Louis Giguère
Encyclopedia
Louis de Gonzague Giguère (December 18, 1911 – June 16, 2002) was a Canadian Senator and a figure in the "Sky Shops" scandal of the 1970s.
He was born in Hébertville
in the Lac-Saint-Jean-Est region
and studied law and political science at the University of Laval and subsequently served as secretary to Quebec's minister of labour.
Giguère had been the main fundraiser for the Liberals in Quebec since 1962. In 1965, he helped convince the Liberal riding association in Mount Royal
to nominate Pierre Trudeau
as its candidate for election. In 1968, upon becoming Prime Minister of Canada
, Trudeau made Giguère his first appointee to the Canadian Senate
.
In 1976, he was accused of having made a $92,000 windfall profit in the "Sky Shops" scandal through the timely purchase and sales of shares in Sky Shops Ltd., allegedly profiting from influence peddling
to reverse a 1972 government decision not to renew its concession to operate duty free shops at Montreal
's airports renewed in 1972. It was also alleged that two Montreal businessmen involved with Sky Shops, one of whom as National Hockey League
president Clarence Campbell
, had offered Giguère the money in exchange for his assistance in lobbying government officials to overturn the decision to end the concession. Giguère and the two men were charged with conspiring to accept a benefit
While the two businessmen were convicted of bribing Giguère and fined, he himself was acquitted in a separate trial due to a lack of incriminating evidence.
Giguère retired from the Senate in 1986 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75.
He was born in Hébertville
Hébertville, Quebec
-External links:...
in the Lac-Saint-Jean-Est region
Lac-Saint-Jean-Est Regional County Municipality, Quebec
Lac-Saint-Jean-Est is a regional county municipality in northeastern Quebec, Canada. The county seat is in Alma. In 2006 it was 99.5% French-speaking.-Communities:* Cities & Towns** Alma** Desbiens** Métabetchouan–Lac-à-la-Croix...
and studied law and political science at the University of Laval and subsequently served as secretary to Quebec's minister of labour.
Giguère had been the main fundraiser for the Liberals in Quebec since 1962. In 1965, he helped convince the Liberal riding association in Mount Royal
Mount Royal (electoral district)
Mount Royal is a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1925. Its population in 2006 was 98,888....
to nominate Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
as its candidate for election. In 1968, upon becoming Prime Minister of Canada
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
, Trudeau made Giguère his first appointee to the Canadian 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...
.
In 1976, he was accused of having made a $92,000 windfall profit in the "Sky Shops" scandal through the timely purchase and sales of shares in Sky Shops Ltd., allegedly profiting from influence peddling
Influence peddling
Influence peddling is the illegal practice of using one's influence in government or connections with persons in authority to obtain favors or preferential treatment for another, usually in return for payment. Also called traffic of influence or trading in influence ...
to reverse a 1972 government decision not to renew its concession to operate duty free shops at Montreal
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...
's airports renewed in 1972. It was also alleged that two Montreal businessmen involved with Sky Shops, one of whom as National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
president Clarence Campbell
Clarence Campbell
Clarence Sutherland Campbell OBE, QC was the third president of the National Hockey League from 1946 to 1977.-Early life and career:...
, had offered Giguère the money in exchange for his assistance in lobbying government officials to overturn the decision to end the concession. Giguère and the two men were charged with conspiring to accept a benefit
Conspiracy (crime)
In the criminal law, a conspiracy is an agreement between two or more persons to break the law at some time in the future, and, in some cases, with at least one overt act in furtherance of that agreement...
While the two businessmen were convicted of bribing Giguère and fined, he himself was acquitted in a separate trial due to a lack of incriminating evidence.
Giguère retired from the Senate in 1986 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75.