Sauvé, Joseph-Mignault-Paul
Joseph-Mignault-Paul Sauvé, premier of Québec (b at St-Benoît, Qué 24 Mar 1907; d at St-Eustache, Qué 2 Jan 1960). Though he was premier for only a short time, Sept 1959 to his death, he inaugurated a period of major political and social change for Québec. A member of the reserve from 1931 he served overseas during WWII, and was second-in-command of the Fusiliers de Mont-Royal during the Normandy landing. Promoted brigadier in 1947 he was also able to maintain an active political career throughout. Elected Conservative member of the Québec legislature for Deux-Montagnes during the 1930 by-elections, he was defeated in 1935, but played an important role in the creation of the
UNION NATIONALE Party and was repeatedly elected for that party from 1936 to 1956. He was chosen successor to Maurice
DUPLESSIS and quickly served notice that things would not be the same by pronouncing a single word that became famous throughout Québec: Désormais ("henceforth"). Sauvé's "hundred days" are seen as the start of the
QUIET REVOLUTION because they brought new life and settled several matters that were "on hold," including hospital insurance and university subsidies.
Author
DANIEL LATOUCHE