Parti du socialisme chrétien
Encyclopedia
The Parti du socialisme chrétien (PSC) (known in English as the Christian Socialist Party) was a fringe political party in the Canadian
province of Quebec
. It fielded 103 candidates in the 1985 Quebec general election
.
Despite its name, the PSC had no connection with Canada's social democratic political tradition. It was established by Jacques Paquette, a former heroin addict who operated drug treatment centers throughout Quebec in the 1980s. The party was primarily focused on drug issues, supporting the legalization of cannabis
and the death penalty for traffickers in hard drugs.
On one occasion, Paquette said that he would establish a leftist dictatorship in a "free Quebec" to remove heroin dealers from the province. He also promoted the use of handgun
s by citizen vigilantes to fight organized crime
.
Paquette ran in the 1985 election in Hull
under the name "Jacob Easter," which was a intended as a humorous translation of his real name. He placed last in a field of six candidates.
Paquette was killed in a car crash near Riviere-du-Loup
, Quebec, on August 28, 1986. The party appears to have become inactive after his death.
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....
. It fielded 103 candidates in the 1985 Quebec general 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...
.
Despite its name, the PSC had no connection with Canada's social democratic political tradition. It was established by Jacques Paquette, a former heroin addict who operated drug treatment centers throughout Quebec in the 1980s. The party was primarily focused on drug issues, supporting the legalization of cannabis
Cannabis (drug)
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...
and the death penalty for traffickers in hard drugs.
On one occasion, Paquette said that he would establish a leftist dictatorship in a "free Quebec" to remove heroin dealers from the province. He also promoted the use of handgun
Handgun
A handgun is a firearm designed to be held and operated by one hand. This characteristic differentiates handguns as a general class of firearms from long guns such as rifles and shotguns ....
s by citizen vigilantes to fight organized crime
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
.
Paquette ran in the 1985 election in Hull
Hull (provincial electoral district)
Hull is provincial electoral riding located in the province of Quebec, Canada. Located in the Outaouais region, the district includes the entire Hull sector of the city of Gatineau. It was created in 1919 and was previously part of the riding of Ottawa from 1887 to 1919 and Ottawa from 1867 to 1887...
under the name "Jacob Easter," which was a intended as a humorous translation of his real name. He placed last in a field of six candidates.
Paquette was killed in a car crash near Riviere-du-Loup
Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec
Rivière-du-Loup is a small city on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River in Quebec. The city is the seat for the Rivière-du-Loup Regional County Municipality and the judicial district of Kamouraska.-History:...
, Quebec, on August 28, 1986. The party appears to have become inactive after his death.