Michel Chartrand

Michel Chartrand (December 20th 1916 with Outremont, Quebec -) is a trade unionist and Politician Québécois. Its life is closely related to various social causes which shook Quebec since the Années 1940.

Education and training

Michel Chartrand was born in Outremont, today a district of Montreal. He studies with the Collège Jean-with-Brébeuf and the college Holy-Therese. However, without feeling there at ease. In 1933, he becomes monk of chorus to the Trappe of Oka, a monastery Cistercien. The obligation of silence weighs to him, and it leaves it in 1935. It makes countryside for the national liberal Action (ALN) at the time of the Québécois general election of 1939. In 1940 it follows a course of history given by Lionel Groulx, a catholic priest and nationalist Quebecer. Following the declaration of the Second world war, it joint seems Canadian ROTC. This Canadian training program made it possible to the university students to obtain appropriations of military service, while continuing their studies and without having the obligation to take part in active service on the face. Chartrand complains that the documents of the Canadian armed are only compiled in English, it then leaves this program to turn over to Oka in the Trappists.

Conscription

Following the decision of the Canadian government to make a plebiscite on the obligatory conscription, Michel Chartrand becomes an enthusiastic opponent and militates about it with the Canadian popular Bloc, a movement which is opposed to the conscription.

In 1942 he marries Simone Monet, with the Basilique Notre-Dame of Montreal, the marriage is celebrated by Lionel Groulx. Quuand the Canadian government sets up the conscription, in November 1944, Michel Chartrand has already three children.

Trade unionism and political commitment

In 1948 it has its fifth child, and the following year it leaves for the area of Asbestos to take part in the strike of the asbestos of the local minors. This event falls under the period of the history of Quebec which one named great blackness the . This period marks a beginning of the unionization with Quebec to counter the policies authoritative, preserving, highly employers' as well as the repression practiced by the mode of the National union of Maurice Duplessis, then with the capacity.

In 1950 it becomes active within the Confédération of the catholic workers of Canada, which will become CSN in 1960. Implied in some trade-union operations in 1953 he becomes member of the executive of the CTCC. One it congédie after an internal conflict. It appeals and a court, chaired by Pierre Trudeau returns a verdict in its favor and confirms it in its functions with the executive.

In 1954 Michel Chartrand presents his candidature for the station of secretary-general of the CTCC, it will be demolishes by Jean Marchand In 1956 it joint with the CCF, which will become later the Nouveau democratic party, a federal social democrat party, whose Québécois chief is Therese Casgrain. He is delegated of Quebec at the time of the congress of the party to Winnipeg, Manitoba. Following this convention, a Québécois branch of the party is organized under the name of democratic social Parti of Quebec. Chartrand carried the standard of this party at the time of the elections of 1956 to Quebec.

Chartrand undergoes one cooking failure, a first impression of its some incursions into the political arena. Its trade-union work placed it at the head poster of several important interventions, at the time of highly mediatized strikes. One saw it at this time with the cheffery of the party, it became it between 1957 and 1960.

Chartrand tried to be made elect with Arvida, with the Lake-Saint-Jean, under the banner of the CCF at the time of the the election federal of 1958. In spite of a trade-union base which is acquired to him, it loses by a substantial margin.

In 1959 he still solicits the electorate at the time of a by-election, in the county of Lac St-Jean, where he is once again rejected by a strong majority. Its frustration becomes increasingly obvious via its remarks extremists. In 1959 the trade union forces it to withdraw executive committee of this one. One then engages it with the printing works of the CCF, it takes part however as deputy in the congress of Winnipeg. In 1970, whereas it is at the top of its career, it would have been the subject of gangster threats. In 1998, he is candidate of the Rassemblement for the alternative progressist the RAP, ancestor of interdependent UFP then of Quebec, with the provincial election in the same county as the Prime Minister for Quebec of then, Lucien Bouchard. “Deficit zero” of this last, Mr. Chartrand answers: “poverty zero! ”

Peace and socialism

In 1960 the Confederation of the catholic workers of Canada, becomes the Confédération of the national unions the CSN. Chartrand takes part in many demonstrations organized by the movement for peace, as well as demonstrations against the nuclear power. He is an admiror of the revolution Communiste with Cuba, and of his instigator Fidel Castro. Besides he accompanies a group for a one month visit in Cuba in 1963. On its return he speaks about Cuba like paradise and that this State should be an example for Quebec in becoming. Chartrand takes part in the foundation of the democratic social Parti Quebec. It also supports the movements for the sovereignty of Quebec and the Rassemblement for national independence (RIN). The communist ideals of Chartrand led it to bring its support to the Viet Cong at the time of the Guerre of Vietnam.

From 1968 to 1978, it occupies the position of president of the central Council of the national unions of Montreal (associates to the CSN). During these years, various judicial bodies had determined that certain trade unions had dependant part with the Mafia Montreal ease. Chartrand was opposed actively to these agreements. Its life was then threatened by a hired killer in 1970 .

In February 1983, it founds, with forty people, the Fondation for the assistance with the workers and the broken workers (FATA). Thereafter, it furrows Quebec to speak about social justice, just like of the reserved treatment to the victims of work.

Radicalism

In 1968, Chartrand is elected with the presidency of the Confédération of the national unions, a station which it preserves until 1978. Towards the end of the Years 1960, as a member of the Movement souverainist of Quebec, it supports the Front of Release of Quebec (FLQ), while declaring: “We will gain because there is more guy loans to shoot at the members of the Parliament, that there are police officers” .

In 1970, the Crise of October bursts, and Chartrand is stopped under the terms of the Loi of measurements of war. It is released four months later. A journalist asks him then if it has sympathy to the family of the British diplomat James Richard Cross removed by the FLQ. He answers that he does not have more sympathy to her than for the thousands of wives of Québécois workers without employment. Even after the murder of the minister Pierre Laporte, it keeps its convictions. October 15th, 1975, five years after the crisis of October, the members of the FLQ and of Face of popular gathering of action meet in the center Paul Sauvé with Montreal, where Michel Chartrand is invited to meet them.

Simone and Chartrand

He is the husband of militant the Simonne Monet which died in 1993 and the father of the scenario writer Alain Chartrand. During the Years 1990, its life is the subject of a biography and documentary fictionalized diffused initially in 2000 then taken again in 2003 on the waves of TV-Quebec, Simonne and Chartrand , realized by his/her son Alain Chartrand.

Quotations

One will fight with all the protestors, the revolutionists, and the protesters. .

It is and will remain the symbol of people which forever agreed to close its mouth… .

While addressing itself to a police officer who had it in his test card of rifle: ““Shaker” I Stops will miss you, grates.”

Bibliography and Videotex

Simonne and Chartrand . Realized by his/her son Alain Chartrand, Television serial which depicts the strong moments of its life and those of its wife.
Fernand Foisy, the Anger of the Juste , Lanctôt-Editor. biography extending over the period 1968-2003.
Fernand Foisy, Ways of a man of word , Lanctôt-Editor. biography extending over the period from 1916-1967.
Fernand Foisy, Dires of a man of word , Lanctôt-Editor.
Fernand Foisy, Crowned Chartrand! , Lanctôt-Editor.

See too

The Strike of asbestos

External bonds

an interview with Paul Arcand (Video-1)
an interview with Paul Arcand (Video-2)
Article of the “Duty” Biography '' the anger of the Juste ''.
Article “the Press” November 16th, 2003 Biography '' the anger of the Juste ''.
Article “Club-Culture” '' ways of a man of word ''
FATA
Official site

Random links: