Gaspard Fauteux facts for kids

Gaspard Fauteux (born August 27, 1898 – died March 29, 1963) was an important Canadian politician. He served as the Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada, which is like the referee for Canada's main Parliament. He was also the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, representing the King or Queen in the province.

Early Life and Family Connections

Gaspard Fauteux was born in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, a city in Quebec. He came from a family deeply involved in politics. His grandfather, Honoré Mercier, and his uncle, Lomer Gouin, both served as Premiers of Quebec. The Premier is the leader of the provincial government.

His grandmother's second husband, Joseph Godbout, was also a politician. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) and later a Senator for the Liberal Party. Gaspard's brother, Gérald Fauteux, became a judge.

In 1923, Gaspard Fauteux married Marguerite Barré. Her father, Raoul Barré, was a Canadian artist and animator. Gaspard and Marguerite had four children: Roger, Paul, Marie (Mimi), and Gaspard Jr.

Starting a Political Career

Gaspard Fauteux first worked as a dentist and then as a businessman. He decided to enter politics at the provincial level in Quebec. He ran for the Quebec legislature as a member of the Quebec Liberal Party.

In his first election, he won a seat for the area of Montréal–Sainte-Marie. He even defeated Camillien Houde, who was the leader of the Quebec Conservative Party and the Mayor of Montreal at the time. However, Fauteux lost his seat in the 1935 election and went back to his business work.

Serving in the Canadian Parliament

Fauteux later decided to run for federal politics. He was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada in 1942. This happened during a special election called a by-election, for the Quebec area of St. Mary.

He was re-elected in the 1945 federal election, once again defeating Camillien Houde. He won his seat again in the 1949 election. While in Parliament, Fauteux spoke out against conscription, which is when people are forced to join the military. He also attended a United Nations conference after World War II that focused on helping people recover from the war.

Role as Speaker of the House

After the 1945 election, Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King chose Fauteux to become the Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada. The Speaker is a very important role in Parliament. They are in charge of leading meetings and making sure that the rules of debate are followed. They also help keep order among all the Members of Parliament.

Even though he didn't have a law degree or a lot of experience in the House, he took on this big job. Sometimes, his lack of experience made it difficult for him to manage the debates. He was known for making decisions quickly, even before all the Members of Parliament had finished presenting their arguments. He also enjoyed the social parts of being Speaker, like hosting events and traveling often.

Becoming Lieutenant Governor

After the 1949 election, Fauteux returned to being a regular Member of Parliament. In 1950, he was appointed as the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec. This position means he represented the King or Queen in the province of Quebec. He was chosen for this role by Governor General Harold Alexander, Earl Alexander of Tunis, based on the advice of Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent.

Gaspard Fauteux served as Lieutenant Governor until 1958. He passed away in 1963 and was buried at the Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery in Montreal.