Pierre Joseph Arthur Cardin
Encyclopedia
Pierre Joseph Arthur Cardin, (June 28, 1879 – October 20, 1946) also known as Arthur Cardin was a Canadian
politician who quit the cabinet of William Lyon Mackenzie King
over the issue of conscription
.
Born in Sorel, Quebec, he was a lawyer before being elected to the Canadian House of Commons
for the riding of Richelieu
in the 1911 federal election
. A Liberal
, he was re-elected in every election he contested in Richelieu and, beginning in 1935, Richelieu—Verchères
. He held four ministerial positions: Minister of Marine and Fisheries, Minister of Marine, Minister of Public Works, and Minister of Transport.
Cardin called for a "Yes" vote in the 1942 plebiscite
to release the King government's from its pledge not to introduce conscription but resigned from Cabinet in May 1942 over the introduction of the National Resources Mobilization Act
which gave the government the power to when Mackenzie King was prepared to enable conscription through an Order in Council when he had previously promised to seek a motion of confidence before bringing in mandatory military service.
In April 1942, Cardin announced that he would be leading a slate of candidates in the June 1945 federal election
most of whom were former Liberals who had left the party over the issue of conscription
. The party, which won the support of the "Independent Group" of Quebec MPs led by Frédéric Dorion
was to be known as the National Front and was considered more moderate than the Bloc populaire canadien
. Among its policies was opposition to the "socialism" the Mackenzie King government had introduced during the war, continued opposition to conscription, and bringing about greater national unity in Canada based on equality between French and English Canadians. However in May Cardin abandoned his plans for a new party on May 8, 1945, declaring his desire to use the new party to bring about the "unity and equality" of both the province and the country as "an illusion", due to the failure of the more radical Bloc populaire canadien
and other nationalists to join his movement and unite behind his leadership. One serious problem for Cardin was hostility towards him from former Montreal mayor Camillien Houde
who had been interned during the war for his opposition to conscription and was attempting to lead his own group of candidates in the 1945 election. Houde held Cardin, who had been a member of Cabinet at the time of Houde's arrest, responsible for the decision to intern him. Cardin instead ran and was re-elected to parliament as an independent candidate. He died the next year in 1946.
Cardin Mountain, later adjusted to Mount Cardin, in British Columbia
is named in his honour.http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/bcgn-bin/bcg10?name=36463
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...
politician who quit the cabinet of 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...
over the issue 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...
.
Born in Sorel, Quebec, he was a lawyer before being elected to the Canadian House of Commons
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...
for the riding of Richelieu
Richelieu (electoral district)
Richelieu was a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1935.It was created by the British North America Act of 1867 and was amalgamated into the Richelieu—Verchères electoral district in 1933.In 1968, a new electoral district...
in the 1911 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1911
The Canadian federal election of 1911 was held on September 21 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 12th Parliament of Canada.-Summary:...
. A Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
, he was re-elected in every election he contested in Richelieu and, beginning in 1935, Richelieu—Verchères
Richelieu—Verchères
Richelieu—Verchères was a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1935 to 1968.This riding was created in 1933 from parts of Chambly—Verchères, Richelieu, St...
. He held four ministerial positions: Minister of Marine and Fisheries, Minister of Marine, Minister of Public Works, and Minister of Transport.
Cardin called for a "Yes" vote in the 1942 plebiscite
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....
to release the King government's from its pledge not to introduce conscription but resigned from Cabinet in May 1942 over the introduction of the National Resources Mobilization Act
National Resources Mobilization Act
National Resources Mobilization Act is a Canadian government statute which enabled conscription in Canada during World War II. The bill, passed by Parliament on June 21, 1940, permitted conscripts to be used for home defence only and not to be deployed overseas but was modified lolin August 1942 to...
which gave the government the power to when Mackenzie King was prepared to enable conscription through an Order in Council when he had previously promised to seek a motion of confidence before bringing in mandatory military service.
In April 1942, Cardin announced that he would be leading a slate of candidates in the June 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...
most of whom were former Liberals who had left the party over the issue 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...
. The party, which won the support of the "Independent Group" of Quebec MPs led by Frédéric Dorion
Frédéric Dorion
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....
was to be known as the National Front and was considered more moderate than the Bloc populaire canadien
Bloc populaire canadien
The Bloc populaire canadien was a political party in the Canadian province of Quebec from 1942 to 1947. It was founded on September 8, 1942 by opponents of conscription during World War II...
. Among its policies was opposition to the "socialism" the Mackenzie King government had introduced during the war, continued opposition to conscription, and bringing about greater national unity in Canada based on equality between French and English Canadians. However in May Cardin abandoned his plans for a new party on May 8, 1945, declaring his desire to use the new party to bring about the "unity and equality" of both the province and the country as "an illusion", due to the failure of the more radical Bloc populaire canadien
Bloc populaire canadien
The Bloc populaire canadien was a political party in the Canadian province of Quebec from 1942 to 1947. It was founded on September 8, 1942 by opponents of conscription during World War II...
and other nationalists to join his movement and unite behind his leadership. One serious problem for Cardin was hostility towards him from former Montreal mayor Camillien Houde
Camillien Houde
Camillien Houde was a Quebec politician, a Member of Parliament, and a four-time mayor of Montreal.-Political career:...
who had been interned during the war for his opposition to conscription and was attempting to lead his own group of candidates in the 1945 election. Houde held Cardin, who had been a member of Cabinet at the time of Houde's arrest, responsible for the decision to intern him. Cardin instead ran and was re-elected to parliament as an independent candidate. He died the next year in 1946.
Cardin Mountain, later adjusted to Mount Cardin, in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
is named in his honour.http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/bcgn-bin/bcg10?name=36463