Roch La SallePC (August 6, 1928 – August 20, 2007) was a Canadian politician from the province of Quebec. He represented the riding of Joliette in the House of Commons of Canada for 20 years. A popular figure, he was re-elected six times during his tenure.[1]
Born in St-Paul, La Salle had a career in public relations and sales when he first attempted to win a parliamentary seat as a Progressive Conservative in the 1965 federal election, running in Joliette—L'Assomption—Montcalm. He was defeated, but won on his next attempt in the renamed riding of Joliette in the 1968 election. He was one of only a handful of Quebec Tory members in that Parliament.
La Salle quit the party in 1971 to protest Tory leader Robert Stanfield's rejection of the concept that Canada was composed of "two nations" (deux nations) and that Quebec had the right to self-determination.[2] He was re-elected as an independent candidate in the 1972 election with the support of the separatistParti Québécois.[3] He returned to the Tory caucus in early 1974.[4]
La Salle was the only Quebec Tory MP returned in the 1980 election, only surviving in his own riding by 389 votes. In early 1981, he resigned his seat in order to move to provincial politics and take the leadership of the Union Nationale (UN) political party prior to the 1981 Quebec provincial election.[7] La Salle chose not run in his home town of Joliette because the riding was then represented by an old friend of his, Guy Chevrette, a member of the PQ and Party Whip.[8] Instead, he ran in the neighbouring riding of Berthier. The Union Nationale lost all five of its remaining seats as the PQ won a crushing victory.[9] He then ran in a by-election that was called later that year to fill the vacancy his resignation had created, and won handily.[10]
La Salle died on 20 August 2007 in a hospital in Saint-Charles-Borromée. He was 79 years of age.
Former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney said in a statement that he was saddened to hear of La Salle's death, calling him an example of a politician who was close to the people in his riding.[2]
roch, salle, august, 1928, august, 2007, canadian, politician, from, province, quebec, represented, riding, joliette, house, commons, canada, years, popular, figure, elected, times, during, tenure, honourablepcleader, union, nationalein, office, january, 1981,. Roch La Salle PC August 6 1928 August 20 2007 was a Canadian politician from the province of Quebec He represented the riding of Joliette in the House of Commons of Canada for 20 years A popular figure he was re elected six times during his tenure 1 The HonourableRoch La SallePCLeader of the Union NationaleIn office January 19 1981 June 6 1981Preceded byMichel Le Moignan acting Succeeded byJean Marc BeliveauMinister of State Without Portfolio In office September 17 1984 February 19 1987Prime MinisterBrian MulroneyPreceded byJack Austin 1982 Succeeded byPosition abolishedMinister of Public WorksIn office September 17 1984 June 29 1986Prime MinisterBrian MulroneyPreceded byCharles LapointeSucceeded byStewart McInnesMinister of Supply and ServicesReceiver General for CanadaIn office June 4 1979 March 2 1980Prime MinisterJoe ClarkPreceded byPierre de BaneSucceeded byJean Jacques BlaisMember of Parliamentfor JolietteIn office August 17 1981 November 21 1988Preceded byHimselfSucceeded byGaby LarriveeIn office June 25 1968 March 16 1981Preceded byRiding establishedSucceeded byHimselfPersonal detailsBorn 1928 08 06 August 6 1928Saint Paul Quebec CanadaDiedAugust 20 2007 2007 08 20 aged 79 Saint Charles Borromee Quebec CanadaPolitical partyProgressive Conservative 1965 1971 1974 1988 Independent 1971 1974 Born in St Paul La Salle had a career in public relations and sales when he first attempted to win a parliamentary seat as a Progressive Conservative in the 1965 federal election running in Joliette L Assomption Montcalm He was defeated but won on his next attempt in the renamed riding of Joliette in the 1968 election He was one of only a handful of Quebec Tory members in that Parliament La Salle quit the party in 1971 to protest Tory leader Robert Stanfield s rejection of the concept that Canada was composed of two nations deux nations and that Quebec had the right to self determination 2 He was re elected as an independent candidate in the 1972 election with the support of the separatist Parti Quebecois 3 He returned to the Tory caucus in early 1974 4 Along with Heward Grafftey he was one of only two Tory MPs elected from Quebec in the 1979 election that brought the Conservatives to power under Joe Clark 5 La Salle served as Minister of Supply and Services in the short lived 1979 80 Clark government 6 La Salle was the only Quebec Tory MP returned in the 1980 election only surviving in his own riding by 389 votes In early 1981 he resigned his seat in order to move to provincial politics and take the leadership of the Union Nationale UN political party prior to the 1981 Quebec provincial election 7 La Salle chose not run in his home town of Joliette because the riding was then represented by an old friend of his Guy Chevrette a member of the PQ and Party Whip 8 Instead he ran in the neighbouring riding of Berthier The Union Nationale lost all five of its remaining seats as the PQ won a crushing victory 9 He then ran in a by election that was called later that year to fill the vacancy his resignation had created and won handily 10 When the Tories again formed government after the 1984 election this time under Brian Mulroney La Salle became Minister of Public Works He resigned from Cabinet in 1987 after being charged with accepting a bribe and influence peddling 11 He denied any wrongdoing but did not run in the 1988 election The criminal case against him was eventually dropped La Salle died on 20 August 2007 in a hospital in Saint Charles Borromee He was 79 years of age Former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney said in a statement that he was saddened to hear of La Salle s death calling him an example of a politician who was close to the people in his riding 2 References edit Roch La Salle Parliament of Canada biography a b Former Tory cabinet minister Roch La Salle dies CBC News August 20 2007 1 McKenzie Robert Liberals hold ground but Caouette is big Quebec winner The Toronto Star October 31 1972 p A14 Conservatives get 3rd MP from Quebec The Toronto Star February 26 1974 p A1 Stevens Geoffrey Clark s first task to reassure Quebec The Globe and Mail May 24 1979 p A7 The Clark Cabinet The Globe and Mail June 5 1979 p A9 Gray John Tory caucus loses lone Quebec MP The Globe and Mail January 10 1981 p A01 Gibb Clark Margot Quebec Liberals counting on a heavy turnout The Globe and Mail April 11 1981 p 12 Cleroux Richard Levesque re elected with massive majority The Globe and Mail April 14 1981 p A1 Malarek Victor Tories keep Joliette foothold in Quebec The Globe and Mail August 18 1981 p A1 Fraser Graham Quebec Tory s resignation is latest turn in twisty road The Globe and Mail February 20 1987 p A03 Parliament of Canada Preceded byNone Member of Parliament for Joliette1968 1988 Succeeded byGaby Larrivee PC 24th Ministry Cabinet of Brian Mulroney Cabinet post 1 Predecessor Office Successor Charles Lapointe Liberal Minister of Public Works1984 1986 Stewart McInnes PC 21st Ministry Cabinet of Joe Clark Cabinet post 1 Predecessor Office Successor Pierre De Bane Liberal Minister of Supply and Services1979 1980 Jean Jacques Blais Liberal Party political offices Preceded byMichel Le Moignan interim Leader of the Union Nationale1981 Succeeded byJean Marc Beliveau Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Roch La Salle amp oldid 1204727757, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
