Philippe Hamel

Private career

Hamel was born in the Notre-Dame parish from Quebec in 1884. He is the son of Auguste Hamel, doctor and professor with the Université Laval, and of Sophie Vallières.

He makes his studies in turn with the seminar of Quebec, at the medical college of the Laval university, the faculty of dental surgery of the same university like at the university of Pennsylvania to Philadelphia. He obtains his diploma in 1907 then follows his occupation with Quebec. Of 1930 with 1954, he is also qualified schoolteacher at the medical college of the Université Laval.

It is named governor of the College of the dental surgeons of Quebec of 1924 with 1934. It chairs the Canadian dental Association of 1932 1934.

Excel trumpet player, he was member of the symphonic Company of Quebec (current Symphony orchestra of Quebec) during the Twenties and Thirties and in particular was member of the committee of control (board of directors) of the symphonic Company. He inter alia took part in the inaugural concert of the Montcalm Palate on October 21st, 1932.

Political career

In 1930, Philippe Hamel is named member of a municipal committee charged to inquire into the complaints against the prohibitory tariffs of the Quebec Power , a private company, subsidiary of the Shawinigan Water and Power , which serves the town of Quebec. It thus begins, without the knowledge, an antitrust crusade against the companies of electricity which will last of the years.

The Quebec Power refuses to cooperate with the investigation but external testimonys are enough to provide a report/ratio accusing it to the most point. Hamel learns inter alia the NELA, the organization of propaganda of the Shawinigan Water and Power , advise its members on the way of throwing discredit upon the political office by corrupting it, like on the means of dissimulating the scandalous profits while giving an indication of social concern honourable in the population.

Following the overpowering ratio of the municipal committee, the Quebec Power decreases its tariffs somewhat but Hamel requires tariffs as low as those founded in Ontario by the Hydro-Ontario, the public company which manages the hydro-electricity of this province.

In 1931, the doctor of Quebec begins a campaign against the Prime Minister for Quebec, Louis-Alexandre Taschereau, showing it to support what it calls " trusts of electricity " and to be handled by them. In 1932, it publishes " the trust of the electricity-Source of corruption and domination " in which it widens the file of the Quebec Power with that of all the hydro-electric industry of the province.

In 1934, the mayor of Quebec, Henri-Edgar Lavigueur, request with Taschereau to make adopt a law giving to the town of Quebec the capacity of municipaliser the Quebec Power . Hamel does not support this project because, according to him, the cities do not have the means of buying the private companies nor to manage them effectively. He rather proposes the nationalization of all the private companies by the government of Quebec.

The national liberal Action

Liberal personalities, like Paul Gouin and Oscar Drouin, require of Taschereau to do something in this file if not they threaten to rebel. In 1934, they leave the party and found, with the new mayor of Quebec, Ernest Gregoire, the national liberal Action. One of the principal articles of its program is the nationalization of the hydro-electric companies. Philippe Hamel agrees with enthusiasm to join them.

In 1935, it takes part in the negociations having to link the nouvau party with the preserving old party of Maurice Duplessis. It approves fusion because Duplessis promised to nationalize electricity if it seized the power. With the elections of 1935, Philippe Hamel is elected in the county of Quebec-center. The liberals keep the capacity but with a very decreased majority.

In 1936, the scandals oblige Taschereau to resign, and its successor, Adélard Godbout, starts new elections. This time, the National union - the new party born of the fusion of the Conservative party and the national liberal Action - seizes the power.

Disillusion and resignation

Philippe Hamel hopes to obtain a ministry but request as a preliminary with Duplessis the immediate nationalization of the Beauharnois Power Company , one of the smallest hydro-electric companies of the province. The new Prime Minister refuses, fascinating for pretext of the complications interprovinciales, federal and even international. He offers all the same to him the position of president of the Chambre. Depity, Hamel refuse, guarantor whom he was not elected " for pavaner in Room with a dress and a bonnet but to fight against the enemies of the people ".

Hamel understands that it was made roll and sits from now on like independent deputy. In 1937, it founds the national Party with ten dissidents of the National union, but this party dissolves little before the elections of 1939, for lack of funds. With the elections of 1939, he refuses to follow Godbout and gives up the policy.

Its last years

Consequently, it takes again its career of doctor full-time, while sometimes delivering its opinions on the subjects which interest it. During years, it publishes the trust of electricity, threatens for the social security (1936), the Stock Exchange and its ruins (1937), the drain of the St. Lawrence (1940), walk towards socialism (1942) and the abuses capitalism (1945).

In 1942, it adopts an attitude moderated at the time of the plebiscite on the conscription.

In April 1944, Adélard Godbout announces the nationalization of the Montreal Light Heat AD Power and the creation of Hydro-Quebec. Hamel criticizes the way of proceeding. It is caught some especially with the amount refunded with the company ($11 million) which it finds enormous owing to the fact that it is, according to him, delivered to true acts of armed robberies towards the population during the Grande Crisis. For him, the nationalization of this only company is obviously insufficient.

Philippe Hamel dies in Quebec the January 22nd 1954, eight years before the complete nationalization of the hydro-electric companies by the Prime Minister Jean Lesage and his minister Rene Lévesque. He is buried with the Cimetière Our-Lady-with-Belmont, with Holy-Foy.

Sources

Vigod, Bernard. Taschereau . North. 1996.
Black, Conrad. Duplessis . Editions of the Man. 1977.

External bond

Biographical note of the site of the National Assembly of Quebec

Random links: