René Hamel
Encyclopedia
René Hamel was a local politician in Quebec
, Canada
. He served as Member of the Canadian Parliament
and as Member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec
.
Hamel joined the Bloc Populaire Canadien
, a political party that opposed conscription
. He was the party’s provincial candidate in the district of Saint-Maurice
in 1944
, but lost the election against Marc Trudel
. The following year
though, he successfully ran in the federal district of Saint-Maurice—Laflèche
. After the was, the party quickly dissolved and by 1949 Hamel was sitting as an Independent
MP
. He lost re-election in that same year
.
Maurice Duplessis
, made a political comeback in 1952
. Benefiting from a strong support among Shawinigan
’s labor class population, he was elected Liberal Member of the Legislative Assembly
for the district of Saint-Maurice. Hamel became of one the most effective Liberal floor leader
s.
In order to pressure voters into defeating Hamel, Duplessis refused to authorize the construction of a new bridge between Shawinigan and Shawinigan-Sud. Local Liberals jokingly claimed that they would rather swim than support Duplessis.
Nonetheless, Hamel was slightly re-elected against Shawinigan Mayor Gaston Hardy
in 1956
. He also was a candidate for the leadership of the Liberal Party in 1958, but was defeated by Jean Lesage
.
the Liberals won the provincial election and Lesage became Premier. Shawinigan got a new bridge. Hamel was appointed to the Cabinet
. He was Minister of Municipal Affairs from 1960
to 1961, Minister of Labour
from 1960
to 1963 and Attorney General
from 1963 to 1964.
functions.
He died in Shawinigan in 1982.
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 served as Member of the Canadian Parliament
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...
and as Member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec
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...
.
World War II politics
During World War IIWorld 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...
Hamel joined 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...
, a political party that opposed 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...
. He was the party’s provincial candidate in the district of Saint-Maurice
Saint-Maurice (provincial electoral district)
Saint-Maurice is a provincial electoral district located in the province of Quebec, Canada. Situated in the Mauricie region, the riding was created in 1792...
in 1944
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...
, but lost the election against Marc Trudel
Marc Trudel
Marc Trudel was a politician in Quebec, Canada.He served as Cabinet Member and Member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec.-Early life:...
. The following year
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...
though, he successfully ran in the federal district of Saint-Maurice—Laflèche
Saint-Maurice—Laflèche
Saint-Maurice—Laflèche was a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1935 to 1968....
. After the was, the party quickly dissolved and by 1949 Hamel was sitting as an Independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
MP
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...
. He lost re-election in that same year
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...
.
Fighting Duplessis
Hamel, who opposed PremierPremier 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....
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...
, made a political comeback in 1952
Quebec general election, 1952
The Quebec general election of 1952 was held on July 16, 1952 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 Georges-Émile Lapalme.This was the...
. Benefiting from a strong support among Shawinigan
Shawinigan, Quebec
Shawinigan is a city located on the Saint-Maurice River in the Mauricie area in Quebec, Canada. It has a population of approximately 51,904 people ....
’s labor class population, he was elected Liberal Member of the Legislative Assembly
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
for the district of Saint-Maurice. Hamel became of one the most effective Liberal floor leader
Floor Leader
Floor Leaders are leaders of their political parties in each of the houses of the legislature.- Senate :In the United States Senate, they are elected by their respective party conferences to serve as the chief Senate spokesmen for their parties and to manage and schedule the legislative and...
s.
In order to pressure voters into defeating Hamel, Duplessis refused to authorize the construction of a new bridge between Shawinigan and Shawinigan-Sud. Local Liberals jokingly claimed that they would rather swim than support Duplessis.
Nonetheless, Hamel was slightly re-elected against Shawinigan Mayor Gaston Hardy
Gaston Hardy
Gaston Hardy was a local politician in Shawinigan, Quebec. He was the 13th Mayor of Shawinigan from 1954 to 1957.He was born in 1917 in Portneuf, Quebec and once lived at 1512, rue Saint-Joseph in the Saint-Marc neighborhood....
in 1956
Quebec general election, 1956
The Quebec general election of 1956 was held on June 20, 1956 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec, Canada. The incumbent Union Nationale, led by Maurice Duplessis, won re-election, defeating the Quebec Liberal Party, led by Georges-Émile Lapalme.This was the fifth and final...
. He also was a candidate for the leadership of the Liberal Party in 1958, but was defeated by Jean 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...
.
Member of the Cabinet
In 1960Quebec 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...
the Liberals won the provincial election and Lesage became Premier. Shawinigan got a new bridge. Hamel was appointed to the Cabinet
Executive Council of Quebec
The Executive Council of Quebec is the cabinet of the government of Quebec, Canada....
. He was Minister of Municipal Affairs from 1960
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...
to 1961, Minister of Labour
Workforce
The workforce is the labour pool in employment. It is generally used to describe those working for a single company or industry, but can also apply to a geographic region like a city, country, state, etc. The term generally excludes the employers or management, and implies those involved in...
from 1960
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...
to 1963 and Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
from 1963 to 1964.
After retirement from politics
In 1964, Hamel was appointed Judge and resigned his legislative and executiveExecutive (government)
Executive branch of Government is the part of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the idea of the separation of powers.In many countries, the term...
functions.
He died in Shawinigan in 1982.
See also
- MauricieMauricieMauricie 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...
- Saint-Maurice Legislators
- Saint-Maurice—Champlain Federal Electoral DistrictSaint-Maurice—ChamplainSaint-Maurice—Champlain is a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004.It consists of:* the City of Shawinigan;...
- Saint-Maurice Provincial Electoral DistrictSaint-Maurice (provincial electoral district)Saint-Maurice is a provincial electoral district located in the province of Quebec, Canada. Situated in the Mauricie region, the riding was created in 1792...
- Shawinigan, QuebecShawinigan, QuebecShawinigan is a city located on the Saint-Maurice River in the Mauricie area in Quebec, Canada. It has a population of approximately 51,904 people ....