Philippe Hamel

Philippe Hamel
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec for Québec-Centre
In office 1935–1939
Preceded by	Joseph-Octave Samson
Succeeded by	Joseph-William Morin
Personal details
Born	October 12, 1884 Quebec City, Quebec
Died	January 22, 1954 (aged 69) Quebec City, Quebec
Political party	Action libérale nationale Union Nationale

Philippe Hamel (October 12, 1884 – January 22, 1954) was a nationalist and progressive politician in Quebec, Canada.^[1]

Background

He was born on October 12, 1884, in Quebec City.

Member of the legislature

Hamel entered politics to achieve the nationalization of all privately owned electric companies. He first won a seat to the Legislative Assembly of Quebec as an Action libérale nationale candidate in the 1935 election in the district of Québec-Centre.

When his party merged with the Conservative Party of Quebec to form the Union Nationale, Hamel became one of Maurice Duplessis's most important campaign leaders. He was returned to office in the 1936 election and the Union Nationale won the election.

Excluded from the Cabinet

After he secured his job as Premier, Duplessis kept many of the more progressive and independent-minded members of his party on the backbench. Therefore Hamel was offered no portfolio. By 1937, he and colleagues René Chaloult, Oscar Drouin, Joseph-Ernest Grégoire and Adolphe Marcoux had left the Union Nationale.^[2] Hamel did not run for re-election in the 1939 election.

Death

He died on January 22, 1954.

Legacy

Hamel's main objective did not take place while he was in office. However, the government of Adélard Godbout bought the Montreal Light Heat & Power Co., which became Hydro-Québec, in 1944. Furthermore, nearly all privately owned electric corporations were nationalized and merged to Hydro-Québec in 1962-63, under the premiership of Jean Lesage.

References

1. "Biography". Dictionnaire des parlementaires du Québec de 1792 à nos jours (in French). National Assembly of Quebec.
2. Chronologie parlementaire depuis 1791 (1937-1939)