Frédéric Dorion
Encyclopedia
Frédéric Dorion was a Quebec politician and chief justice. He led a group of Independent MPs in the Canadian House of Commons
who were opposed to the implementation of conscription
during World War II
.
In his earlier life, Dorion studied at Laval University but left in order to enlist in the Royal Flying Corps
during World War I
. He joined his family's law firm in Quebec City
after the war and was an organizer for the Conservative Party in Quebec during the 1930s.
He was adamantly opposed to conscription during the World War II conscription crisis
. Dorion ran as an independent anti-conscription candidate in a November 30, 1942 by-election
in Charlevoix—Saguenay
defeating Thérèse Casgrain
. In October 1944, Dorion and fellow Independent MP Sasseville Roy formed the "Independent Group" (Le groupement des Independants), a loose political party of independent anti-conscription MPs with Dorion as leader. Three other anti-conscription Quebec MPs soon joined: Liguori Lacombe
, Wilfrid Lacroix
, and Emmanuel D'Anjou. Roy described the party as opposed to the imperialism
of the Liberal and Progressive Conservative parties and as looking after the interests of Quebec residents in Ottawa. Dorion, in turn, accused William Lyon Mackenzie King
's Liberals of being in a "secret union" with the communist Labour-Progressive Party
.
The Bloc populaire's entry into provincial politics antagonized Quebec Premier Maurice Duplessis
, leader of the Union Nationale
, who henceforth transferred his party's federal support to Dorion and his followers in the 1945 federal election
.
After a failed attempt to launch a new political party led by Arthur Cardin, King's former Public Works minister who crossed the floor in 1942 to oppose the government's conscription policy, Dorion was re-elected as an independent in 1945.
In 1949, Dorion spoke out against the extradition from Canada of Count Jacques Charles Noel Duge de Bernonville, a Vichy France
police official who had been an aide to Gestapo
chief Klaus Barbie
and was wanted in France for having collaborated
with the Nazis. Dorion represented the Count in his court proceedings and also told the House of Commons, "I am sure that if it had been Communist Jews who had come here instead of French Catholics we would not have heard a word about them."
Dorion announced he was joining the Progressive Conservative party on May 4, 1949, as that year's election campaign opened and led the party's campaign in the Quebec City area. He was defeated in the 1949 election
and again in the 1953 election
running both times as a Progressive Conservative
.
Dorion was appointed to the bench and became chief justice of the Quebec Superior Court
in 1963 and served in that position for a decade.
He is best known for writing the 1965 Dorion Report on federal government corruption after being appointed to lead a commission of inquiry into alleged bribery and coercion by ministerial assistants in the federal government known as the Rivard Affair
.
His brother, Charles Napoléon Dorion, was a Conservative MP from 1930 to 1935. Another brother, Noël Dorion
, was a Progressive Conservative MP from 1958 to 1962.
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...
who were opposed to the implementation of conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
In his earlier life, Dorion studied at Laval University but left in order to enlist in the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He joined his family's law firm in Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
after the war and was an organizer for the Conservative Party in Quebec during the 1930s.
He was adamantly opposed to conscription during the World War II conscription crisis
Conscription Crisis of 1944
The Conscription Crisis of 1944 was a political and military crisis following the introduction of forced military service in Canada during World War II. It was similar to the Conscription Crisis of 1917, but was not as politically damaging....
. Dorion ran as an independent anti-conscription candidate in a November 30, 1942 by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
in Charlevoix—Saguenay
Charlevoix—Saguenay
Charlevoix—Saguenay was a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1925 to 1949.This riding was created in 1924 from parts of Charlevoix—Montmorency and Chicoutimi—Saguenay ridings....
defeating Thérèse Casgrain
Thérèse Casgrain
Marie Thérèse Forget Casgrain, was a feminist, reformer, politician and senator in Quebec, Canada.Thérèse Casgrain was raised in a wealthy family, the daughter of Lady Blanche MacDonald and Sir Rodolphe Forget...
. In October 1944, Dorion and fellow Independent MP Sasseville Roy formed the "Independent Group" (Le groupement des Independants), a loose political party of independent anti-conscription MPs with Dorion as leader. Three other anti-conscription Quebec MPs soon joined: Liguori Lacombe
Liguori Lacombe
Joseph-Roméo-Liguori Lacombe, generally known as Liguori Lacombe was a Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons from 1925 to 1930 and again from 1935 to 1948...
, Wilfrid Lacroix
Wilfrid Lacroix
Wilfrid Lacroix was a member of the Canadian House of Commons from 1935 to 1958. His affiliation was mostly with the Liberal party except between 1944 and 1949 when he left the party to act as an "Independent Liberal" member....
, and Emmanuel D'Anjou. Roy described the party as opposed to the imperialism
Imperialism
Imperialism, as defined by Dictionary of Human Geography, is "the creation and/or maintenance of an unequal economic, cultural, and territorial relationships, usually between states and often in the form of an empire, based on domination and subordination." The imperialism of the last 500 years,...
of the Liberal and Progressive Conservative parties and as looking after the interests of Quebec residents in Ottawa. Dorion, in turn, accused William Lyon Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King, PC, OM, CMG was the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930; and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948...
's Liberals of being in a "secret union" with the communist Labour-Progressive Party
Labour-Progressive Party
For the Labour-Progressive Coalition Government in New Zealand see the Fifth Labour Government of New ZealandThe Labor-Progressive Party was the legal political organization of the Communist Party of Canada between 1943 and 1959....
.
The Bloc populaire's entry into provincial politics antagonized Quebec Premier Maurice Duplessis
Maurice Duplessis
Maurice Le Noblet Duplessis served as the 16th Premier of the Canadian province of Quebec from 1936 to 1939 and 1944 to 1959. A founder and leader of the highly conservative Union Nationale party, he rose to power after exposing the misconduct and patronage of Liberal Premier Louis-Alexandre...
, leader of the Union Nationale
Union Nationale
Union Nationale may refer to several political parties:*Union nationale , Canada*Union Nationale Rwandaise*National Union , Union nationale in French*Chadian National Union, Union Nationale Tchadienne, known as UNT...
, who henceforth transferred his party's federal support to Dorion and his followers in the 1945 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1945
The Canadian federal election of 1945 was the 20th general election in Canadian history. It was held June 11, 1945 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 20th Parliament of Canada...
.
After a failed attempt to launch a new political party led by Arthur Cardin, King's former Public Works minister who crossed the floor in 1942 to oppose the government's conscription policy, Dorion was re-elected as an independent in 1945.
In 1949, Dorion spoke out against the extradition from Canada of Count Jacques Charles Noel Duge de Bernonville, a Vichy France
Vichy France
Vichy France, Vichy Regime, or Vichy Government, are common terms used to describe the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944. This government succeeded the Third Republic and preceded the Provisional Government of the French Republic...
police official who had been an aide to Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
chief Klaus Barbie
Klaus Barbie
Nikolaus 'Klaus' Barbie was an SS-Hauptsturmführer , Gestapo member and war criminal. He was known as the Butcher of Lyon.- Early life :...
and was wanted in France for having collaborated
Collaboration
Collaboration is working together to achieve a goal. It is a recursive process where two or more people or organizations work together to realize shared goals, — for example, an intriguing endeavor that is creative in nature—by sharing...
with the Nazis. Dorion represented the Count in his court proceedings and also told the House of Commons, "I am sure that if it had been Communist Jews who had come here instead of French Catholics we would not have heard a word about them."
Dorion announced he was joining the Progressive Conservative party on May 4, 1949, as that year's election campaign opened and led the party's campaign in the Quebec City area. He was defeated in the 1949 election
Canadian federal election, 1949
The Canadian federal election of 1949 was held on June 27 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 21st Parliament of Canada. It was the first election in Canada in almost thirty years in which the Liberal Party of Canada was not led by William Lyon Mackenzie King. King had...
and again in the 1953 election
Canadian federal election, 1953
The Canadian federal election of 1953 was held on August 10 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 22nd Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Louis St...
running both times as a Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
.
Dorion was appointed to the bench and became chief justice of the Quebec Superior Court
Quebec Superior Court
Quebec Superior Court is the highest trial Court in the Province of Quebec, Canada. It consists of 144 judges who are appointed by the federal government.Chief Justices : [partial listing]* Edward Bowen...
in 1963 and served in that position for a decade.
He is best known for writing the 1965 Dorion Report on federal government corruption after being appointed to lead a commission of inquiry into alleged bribery and coercion by ministerial assistants in the federal government known as the Rivard Affair
Lucien Rivard
Lucien Rivard was a Quebec criminal known for a sensational prison escape in 1965.Rivard had been engaged in robbery and smuggling drugs since the 1940s. He has been described as a "petty crook" in his early years, but in the 1950s he moved to Cuba and operated a casino, and became involved in...
.
His brother, Charles Napoléon Dorion, was a Conservative MP from 1930 to 1935. Another brother, Noël Dorion
Noël Dorion
Noël Dorion, PC was a law professor, lawyer and Canadian politician.Dorion was called to the bar in 1927, and was the founding president of the Jeune Barreau de Québec in 1934. He was the crown attorney who prosecuted Wilbert Coffin in 1954...
, was a Progressive Conservative MP from 1958 to 1962.