, namely a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. The capital of the province is Quebec City, where the Lieutenant Governor, Premier, the legislature, and cabinet reside.The...
- Quebec general electionsQuebec general electionsThis article provides a summary of results for the general elections to the Canadian province of Quebecs unicameral legislative body, the National Assembly of Quebec...
- List of Quebec leaders of the Opposition
- Timeline of Quebec historyTimeline of Quebec historyThis article presents a detailed timeline of Quebec history. Events taking place outside Quebec, for example in English Canada, the United States, Britain or France, may be included when they are considered to have had a significant impact on Quebec's history....
External links
- National Assembly biography (in French)