Jean-Paul Poulin
Encyclopedia
Jean-Paul Poulin was a politician in the Canadian
province of Quebec
. He was active in the Canadian social credit movement
and led the Parti crédit social uni
(PSCU; English: United Social Credit Party) through four general elections at the provincial level.
at the end of the 1970s. In a 1981 interview, he recalled how he convinced farmers to paint their barns with the slogan, "Social Credit is Coming," during the 1960s.
in the 1962 Canadian federal election
. This party split into two factions the following year, when Réal Caouette
formed a separate group called the Ralliement des créditistes
. Poulin ran for Caouette's party in the 1968 federal election
and also ran for the Ralliement national
, a provincial social credit party not endorsed by Caouette, in the 1966 provincial election
.
In 1969, the Ralliement des créditistes formally entered provincial politics by running candidates in four Quebec by-election
s. At around the same time, Poulin established a dissident party called the Parti crédit social uni. Then fifty-one years old, he said that he and his allies did not support the way Caouette was running the party. He also indicated that he supported a "strong Quebec in a united Canada."
Poulin ran against the official Ralliement créditiste du Québec
candidate in Saint-Jacques
in a 1969 by-election. He also ran against an official Créditiste candidate in a 1971 by-election. He was defeated both times, as were all others who ran for his party.
The PSCU seems to have disappeared after this time, and Poulin and his supporters seem to have joined the re-united Social Credit Party of Canada
under Caouette's leadership in 1971 or thereafter. Poulin ran for the re-united party in the 1974 federal election
.
, which was aligned with the federal party, ceased operations in 1978. The PSCU was subsequently re-established, and Poulin again became the party's leader. He stood in three general elections and four by-elections over the next decade, never bringing his party above fringe status.
During the 1981 provincial election
, the Montreal Gazette described CSU as a "hard core" Créditiste group and identified Poulin as a follower of Major C.H. Douglas's economic theories. When interviewed by the paper, Poulin held up a copy of his party's manifesto and said, "This was written in 1966 and I haven't had to change a word." (He was presumably referring to the Raillement national's manifesto from that year's provincial election.)
Poulin was asked for his opinion on abortion
during the 1989 provincial election
. Perhaps unusually, in light of the Social Credit Party's general social conservatism
, he declined to give an opinion and said that the issue should be decided by women alone. In the same election, Poulin said that social credit monetarist policies could not be implemented in Canada at the provincial level; he promised to instead target unemployment if elected. He was seventy-two years old at the time.
The party was officially disestablished in 1994.
There was also a Jean-Paul Poulin who ran as a Liberal candidate in Labelle
in the 1962 provincial election
, but it is not clear if this was the same person.
Federal
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...
province of 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....
. He was active in the Canadian social credit movement
Canadian social credit movement
The Canadian social credit movement was a Canadian political movement originally based on the Social Credit theory of Major C. H. Douglas. Its supporters were colloquially known as Socreds...
and led the Parti crédit social uni
Parti crédit social uni
The Parti crédit social uni was a provincial political party in the Canadian province of Quebec. It existed on two occasions, from 1969 to around 1971 and from 1979 to 1994. The party leader in both periods was Jean-Paul Poulin...
(PSCU; English: United Social Credit Party) through four general elections at the provincial level.
Private career
A travelling salesman for many years, Poulin worked as a night watchman in MontrealMontreal
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...
at the end of the 1970s. In a 1981 interview, he recalled how he convinced farmers to paint their barns with the slogan, "Social Credit is Coming," during the 1960s.
Early political activities
Poulin first ran for the Social Credit Party of CanadaSocial Credit Party of Canada
The Social Credit Party of Canada was a conservative-populist political party in Canada that promoted social credit theories of monetary reform...
in the 1962 Canadian federal election
Canadian federal election, 1962
The Canadian federal election of 1962 was held on June 18, 1962 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 25th Parliament of Canada...
. This party split into two factions the following year, when Réal Caouette
Réal Caouette
David Réal Caouette was a Canadian politician from Quebec. He was a Member of Parliament and leader of the Social Credit Party of Canada and founder of the Ralliement des créditistes...
formed a separate group called the Ralliement des créditistes
Ralliement créditiste
Historically in Quebec, Canada, there was a number of political parties that were part of the Canadian social credit movement. There were various parties at different times with different names at the provincial level, all broadly following the social credit philosophy; at various times they had...
. Poulin ran for Caouette's party in the 1968 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1968
The Canadian federal election of 1968 was held on June 25, 1968, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 28th Parliament of Canada...
and also ran for the Ralliement national
Ralliement national
Ralliement national was a political party that advocated the political independence of Quebec from Canada in the 1960s.It was led by former créditiste Gilles Grégoire...
, a provincial social credit party not endorsed by Caouette, in the 1966 provincial 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....
.
In 1969, the Ralliement des créditistes formally entered provincial politics by running candidates in four Quebec by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
s. At around the same time, Poulin established a dissident party called the Parti crédit social uni. Then fifty-one years old, he said that he and his allies did not support the way Caouette was running the party. He also indicated that he supported a "strong Quebec in a united Canada."
Poulin ran against the official Ralliement créditiste du Québec
Ralliement créditiste du Québec
The Ralliement créditiste du Québec was a provincial political party in Quebec, Canada that operated from 1970 to 1978. It promoted social credit theories of monetary reform, and acted as an outlet for the expression of rural...
candidate in Saint-Jacques
Saint-Jacques (provincial electoral district)
Saint-Jacques was a provincial electoral district located in Quebec, Canada. Situated in the Montreal region, the riding was formed in 1966 from parts of Montreal-Saint-Jacques which was formed in 1915. It was also known as Montreal division 2 district...
in a 1969 by-election. He also ran against an official Créditiste candidate in a 1971 by-election. He was defeated both times, as were all others who ran for his party.
The PSCU seems to have disappeared after this time, and Poulin and his supporters seem to have joined the re-united Social Credit Party of Canada
Social Credit Party of Canada
The Social Credit Party of Canada was a conservative-populist political party in Canada that promoted social credit theories of monetary reform...
under Caouette's leadership in 1971 or thereafter. Poulin ran for the re-united party in the 1974 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1974
The Canadian federal election of 1974 was held on July 8, 1974 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 30th Parliament of Canada. The governing Liberal Party won its first majority government since 1968, and gave Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau his third term...
.
Return of the PSCU
The provincial Ralliement créditiste du QuébecRalliement créditiste du Québec
The Ralliement créditiste du Québec was a provincial political party in Quebec, Canada that operated from 1970 to 1978. It promoted social credit theories of monetary reform, and acted as an outlet for the expression of rural...
, which was aligned with the federal party, ceased operations in 1978. The PSCU was subsequently re-established, and Poulin again became the party's leader. He stood in three general elections and four by-elections over the next decade, never bringing his party above fringe status.
During the 1981 provincial 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 Montreal Gazette described CSU as a "hard core" Créditiste group and identified Poulin as a follower of Major C.H. Douglas's economic theories. When interviewed by the paper, Poulin held up a copy of his party's manifesto and said, "This was written in 1966 and I haven't had to change a word." (He was presumably referring to the Raillement national's manifesto from that year's provincial election.)
Poulin was asked for his opinion on abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
during the 1989 provincial election
Quebec general election, 1989
The Quebec general election of 1989 was held on September 25, 1989, to elect members of the National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada...
. Perhaps unusually, in light of the Social Credit Party's general social conservatism
Social conservatism
Social Conservatism is primarily a political, and usually morally influenced, ideology that focuses on the preservation of what are seen as traditional values. Social conservatism is a form of authoritarianism often associated with the position that the federal government should have a greater role...
, he declined to give an opinion and said that the issue should be decided by women alone. In the same election, Poulin said that social credit monetarist policies could not be implemented in Canada at the provincial level; he promised to instead target unemployment if elected. He was seventy-two years old at the time.
The party was officially disestablished in 1994.
Electoral record
ProvincialThere was also a Jean-Paul Poulin who ran as a Liberal candidate in Labelle
Labelle (provincial electoral district)
Labelle is a provincial electoral district in Quebec, Canada that elects members to the National Assembly of Quebec. The riding was created in 1980 from parts of Laurentides-Labelle and Gatineau. The riding also existed from 1912 to 1973...
in the 1962 provincial election
Quebec general election, 1962
The Quebec general election of 1962 was held on November 14, 1962, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The incumbent Quebec Liberal Party, led by Jean Lesage, won re-election, defeating the Union Nationale led by Daniel Johnson, Sr..In an unusual move,...
, but it is not clear if this was the same person.
Federal