Action Montreal
Encyclopedia
Action Montreal was a short-lived municipal political party in Montreal
, Quebec
, Canada
, that existed from February to April 1994 under the leadership of entrepreneur Claude Beauchamp
.
in November 1993 as the leader of a new and as-yet-unnamed political movement. He formally launched Action Montreal on February 10, 1994, and indicated that the party would soon begin recruiting candidates for city council
. The party was officially registered by Quebec's chief electoral officer on February 21, 1994.
During its short existence, Action Montreal was supported by three councillors: Nick Auf der Maur
, Gérard Legault, and Vittorio Capparelli
. The party could have formed the official opposition in March 1994 had it sought official recognition from council, but Beauchamp said that he did not wanthis party to achieve this status with councillors who had previously been elected for other parties. As such, Auf der Maur, Legault, and Capparelli officially served as independents.
Action Montreal advocated conservative views on economic issues. Beauchamp criticized the salaries of Montreal's civil servants at the party's launch and suggested that some positions could be abolished. He later suggested that services such as aqueducts, roads, swimming pools, and libraries could be run by the private sector or as private-public partnerships. Some opponents criticized the party's focus on business issues and described Beauchamp as little more than a representative of the city's business lobby.
One of the Action Montreal's founding members was Michel Pallascio, a former chair of the Montreal Catholic School Commission
who had once suggested that Quebec should only accept immigrants with values reflecting the province's "Judeo-Christian" majority, a comment that was seen as intolerant toward immigrants from other backgrounds. Pallascio resigned from the party at Beauchamp's request after his past comments were highlighted in the media.
candidate Pierre Bourque
. Shortly before his resignation, a Le Devoir
poll indicated that Beauchamp was in fourth place among declared or likely mayoral candidates. Many Action Montreal members later joined either Vision Montreal or the Montrealers' Party.
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, 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....
, 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...
, that existed from February to April 1994 under the leadership of entrepreneur Claude Beauchamp
Claude Beauchamp
Claude Beauchamp is a journalist, publisher, and political activist in the Canadian province of Quebec.-Journalist and publisher:Beauchamp began his career as a financial writer for La Presse and served as assistant publisher and editor-in-chief of Le Soleil in the late 1970s. He became president...
.
Origins and platform
Beauchamp began his campaign for mayor of MontrealMayor of Montreal
The Mayor of Montreal is head of the executive branch of Montreal City Council.The Mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and provincial laws within Montreal....
in November 1993 as the leader of a new and as-yet-unnamed political movement. He formally launched Action Montreal on February 10, 1994, and indicated that the party would soon begin recruiting candidates for city council
Montreal City Council
The Montreal City Council is the governing body of Montreal, Quebec. The head of the city government in Montreal is the mayor, who is first among equals in the City Council. The mayor is Gérald Tremblay, who is a member of the Union des citoyens et des citoyennes de l'Île de Montréal...
. The party was officially registered by Quebec's chief electoral officer on February 21, 1994.
During its short existence, Action Montreal was supported by three councillors: Nick Auf der Maur
Nick Auf der Maur
Nick Auf der Maur was a journalist, politician and "man about town" boulevardier in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He was also the father of rock musician Melissa Auf der Maur, through his marriage to Linda Gaboriau....
, Gérard Legault, and Vittorio Capparelli
Vittorio Capparelli
Vittorio Capparelli is a politician in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He served on the Montreal city council from 1986 to 1998 and was a member of the Montreal executive committee from 1994 to 1996.-Early life and career:...
. The party could have formed the official opposition in March 1994 had it sought official recognition from council, but Beauchamp said that he did not wanthis party to achieve this status with councillors who had previously been elected for other parties. As such, Auf der Maur, Legault, and Capparelli officially served as independents.
Action Montreal advocated conservative views on economic issues. Beauchamp criticized the salaries of Montreal's civil servants at the party's launch and suggested that some positions could be abolished. He later suggested that services such as aqueducts, roads, swimming pools, and libraries could be run by the private sector or as private-public partnerships. Some opponents criticized the party's focus on business issues and described Beauchamp as little more than a representative of the city's business lobby.
One of the Action Montreal's founding members was Michel Pallascio, a former chair of the Montreal Catholic School Commission
Montreal Catholic School Commission
The Montreal Catholic School Commission was a Roman Catholic school district in Montreal, Quebec, Canada which operated both French-language and English-language schools. It was the largest school board in Quebec, and was created on June 9, 1846, at the same time as a Protestant school board...
who had once suggested that Quebec should only accept immigrants with values reflecting the province's "Judeo-Christian" majority, a comment that was seen as intolerant toward immigrants from other backgrounds. Pallascio resigned from the party at Beauchamp's request after his past comments were highlighted in the media.
Dissolution
Action Montreal ceased operations on April 5, 1994, when Beauchamp announced his resignation from the mayoral contest and gave his support to prospective Vision MontrealVision Montreal
Vision Montreal is a municipal political party in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It has been in existence since 1994 and presently forms the Official opposition on Montreal City Council under leader Louise Harel.-Origins:...
candidate Pierre Bourque
Pierre Bourque
Pierre Bourque, CQ is a businessman and politician in Quebec, Canada. He founded the Vision Montreal political party and served as mayor of Montreal from 1994 to 2001.-Background:...
. Shortly before his resignation, a Le Devoir
Le Devoir
Le Devoir is a French-language newspaper published in Montreal and distributed in Quebec and the rest of Canada. It was founded by journalist, politician, and nationalist Henri Bourassa in 1910....
poll indicated that Beauchamp was in fourth place among declared or likely mayoral candidates. Many Action Montreal members later joined either Vision Montreal or the Montrealers' Party.