Louis-Alexandre
Taschereau

Louis-Alexandre Taschereau served as Premier of Quebec during the Great Depression. Concerned with precarious financial state of a portion of the population during the crisis, he adopted the first Unemployment Act.

Companies that were then distributing electricity in Quebec, while quite wealthy, offered inadequate, costly, and incomplete service. Their practices, to the disadvantage of the population, regional development, and economy in general, were increasingly denounced. Taschereau therefore convened a Board of Inquiry on Electricity in order to assess the impacts of a government takeover of the hydro sector on economic development and on domestic rates. The role that Taschereau would have the Quebec government play would pave the way not only for the nationalization of electricity, but also for the resolutely autonomist Liberal program reflected in the “Masters in Our Own Home” slogan.

Throughout his mandate, Louis-Alexandre Taschereau affirmed provincial authority, notably with regard to natural resources, broadcasting, fishing, and international business. With his socially focused laws, some of which were a collective response to individual distress caused by the Great Depression, Taschereau contributed to the well-being of the disadvantaged. While his government interventions in the social sector, traditionally reserved for religious institutions, brought about friction and conflict, Taschereau stayed the course by subscribing to Liberal values.

Born in Québec City in 1867, he would serve as Liberal Premier continuously from 1920 until 1936.

The longevity of Taschereau’s term as Premier and Member of the Legislative Assembly is quite remarkable. In fact, he was an MLA for over 35 years, from 1900 until his resignation on June 11, 1936.

He received an honorary doctorate in Law from Laval University in 1908 and from the University of Toronto in 1921.

He was named an Officer of the Legion of Honour in 1924 and a Commander in 1927, and received the Grand Cross in 1934.

Taschereau died in Québec City on July 6, 1952, at the age of 85.