Maurice Bellemare
Encyclopedia
Maurice Bellemare, OC
(8 June 1912 – 15 June 1989) was a politician in Quebec
, Canada
. He was known as Le Vieux Lion de la Politique Québécoise (The Old Lion of Quebec Politics) because of his colourful style and his many years of public office. Bellemare was one of the last survivors of the Union Nationale party.
, Bellemare served seven consecutive terms as Member of the Legislative Assembly
for the district of Champlain
in the Mauricie
area. He was a member of the Union nationale and first was elected in the 1944 provincial election
at the age of 32, when Maurice Duplessis
was put back in office as Premier of Quebec
.
to 1953, and as the Government House Whip, from 1953 to 1959.
He also was the mayor of Saint-Jean-des-Piles
, a small town in the Mauricie
area, from 1954 to 1957.
After the Duplessis's death in 1959, Paul Sauvé
became Premier. He appointed Bellemare to the Cabinet as Minister without Portfolio. The function is honorary for the most part, but indicates that Bellemare was gaining political clout. Bellemare remained in the Cabinet until the Liberals won a majority in the 1960 election
.
As a Member of the Official Opposition, Bellemare was soon considered one of the Lesage
administration’s most vocal and most effective critics.
, the Union Nationale won a majority of seats to the legislature
, even though they received less votes than the Liberals and Daniel Johnson, Sr. became Premier.
Bellemare was appointed to the Cabinet. He served as Minister of Labour from the 1966 election
to 1970, Minister of Industry and Commerce from 1966 to 1967 and Government House Leader
from 1966 to 1969.
He also served a second term as Mayor of Saint-Jean-des-Piles from 1968 to 1970.
Bellemare did not run for re-election in the 1970 election
and temporarily retired from public office.
became Leader of the Union Nationale. Under his tenure, the party suffered from internal divisions and lost many of its followers to the emerging Parti Québécois
. From 56 seats in the 1966 election
, the strength of the party at the legislature went down to 17 seats in the 1970 election
. In the 1973 election
, a few months after Bertrand’s death and under the leadership of Gabriel Loubier
, the party was completely wiped off the electoral map. The Union Nationale was on life support.
Bellemare came out of retirement and took over the party leadership until a convention could be held. Against all odds, he won a by-election in the district of Johnson
in the Eastern Townships
. For more than two years, Bellemare was the only sitting Union Nationale Member of the legislature.
A few months before the 1976 election
, Rodrigue Biron
was chosen as leader and, surprisingly, the party was able to get 11 of his candidates elected, including Bellemare. From 1976 until he retired from provincial politics in 1979, Bellemare served as the House Leader of the Union Nationale.
Less than three months after Bellemare's retirement, Biron left the Union Nationale. He eventually joined the Parti Québécois, a move that Bellemare strongly disapproved. Bellemare was a federalist
.
Biron's defection to the PQ undermined Bellemare's efforts to rebuild the Union Nationale. In the 1981 election
, the party was wiped off the map again.
In the 1985 election
, the Union Nationale was running only 19 candidates (out of 122) who had no reasonable chance of winning. Bellemare initially supported the new Progressive Conservative Party of Quebec but ultimately announced that for the first time he would vote Liberal.
In 1983, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
in recognition for being "a politician who always cared about the welfare of working people and served his province and country with enthusiasm, determination and skill".
In 1989, he died from diabetes at age 77.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(8 June 1912 – 15 June 1989) was a politician in 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...
. He was known as Le Vieux Lion de la Politique Québécoise (The Old Lion of Quebec Politics) because of his colourful style and his many years of public office. Bellemare was one of the last survivors of the Union Nationale party.
Member of the legislature
Born in Grand-Mère, QuebecGrand-Mère, Quebec
Grand Mère is a settlement and former municipality in central Quebec, Canada on the Saint-Maurice River. As a result of the municipal reorganization in Quebec which took effect at the beginning of 2002, Grand-Mère now forms part of the City of Shawinigan. Population in 2001 was...
, Bellemare served seven consecutive terms as Member of the Legislative Assembly
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...
for the district of Champlain
Champlain (provincial electoral district)
Champlain is a provincial electoral riding in the province of Quebec, Canada. Located in the Mauricie region, it was created in 1829. It includes the municipalities of Saint-Stanislas, Saint-Narcisse and Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade and the eastern portions of the city of Trois-Rivières.The riding is...
in the Mauricie
Mauricie
Mauricie is a traditional and current administrative region of Quebec. La Mauricie National Park is contained within the region, making it a prime tourist location. The region has a land area of 35,855.22 km² and a 2006 census population of 258,928 residents...
area. He was a member of the Union nationale and first was elected in the 1944 provincial election
Quebec general election, 1944
The Quebec general election of 1944 was held on August 8, 1944 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The Union Nationale, led by former premier Maurice Duplessis, defeated the incumbent Quebec Liberal Party, led by Adélard Godbout...
at the age of 32, when 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...
was put back in office as Premier of Quebec
Premier of Quebec
The Premier of Quebec is the first minister of the Canadian province of Quebec. The Premier is the province's head of government and his title is Premier and President of the Executive Council....
.
Gaining influence
Bellemare served as the Deputy Government House Whip, from the 1948 provincial electionQuebec general election, 1948
The Quebec general election of 1948 was held on July 28, 1948 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The incumbent Union Nationale, led by Maurice Duplessis, won re-election, defeating the Quebec Liberal Party, led by Adélard Godbout.This was the third time ...
to 1953, and as the Government House Whip, from 1953 to 1959.
He also was the mayor of Saint-Jean-des-Piles
Saint-Jean-des-Piles, Quebec
Saint-Jean-des-Piles is a community in the Canadian province of Quebec. Formerly a separate parish municipality in the Le Centre-de-la-Mauricie Regional County Municipality, it has been one of the seven sectors of the city of Shawinigan since the municipal amalgamation of January 1,...
, a small town in the Mauricie
Mauricie
Mauricie is a traditional and current administrative region of Quebec. La Mauricie National Park is contained within the region, making it a prime tourist location. The region has a land area of 35,855.22 km² and a 2006 census population of 258,928 residents...
area, from 1954 to 1957.
After the Duplessis's death in 1959, Paul Sauvé
Paul Sauvé
Joseph-Mignault-Paul Sauvé was a Quebec lawyer, World War II veteran and politician. He was the first Quebec Premier to be born in the 20th century.-Life:...
became Premier. He appointed Bellemare to the Cabinet as Minister without Portfolio. The function is honorary for the most part, but indicates that Bellemare was gaining political clout. Bellemare remained in the Cabinet until the Liberals won a majority in the 1960 election
Quebec general election, 1960
The Quebec general election of 1960 was held on June 22, 1960 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec, Canada. It was one of the most significant elections in Quebec history, rivalled perhaps only by the 1976 general election...
.
As a Member of the Official Opposition, Bellemare was soon considered one of the Lesage
Jean Lesage
Jean Lesage, PC, CC, CD was a lawyer and politician in Quebec, Canada. He served as the 19th Premier of Quebec from 22 June 1960, to 16 August 1966...
administration’s most vocal and most effective critics.
Member of the Cabinet
In 1966Quebec general election, 1966
The Quebec general election of 1966 was held on June 5, 1966, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec, Canada. The Union Nationale , led by Daniel Johnson, Sr, defeated the incumbent Quebec Liberal Party, led by Jean Lesage....
, the Union Nationale won a majority of seats to the legislature
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...
, even though they received less votes than the Liberals and Daniel Johnson, Sr. became Premier.
Bellemare was appointed to the Cabinet. He served as Minister of Labour from the 1966 election
Quebec general election, 1966
The Quebec general election of 1966 was held on June 5, 1966, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec, Canada. The Union Nationale , led by Daniel Johnson, Sr, defeated the incumbent Quebec Liberal Party, led by Jean Lesage....
to 1970, Minister of Industry and Commerce from 1966 to 1967 and Government House Leader
Government House Leader (Quebec)
The Government House Leader is responsible for being leader of the National Assembly of Quebec from the government side....
from 1966 to 1969.
He also served a second term as Mayor of Saint-Jean-des-Piles from 1968 to 1970.
Bellemare did not run for re-election in the 1970 election
Quebec general election, 1970
The Quebec general election of 1970 was held on April 29, 1970 to elect members of the National Assembly of Quebec, Canada. The former Legislative Assembly had been renamed the "National Assembly" in 1968...
and temporarily retired from public office.
Rescuing his party
After Johnson’s death in 1968, Jean-Jacques BertrandJean-Jacques Bertrand
Jean-Jacques Bertrand was the 21st Premier of Quebec, Canada, from October 2, 1968 to May 12, 1970. He led the Union Nationale party.-Member of the legislature:...
became Leader of the Union Nationale. Under his tenure, the party suffered from internal divisions and lost many of its followers to the emerging Parti Québécois
Parti Québécois
The Parti Québécois is a centre-left political party that advocates national sovereignty for the province of Quebec and secession from Canada. The Party traditionally has support from the labour movement. Unlike many other social-democratic parties, its ties with the labour movement are informal...
. From 56 seats in the 1966 election
Quebec general election, 1966
The Quebec general election of 1966 was held on June 5, 1966, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec, Canada. The Union Nationale , led by Daniel Johnson, Sr, defeated the incumbent Quebec Liberal Party, led by Jean Lesage....
, the strength of the party at the legislature went down to 17 seats in the 1970 election
Quebec general election, 1970
The Quebec general election of 1970 was held on April 29, 1970 to elect members of the National Assembly of Quebec, Canada. The former Legislative Assembly had been renamed the "National Assembly" in 1968...
. In the 1973 election
Quebec general election, 1973
The Quebec general election of 1973 was held on October 29, 1973 to elect members to National Assembly of Quebec, Canada. The incumbent Quebec Liberal Party, led by Robert Bourassa, won re-election, defeating the Parti Québécois, led by René Lévesque, and the Union Nationale .The Liberals won a...
, a few months after Bertrand’s death and under the leadership of Gabriel Loubier
Gabriel Loubier
Gabriel Loubier was a politician in Quebec, Canada. He served as leader of the Union Nationale party from 1971 to 1974, and as Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly of Quebec from 1971 to 1973....
, the party was completely wiped off the electoral map. The Union Nationale was on life support.
Bellemare came out of retirement and took over the party leadership until a convention could be held. Against all odds, he won a by-election in the district of Johnson
Johnson (electoral district)
Johnson is a provincial electoral district in Quebec, Canada that elects members to the National Assembly of Quebec. The riding was created in 1972 from parts of Bagot, Drummond, Richmond and Shefford...
in the Eastern Townships
Estrie
The Estrie is an administrative region of Quebec that overlaps mostly the Eastern Townships. Estrie, a French neologism, was coined as a derivative of est, "east."...
. For more than two years, Bellemare was the only sitting Union Nationale Member of the legislature.
A few months before the 1976 election
Quebec general election, 1976
The Quebec general election of 1976 was held on November 15, 1976 to elect members to National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. It was one of the most significant elections in Quebec history, rivalled only by the 1960 general election, and caused major repercussions in the rest of Canada...
, Rodrigue Biron
Rodrigue Biron
Rodrigue Biron is a politician in Quebec, Canada. He was leader of the Union Nationale political party from 1976 to 1980, when he joined the Parti Québécois.-Background:...
was chosen as leader and, surprisingly, the party was able to get 11 of his candidates elected, including Bellemare. From 1976 until he retired from provincial politics in 1979, Bellemare served as the House Leader of the Union Nationale.
Less than three months after Bellemare's retirement, Biron left the Union Nationale. He eventually joined the Parti Québécois, a move that Bellemare strongly disapproved. Bellemare was a federalist
Canadian federalism
Canada is a federation with two distinct jurisdictions of political authority: the country-wide federal government and the ten regionally-based provincial governments. It also has three territorial governments in the far north, though these are subject to the federal government...
.
Biron's defection to the PQ undermined Bellemare's efforts to rebuild the Union Nationale. In the 1981 election
Quebec general election, 1981
The Quebec general election of 1981 was held on April 13, 1981, to elect members of the National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The incumbent Parti Québécois, led by René Lévesque, won re-election, defeating the Quebec Liberal Party, led by Claude Ryan.The PQ won re-election despite...
, the party was wiped off the map again.
In the 1985 election
Quebec general election, 1985
The Quebec general election of 1985 was held on December 2, 1985, to elect members of the National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The Quebec Liberal Party, led by former premier Robert Bourassa, defeated the incumbent Parti Québécois, led by premier Pierre-Marc Johnson.This election...
, the Union Nationale was running only 19 candidates (out of 122) who had no reasonable chance of winning. Bellemare initially supported the new Progressive Conservative Party of Quebec but ultimately announced that for the first time he would vote Liberal.
Municipal politics
From 1981 to 1983, Bellemare was one the Councillors of the Saint-Jean-des-Piles local government.In 1983, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in recognition for being "a politician who always cared about the welfare of working people and served his province and country with enthusiasm, determination and skill".
In 1989, he died from diabetes at age 77.
External links
- Maurice BELLEMARE at Assemblée nationale du Québec