René Chaloult
Encyclopedia
René Chaloult was a nationalist
politician in Quebec
, Canada
.
as a Union Nationale candidate in the 1936 election
in the district of Kamouraska
. In 1937, he and colleagues Oscar Drouin
, Joseph-Ernest Grégoire
, Philippe Hamel
and Adolphe Marcoux
left the Union Nationale. Chaloult joined
the Liberals and won re-election in the 1939 election
as the Member for the district of Lotbinière
.
During World War II
, Chaloult opposed conscription
.
He won re-election as an Independent
in the County of Quebec in the 1944
and 1948 elections
, but was defeated in the 1952 election
and in the district of Jonquière-Kénogami in the 1956 election
.
Chaloult retired to live at his summer home in Kamouraska. Each year on July 1, he would fly the Quebec flag outside hi summer home at half-staff to show his nationalist inclinations.
. On January 21, 1948, the government of Maurice Duplessis
fulfilled the request.
Quebec nationalism
Quebec nationalism is a nationalist movement in the Canadian province of Quebec .-1534–1774:Canada was first a french colony. Jacques Cartier claimed it for France in 1534, and permanent French settlement began in 1608. It was part of New France, which constituted all French colonies in North America...
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...
.
Political career
Chaloult first won a seat to the Legislative Assembly of QuebecLegislative 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...
as a Union Nationale candidate in the 1936 election
Quebec general election, 1936
The Quebec general election of 1936 was held on August 17, 1936 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The Union Nationale, led by Maurice Duplessis, defeated the incumbent Quebec Liberal Party, led by Adélard Godbout.This marked the end of slightly more...
in the district of Kamouraska
Kamouraska (provincial electoral district)
Kamouraska was a provincial electoral district in the province of Quebec, Canada. Situated in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region in Eastern Quebec, it was formed in 1867 and was merged in 1973 with Témiscouata to form Kamouraska-Témiscouata...
. In 1937, he and colleagues Oscar Drouin
Oscar Drouin
Oscar Drouin was a politician in Quebec, Canada.-Member of the legislature:Drouin won a by-election in 1928 and became the Liberal Member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec for the district of Québec-Est...
, Joseph-Ernest Grégoire
Joseph-Ernest Grégoire
Joseph-Ernest Grégoire was a French Canadian politician.-Background:He was born in Disraeli, Quebec on July 31, 1886. He was an attorney and a professor. He also was the father of Gilles Grégoire, a co-founder of the Parti Québécois....
, Philippe Hamel
Philippe Hamel
Philippe Hamel was a nationalist and progressive politician in Quebec, Canada.-Member of the legislature:Hamel entered politics to achieve the nationalization of all privately-owned electric companies...
and Adolphe Marcoux
Adolphe Marcoux
Adolphe Marcoux was a physician and a nationalist politician in Quebec, Canada.Marcoux won a seat to the Legislative Assembly of Quebec as a Union Nationale candidate in the 1936 election in the district of Quebec County...
left the Union Nationale. Chaloult joined
Crossing the floor
In politics, crossing the floor has two meanings referring to a change of allegiance in a Westminster system parliament.The term originates from the British House of Commons, which is configured with the Government and Opposition facing each other on rows of benches...
the Liberals and won re-election in the 1939 election
Quebec general election, 1939
The Quebec general election of 1939 was held on October 25, 1939 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada...
as the Member for the district of Lotbinière
Lotbinière (provincial electoral district)
Lotbinière is a provincial electoral district in the province of Quebec, Canada. Situated in the Chaudière-Appalaches region, the riding was created in 1829...
.
During World War II
World 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...
, Chaloult opposed conscription
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....
.
He won re-election 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...
in the County of Quebec in the 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...
and 1948 elections
Quebec 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 ...
, but was defeated in the 1952 election
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...
and in the district of Jonquière-Kénogami in the 1956 election
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...
.
Chaloult retired to live at his summer home in Kamouraska. Each year on July 1, he would fly the Quebec flag outside hi summer home at half-staff to show his nationalist inclinations.
Legacy
For many years, Chaloult urged Quebec to adopt a distinctive design for its flagFlag of Quebec
The flag of Quebec, called the Fleurdelisé, was adopted for the province by the government of Quebec, during the administration of Maurice Duplessis. It was the first provincial flag officially adopted in Canada, first shown on January 21, 1948, at the Parliament Building of the National Assembly...
. On January 21, 1948, the government of 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...
fulfilled the request.