Violent Scenes During Elections In Quebec

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29239, 24 June 1960, Page 13

Violent Scenes During Elections In Quebec

QUEBEC CITY, June 22.

More than 90 persons were arrested today in the violence that usually occurs on election days in Quebec province, the Canadian Press reported tonight. Fights and hoodlum raids on campaign offices, mostly in Montreal, Canada’s largest city, kept the police busy.

The Premier, Mr Antonio Barrette, led the Union Nationale Party, in office since 1944, into an election for the first time. He became Premier in January, succeeding Mr Paule Sauve, who died only four months after taking over from the late Mr Maurice Duplessis. The Liberals gained power in the province for the first time for 21 years. The long-entrenched Union Nationale Party went down in an upset defeat. Indications early today were that the Liberals would hold 50 seats to the Union Nationale’s 44 with an Indepedent taking the remaining seat in the 95-member House.

The Liberals’ likely majority of only six over the Union Nationale Party is the narrowest margin held by a party in Quebec since 1944.

The outgoing Attorney-General. Mr Antoine Rivard, lost his seat as did the Trade Minister, Mr Paul Beaulieu, the Finance Minister, Mr John Bourque, the Lands and Forests Minister, Mr Jacques Miquelon, and the Minister without portfolio, Mr Wilfrid Labbe The Liberal Opposition also had a leader new to the position in an election—Mr Jean Lesage, a former Federal Cabinet Minister, who became the party chief in 1958.

The major parties had candidates in each riding and the 63 others included a variety of Independents and two Communists There were no women candidates The standing in the legislature at the dissolution on April 27 was Union Nationale 71. Liberals 17 Independent 3. vacant 2 Two new seats were created at the last session of the legislature to bring the total to 95.