John Ciaccia facts for kids
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John Ciaccia
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circa 1985
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| Member of the National Assembly of Quebec for Mont-Royal | |
| In office October 29, 1973 – November 30, 1998 |
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| Preceded by | Riding Established |
| Succeeded by | André Tranchemontagne |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Giambattista Nicola Ciaccia
March 4, 1933 Jelsi, Molise, Italy |
| Died | August 7, 2018 (aged 85) Beaconsfield, Quebec, Canada |
| Political party | Quebec Liberal Party |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Portfolio | Energy and Natural Resources, International Affairs, Native Affairs, Immigration and Cultural Communities |
John Ciaccia (March 4, 1933 – August 7, 2018) was a Canadian politician born in Italy. He was a provincial cabinet minister from Montreal, Quebec. Ciaccia was a member of the National Assembly of Quebec from 1973 to 1998. He represented the Mount Royal area for the Quebec Liberal Party.
He held many important jobs in the governments of premiers Robert Bourassa and Daniel Johnson Jr.. These roles included minister of Energy and Natural Resources, International Affairs, Native Affairs, and Immigration and Cultural Communities. When he left politics, Ciaccia was the longest-serving member of the Assembly. He became famous for helping to end the Oka Crisis in 1990. Former Quebec Premier Jean Charest said Ciaccia "revolutionized relations with the native people and cultural communities of Quebec by always favouring an approach marked by respect."
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John Ciaccia's Early Life
John Ciaccia was born as Giambattista Nicola Ciaccia in Jelsi, Italy, on March 4, 1933. He moved to Canada in 1937 with his mother and older sister. They joined their father, who had come to Montreal in 1935.
Ciaccia remembered how hard it was to grow up in a new country. Some people saw him as an outsider. This feeling grew during World War II, when his home country, Italy, fought against Canada. Ciaccia quickly learned to speak both English and French very well. He read many books and encyclopedias in both languages as a child. He said his mother helped him a lot with his studies.
Ciaccia went to D'Arcy McGee High School. He earned his first university degree from McGill University in 1953. Then, he studied law at McGill. He became a lawyer in Quebec in 1957. He started working for a law firm in Montreal.
In 1959, Ciaccia began working for the grocery chain Steinberg's. He later became the director of real estate for the company. During the 1960s, he continued to practice law.
While working as a lawyer, he also advised the Canadian government on Indian Affairs. In 1971, he was offered a job as assistant deputy minister of Indian Affairs. He decided to take the job because he wanted to help people who had been treated unfairly.
Ciaccia's Work in Public Service
As assistant deputy minister, Ciaccia helped with projects on Native lands. He worked to solve problems about land rights. He often met with Aboriginal community members, elders, and chiefs across Canada.
Ciaccia started a program called the native youth liaison program. This program hired Native people to help organize youth programs across Canada. This program caused some debate. Some Native groups thought it was an attempt to take power from their chiefs. Government workers also worried about the new program. Ciaccia spoke out against both sides. He said some Native politicians were "power-hungry." He also criticized those in the Indian Affairs department who "hate Indians." These comments caused a small stir, but his minister, Jean Chrétien, defended him.
In 1972, Ciaccia helped start the Indian Way School in the Kahnawake Mohawk reserve. This school was created because Native people worried their children were losing their culture at other schools. Just before Ciaccia left his government job to run for election, The Globe and Mail newspaper praised him. They said he helped give more power to Native people themselves.
Entering Quebec Politics (1973-1976)
Becoming an MNA
On September 25, 1973, Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa called an election for October 29. Bourassa asked Ciaccia to run in the new area of Mont-Royal. This area in Montreal had many different cultures and was known to support the Liberal Party. Ciaccia agreed and left his federal job. He was easily elected, winning 83% of the votes. He would represent this area for the next 25 years.
Negotiating the James Bay Agreement
In the 1960s, Quebec started to develop hydroelectricity in its northern areas. These areas were home to Cree and Inuit Native groups. In 1971, the government created the James Bay Development Corporation. Their goal was to develop resources like mining and forestry, starting with the James Bay Hydroelectric Project.
The Native Cree and Inuit people strongly opposed this project. In early 1973, Premier Bourassa said the project was "the key to economic and social progress in Quebec." He promised to continue the project if his party was re-elected.
After the Liberals won the election, many expected Ciaccia to get a job in the government. Instead, on November 20, 1973, he was chosen as the premier's personal representative. His job was to negotiate with the Native groups affected by the James Bay project. Ciaccia was known as a "specialist on native peoples." He had to make a deal between Quebec and the Natives. The project was urgent because a court had temporarily stopped it. This was costing the government about $500,000 a day.
Ciaccia worked to find common ground. On December 21, 1973, the provincial government's position became stronger. The Supreme Court ruled against the court order that had stopped the project. To end legal challenges, Ciaccia first offered the affected Native communities $100 million. He also offered more hunting and fishing rights.
In February 1974, Cree and Inuit leaders refused the offer. They said they wanted land and recognition of their rights across Quebec, not just money. Ciaccia suggested that Native leaders were overstating their people's opposition. He offered to travel North to see for himself. In April 1974, Ciaccia visited the Cree Mistassini reservation. He spent hours answering questions from hundreds of residents.
Negotiations continued through 1974. A basic agreement was reached in November. It took another 12 months to finalize the details. On November 12, 1975, Cree and Inuit leaders signed the important treaty. It gave them 60,000 square miles of land rights and $225 million over 20 years. This agreement set a new standard for similar land disputes in other provinces. A lawyer for the Native groups, James O'Reilly, praised Ciaccia for his calm approach during the talks.
Opposing Bill 22
In early 1974, the Bourassa Liberals planned a law to limit non-English speaking parents from sending their children to English schools. This became part of a bigger plan to make French the official language of Quebec: Bill 22. Many English-speaking people and immigrants opposed this law. They felt it made non-French speakers second-class citizens.
Ciaccia, one of nine English-speaking Liberal MNAs, opposed the Bill. He said it was unfair. By March 1974, Ciaccia and four other English-speaking MNAs said they would vote against the Bill. In the end, Ciaccia and George Springate were the only Liberal MNAs to vote against it in July 1974. Premier Bourassa suspended both Springate and Ciaccia from party meetings for voting against the government. However, Ciaccia continued his job as chief negotiator for the James Bay project. Bourassa later welcomed them back into the party after less than two months.
In Opposition (1976-1985)
On October 20, 1976, Premier Robert Bourassa called an election. The Liberals were expected to win, but they lost to the Parti Québécois. John Ciaccia was one of 26 Liberals who kept their seats. For the next nine years, while the Parti Québécois was in power, Ciaccia was a strong voice for Canada staying united and for Quebec's non-French speakers. He held various roles in the opposition, speaking on topics like native affairs, transport, housing, and business.
Ciaccia strongly opposed the Parti Québécois' 1977 law, the Charter of the French Language (Bill 101). He said it "restricts our liberties" and would lead to the "phasing out of the English [community in Quebec]."
During the 1977-1978 Liberal leadership race, Ciaccia supported Claude Ryan. Ciaccia was seen as a key spokesperson for Quebec's diverse cultural groups. Ryan went on to become the Liberal leader.
During the 1980 referendum on Quebec's independence, Ciaccia worked for the "No" campaign. He often spoke at rallies in Montreal. He worried that voters in areas with many immigrants (who mostly opposed leaving Canada) were being left off the voting lists. The "No" campaign won the referendum.
In the 1981 election, the Parti Québécois won again. Ciaccia easily kept his Mont-Royal seat. Ciaccia thought about running for Liberal leader in 1983 but decided not to. Some suggested he should run so that non-French speakers could feel they could lead the party. However, Ciaccia worried his supporters might feel left out if he ran. Former Premier Robert Bourassa eventually became the party leader again.
Cabinet Minister (1985-1994)
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
In the 1985 election, Ciaccia won his seat again. Robert Bourassa's Liberals won a large majority. Ciaccia was given a job in the Liberal government as Minister of Energy and Natural Resources on December 12. In this role, Ciaccia oversaw forestry, mining, and Native affairs.
As energy minister, Ciaccia wanted Quebecers to pay fair prices for fuel. He found that people in Quebec were paying too much for gasoline. He tried to stop an oil refinery in Montreal from closing, but it was dismantled. This led to higher gas prices.
Ciaccia became frustrated with oil companies raising prices. In November 1986, Ultramar raised gas prices, and other companies followed. Ciaccia accused Ultramar of "taking advantage of Quebeckers." He found that oil companies were keeping tax cuts meant for consumers.
In June 1987, Ciaccia set a temporary limit on gasoline prices. He then helped create Bill 93, which became law in November 1987. This law created an agency to watch gas prices and allowed the government to set prices if needed.
Ciaccia also tried to help Quebec's struggling pulp and paper industry. He helped open a paper mill in Port-Cartier and build a new one in Matane. These projects created many jobs.
Language Debates: Bill 178
In 1988, some English-speaking people felt the Liberal government was not listening to them. Ciaccia, one of four English-speaking ministers, said the party was not ignoring English speakers.
In December 1988, the Supreme Court of Canada said a part of Bill 101 (which banned languages other than French on business signs) was illegal. The Quebec Liberals then created Bill 178. This bill still banned other languages on outdoor signs but allowed bilingual signs indoors. Three other English-speaking ministers resigned in protest. Ciaccia, however, decided to stay. He believed he could do more for English speakers by remaining in the government.
Newspapers praised Ciaccia for his decision. They said he showed courage by trying to defend minority interests from within the government.
In May 1989, Ciaccia spoke to a group of English-speaking people. He asked them to keep supporting the Liberals, even though some were upset. He said he felt like "Daniel in the Lion's den" at the meeting. Despite the criticism, Ciaccia easily won his seat in the 1989 election.
Minister of International and Native Affairs
After the 1989 election, Ciaccia became Minister of International Relations and Native Affairs. He already had experience with Native communities from his earlier jobs.
Meech Lake Accord
Ciaccia strongly supported the Meech Lake Accord. This was a plan to change the Canadian Constitution to get Quebec to sign it. The Accord aimed to recognize Quebec as a "distinct society." Ciaccia argued that recognizing cultural differences was important for Canada. The Accord failed to be approved, which led to more support for Quebec independence.
Oka Crisis
In March 1989, a golf club in Oka planned to expand onto land that included a Mohawk burial ground. Protests by Mohawks and environmentalists stopped the project temporarily. Ciaccia believed the problem could be solved by buying the land. He talked to his federal counterpart, Tom Siddon, but Siddon decided not to buy it.
In April 1990, Mohawks set up a roadblock on the road to the disputed land. On May 8, Ciaccia met with Oka mayor Jean Ouellette. Ciaccia offered to find $2 million to compensate the town if they abandoned the golf course expansion. He thought a deal was close. Two days later, Ouellette changed his mind. He wanted the barricades removed. Ciaccia later said Ouellette was pursuing "the destruction of natural beauty and the desecration of Native lands."
On July 10, the municipality got a court order to remove the barricades. The Mohawks refused. On July 11, provincial police raided the barricades. There was gunfire, and a police officer died. Police had to retreat.
The Canadian Army was called in, and a tense standoff lasted all summer. Mohawks in Kahnawake also blocked the Mercier Bridge for weeks. The crisis caused strong anti-Native feelings in Quebec. It also brought international attention to the struggles of Canada's Indigenous peoples. The standoff ended on September 26, 1990, when the Mohawks surrendered peacefully. The golf course expansion was cancelled.
Ciaccia faced criticism for his handling of the crisis. Some praised his efforts to find common ground, while others said he was too soft on the Natives. It was reported that Ciaccia allowed Mohawks to use a dock on his property to bring supplies to Kahnawake, which was blocked by police. Ciaccia said it was only for essential goods like food and medicine.
After the crisis, Ciaccia lost his position as Minister of Native Affairs in October 1990. This was seen as a sign of disapproval from Premier Bourassa. However, Ciaccia kept his job as Minister of International Trade.
Ciaccia was critical of international groups that condemned Canada's handling of the crisis. He met with European politicians who had misconceptions about what happened. He told them, "the European Parliament is not here to tell Canada anything...it is here to learn."
A 1991 report said Ciaccia felt the provincial police undermined him during negotiations. In 1993, Ciaccia testified that he warned officials that a police raid could be bloody. In 2000, Ciaccia wrote a book about the crisis called The Oka Crisis: A Mirror of the Soul.
International Affairs
As Minister of International Affairs from 1989 to 1994, Ciaccia was Quebec's main representative to other countries. He went on many trade missions to find new markets for Quebec businesses. He visited over 40 countries, including Iran, Mexico, China, and Vietnam. Ciaccia strongly supported the North American Free Trade Agreement. He believed it would help Quebec's economy grow.
After the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe, Ciaccia worked with France to help French speakers in countries like Poland and Hungary. He also led trade missions to Hungary and Poland to build economic and cultural ties. In 1992, Ciaccia visited Vietnam and helped sign an agreement for economic and technological cooperation.
Immigration and Cultural Communities
Robert Bourassa resigned as premier in September 1993 due to his health. Daniel Johnson Jr became premier in January 1994. Ciaccia was given a new job as Minister of Immigration and Cultural Communities, in addition to International Affairs.
Ciaccia created a plan for immigration. He addressed worries that the French language was in danger in Montreal, where most immigrants settled. In 1994, he decided to keep immigration levels steady at about 43,000 people per year.
In Opposition Again (1994-1998)
In 1994, with an election coming, Ciaccia thought about retiring. Many other Liberal ministers left politics. But Ciaccia decided to run again and won his Mont-Royal seat. The election brought the Parti Québécois back to power. They soon set a date for a referendum on independence for October 30, 1995.
Just like in 1980, Ciaccia actively campaigned for the "No" side in the 1995 referendum. He accused the Parti Québécois of trying to stop immigrants (who mostly supported staying in Canada) from voting. Ciaccia appeared at community events and gave interviews, arguing for the "No" campaign. The "No" side won the referendum by a very small margin.
In September 1998, with another election coming, Ciaccia announced he would not run again. He said he felt he had done all he could and wanted to try new things. He insisted no one pressured him to leave. At that time, he was the longest-serving member of the National Assembly. On his last day, he received a standing ovation from all parties and a handshake from Premier Lucien Bouchard.
Retirement and Later Life
After leaving politics in 1998, Ciaccia continued to support the Liberal parties. He lived in Beaconsfield, a suburb of Montreal. He supported the idea of merging all Montreal Island municipalities into one large city. In 2004, Beaconsfield voted to separate from Montreal.
Ciaccia was well-known in Montreal's Italian community. He often attended events for the Italian Chamber of Commerce. He was a lifelong pianist and played for various fundraisers. Ciaccia had one son, Mark, and two grandsons, Erik and Nicholas.
In 2015, 40 years after the James Bay agreement, Ciaccia released his memoir, Call Me Giambattista.
John Ciaccia passed away at his home in Beaconsfield, Quebec on August 7, 2018, at the age of 85.
