Thomas Vien
Encyclopedia
Thomas Vien, PC
, QC
(19 July 1881 – November 18, 1972) was a Canadian
politician.
Born in Lauzon, Quebec
on 19 July 1881. He studied at the Royal Military College of Canada
in Kingston, Ontario
, then studied law at the Collège de Lévis. After, he studided law at the Université Laval
. He was called to the Quebec Bar in 1905. He practiced with several law firms before becoming senior partner of Vien, Paré, Gould and Vien, of Montreal, Quebec.
He was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons
for the Quebec riding of Lotbinière
as a Laurier Liberal in the 1917 federal election
. He was re-elected in 1921
but did not run in 1925
. From 1922-1923, he served as Chairman of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee. From 1924-1925, he was chairman of the Banking and Commerce Committee. From 1925 to 1931, he was the Deputy Chief Commissioner of the Board of Railway Commissioners for Canada.
After returning to his legal practice, he was elected in 1935 federal election
for the riding of Outremont
. From 1936-1940, he served as chairman of the Standing Committee on Railways, Canals and Telegraph Lines.
He was re-elected in 1940
. From 1940 to 1942, he was the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees of the Whole of the House of Commons. In 1942, he was called to the Canadian Senate
representing the senatorial division of De Lorimier, Quebec. From 1943 to 1945, he was the Speaker of the Canadian Senate
. At the age of 87, in 1968, he resigned his Senate seat. He died four years later in Montreal.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(19 July 1881 – November 18, 1972) was a Canadian
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.
Born in Lauzon, Quebec
Lauzon, Quebec
Lauzon is a former city in southern Quebec, Canada, located on the St. Lawrence River northeast of Lévis. Founded in 1910, Lauzon had a population of about 14,500 when it merged with Lévis in 1989...
on 19 July 1881. He studied at the Royal Military College of Canada
Royal Military College of Canada
The Royal Military College of Canada, RMC, or RMCC , is the military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting university. RMC was established in 1876. RMC is the only federal institution in Canada with degree granting powers...
in Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
, then studied law at the Collège de Lévis. After, he studided law at the Université Laval
Université Laval
Laval University is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French...
. He was called to the Quebec Bar in 1905. He practiced with several law firms before becoming senior partner of Vien, Paré, Gould and Vien, of Montreal, Quebec.
He was first 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 Quebec riding of Lotbinière
Lotbinière (electoral district)
Lotbinière was a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 2004.It was created by the British North America Act of 1867...
as a Laurier Liberal in the 1917 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1917
The 1917 Canadian federal election was held on December 17, 1917, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 13th Parliament of Canada. Described by historian Michael Bliss as the "most bitter election in Canadian history", it was fought mainly over the issue of conscription...
. He was re-elected in 1921
Canadian federal election, 1921
The Canadian federal election of 1921 was held on December 6, 1921 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 14th Parliament of Canada. The Union government that had governed Canada through the First World War was defeated, and replaced by a Liberal government under the young leader...
but did not run in 1925
Canadian federal election, 1925
The Canadian federal election of 1925 was held on October 29 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 15th Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King's Liberal Party formed a minority government. This precipitated the "King-Byng Affair".The Liberals under...
. From 1922-1923, he served as Chairman of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee. From 1924-1925, he was chairman of the Banking and Commerce Committee. From 1925 to 1931, he was the Deputy Chief Commissioner of the Board of Railway Commissioners for Canada.
After returning to his legal practice, he was elected in 1935 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1935
The Canadian federal election of 1935 was held on October 14, 1935 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 18th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal Party of William Lyon Mackenzie King won a majority government, defeating Prime Minister R.B. Bennett's Conservative Party.The central...
for the riding of Outremont
Outremont (electoral district)
Outremont is a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1935 to 1949, and since 1968...
. From 1936-1940, he served as chairman of the Standing Committee on Railways, Canals and Telegraph Lines.
He was re-elected in 1940
Canadian federal election, 1940
The Canadian federal election of 1940 was the 19th general election in Canadian history. It was held March 26, 1940 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 19th Parliament of Canada...
. From 1940 to 1942, he was the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees of the Whole of the House of Commons. In 1942, he was called to the Canadian Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
representing the senatorial division of De Lorimier, Quebec. From 1943 to 1945, he was the Speaker of the Canadian Senate
Speaker of the Canadian Senate
The Speaker of the Senate of Canada is the presiding officer of the Senate of Canada. The speaker represents the Senate at official functions, rules on questions of parliamentary procedure and parliamentary privilege, and oversee debates and voting in the red chamber. This position is often...
. At the age of 87, in 1968, he resigned his Senate seat. He died four years later in Montreal.