Canadian Union of Fascists
Encyclopedia
The Canadian Fascist Party was a fascist political party
based in the Canadian
city of Winnipeg
. The formative core of the party was a splinter group from the Canadian Nationalist Party that found the principles of corporativism to be more important than the largely racial motivations of the Nationalist Party. This disposition is highlighted in one official statement that "anti-semitism was a symptom of Germany not of Fascism". The party was founded as the British Empire Union of Fascists and was affiliated with the British Union of Fascists
. It later became known as the Canadian Union of Fascists and Canadian Union for short. It published its own newspaper called "The Thunderbolt".
The party was led by "Chuck" Crate
, who became leader at the age of 17. He had contacted the British Union of Fascists, who put him in touch with the party. John Ross Taylor
of Toronto became the party's secretary and organizer.
The party had a hard time attracting supporters while in operation. This primarily stemmed from the fact that most Canadians who supported fascism leaned towards the racist brand espoused by Adrien Arcand
and others. At the party's first meeting, there was an attendance of roughly 200 people.
This disparity between the party and Arcand's would continue throughout its existence. Before the government took action against Canadian fascist parties, both the Canadian Union of Fascists and Arcand's group held simultaneous fascist congresses in Toronto
. While Arcand's group, dubbed the "National Union" drew a crowd of around 4,000, the Canadian Union managed to draw only some 30 local residents to its cause.
The party was dissolved when the Second World War began. The party told its members to obey the law but to work for a negotiated peace. Crate escaped a treason
charge and ended up in the Royal Canadian Navy
.
The party, though not officially racist
or anti-semitic, had strong connections to Adrien Arcand
's National Unity Party
, which was openly both racist and anti-semitic.
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...
based in the Canadian
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...
city of Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
. The formative core of the party was a splinter group from the Canadian Nationalist Party that found the principles of corporativism to be more important than the largely racial motivations of the Nationalist Party. This disposition is highlighted in one official statement that "anti-semitism was a symptom of Germany not of Fascism". The party was founded as the British Empire Union of Fascists and was affiliated with the British Union of Fascists
British Union of Fascists
The British Union was a political party in the United Kingdom formed in 1932 by Sir Oswald Mosley as the British Union of Fascists, in 1936 it changed its name to the British Union of Fascists and National Socialists and then in 1937 to simply the British Union...
. It later became known as the Canadian Union of Fascists and Canadian Union for short. It published its own newspaper called "The Thunderbolt".
The party was led by "Chuck" Crate
Chuck Crate
Chales Brandle "Chuck" Crate was a Canadian fascist and leader of the Canadian Union of Fascists.He was born and grew up in northern Ontario, moving into a working class district of Toronto in 1927. The poverty and unemployment brought by the Great Depression turned the young Crate into a radical,...
, who became leader at the age of 17. He had contacted the British Union of Fascists, who put him in touch with the party. John Ross Taylor
John Ross Taylor
John Ross Taylor was a Canadian fascist political activist and party leader prominent in white nationalist circles....
of Toronto became the party's secretary and organizer.
The party had a hard time attracting supporters while in operation. This primarily stemmed from the fact that most Canadians who supported fascism leaned towards the racist brand espoused 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...
and others. At the party's first meeting, there was an attendance of roughly 200 people.
This disparity between the party and Arcand's would continue throughout its existence. Before the government took action against Canadian fascist parties, both the Canadian Union of Fascists and Arcand's group held simultaneous fascist congresses in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. While Arcand's group, dubbed the "National Union" drew a crowd of around 4,000, the Canadian Union managed to draw only some 30 local residents to its cause.
The party was dissolved when the Second World War began. The party told its members to obey the law but to work for a negotiated peace. Crate escaped a treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
charge and ended up in the Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
.
The party, though not officially racist
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
or anti-semitic, had strong connections to 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...
's National Unity Party
Parti national social chrétien
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...
, which was openly both racist and anti-semitic.