The Annual Congress of French Canadians Social Crediters

Written by Louis Even on Sunday, 01 November 1953. Posted in Social Credit

A Display of the Most Dynamic Social Credit Movement in Canada

Following is a summary of the highlights of the great Social Credit Congress recently held in St. George de Beauce, Province of Quebec.

Held at St. Georges, (Beauce Co.) Sept. 5-6-7, 1953

Called by: The Institute of Political Action¹

Objectives:

To give a public testimony to Social Credit.
To present an opportunity for active Social Crediters to become better acquainted — an inspiration and stimulation for those who love the cause. To present a comprehensive review of the past twelve months.
To set the objective for the next twelve months.
To reassert the policy of the movement.
To recognize publicly the best crusaders in the cause, as judged by their accomplishments during the closing term, and thus set an example to all.
To receive the free and individual pledges signed by voluntary workers for the next term — not binding in any way except the sense of making good one's promise freely given.
To encourage and stimulate by the tangible display of recent progress and rising forces.

Attendance: At no time less than 1,500; about 5,000 on Sunday. Over 500 decorated cars in parade over five miles long.

Public Reaction: Perfect co-operation and collaboration on all sides; enthusiastic welcome by all local authorities; indelible impression of a lively, virile and growing movement throughout whole of Quebec and Frenchspeaking sections of New Brunswick and Ontario.

Dominant Spirit Among Delegations: Warm enthusiasm and genuine Christian brotherhood; exemplary conduct (not a drop of alcobol); a high sense of personal responsibility and determination.

Significant Features:

Each delegation left their home for Congress at pre-arranged time, joined by other delegations, also carefully timed, along the road, thus creating an increasing flow from all directions and roads until they converged upon and met at Valley Junction, 30 miles from St. Georges, continuing together in a four-mile motor cavalcade. (See Photo, page 8).
Flags, emblems and slogans seen everywhere on all roads throughout Quebec — an impressive reminder that the Social Credit Movement is on the march.
No hotel reservations; responsible Social Crediters in 40 localities throughout the district had secured lodging for all outside delegations, in hospitable homes.
Huge hall, extensively and artistically decorated for occasion.
Spacious parking area for autos, perfectly supervised by appointed delegates.
Special and prompt restaurant service prearranged.
An A-1 loudspeaker service both inside and outside hall, and along the 50-mile motor cavalcade route throughout the surrounding districts during the Sunday afternoon parade.
Perfect co-operation from local police authorities in traffic regulation.

Publicity:

Periodic insertions, as news, in the newspapers for weeks preceding the event.
British United Press represented at the Congress.
Frequent releases to the news agenciesduring the 3-day meet.
Impressive features of the Congress were filmed, for use in future meetings.
Good reports of the Congress have appeared in a number of daily and weekly papers — more particularly, a two-page report and three photos in L'Action Catholique, Quebec City daily with large circulation and influence throughout province.

Resolutions: Two kinds

1. Binding the Social Crediters themselves:

An objective of 10,000 subscriptions to their paper during the next twelve months.
The publication, by the Institute of Political Action, of an English language Social Credit paper, to carry the doctrine and news of the movement to fellow Canadians who do not read French.
Private resolutions and personal pledges relating to various forms of activity.

2. Resolutions to:

Press the Provincial Government to establish Social Credit in the province — to render financially possible whatever is physically possible within the boundaries of the province.
Press the Federal Government likewise with respect to the whole of Canada.
Protest at Ottawa against Centralization of Powers.
Express opposition to schemes of compulsory State health insurance.

The Congress also went on record as being opposed to military training in the public schools of Quebec Province.

A Cable to Mrs. Douglas

The following telegram was sent to Lady Edith M. Douglas (widow of the late C. H. Douglas, author of Social Credit):

"Social Crediters of French Canada having their most splendid Congress to date STOP Major Douglas survives in his works and guiding inspiration STOP His vision will be realized.”.

In answer to this cable, two days later at the Montreal headquarters was received this message:

“Mrs Douglas desires me to thank you for inspiring message STOP Secretariat joins in congratulating your brave, loyal movement on its accomplishment. — Tudor Jones."

Social Credit Forces Growing

During the past 12 months:

46,369 subs to the French-language S.C. journal, Vers Demain, as compared with 34,640 the previous year.

143 pledged Conquerors'(apostles) have reached or surpassed their individual objective of 150 subs to Vers Demain in the year, as compared with 88 such qualified men in the previous year.

150 to 200 canvassers are out every Sunday, for at least six hours, going from door to door to carry the message and gather subscribers to Vers Demain. At the Congress 64 of them were listed as having conducted such missions at least 40 week-ends or holidays during the year.

14 men, besides the two founders (Louis Even and Mme Gilberte Côté-Mercier), are enlisted full time in the movement. Of these, 13 are on the road, this being 6 more than a year ago.

A drive is planned to cover 18 counties of the Province of Quebec, classed as behind in the Social Credit Move. (The work done in five of them during the first half-month following the Congress has borne fruit beyond the most optimistic expectations.)

The Social Credit footholds in northern and eastern Ontario, and in eastern New Brunswick, will be expanded; and it is planned to open up the field in Nova Scotia in the course of the year. The English-language organ, Social Credit will greatly facilitate this expansion.

Enlightened individuals in the community are necessary to guide, advise and inspire the people to action along the right lines. The Institute of Political Action constantly endeavours to develop such individuals, with a high sense of initiative and responsibility.

Reflections... and Notes

Visitors from Ontario and Western Canada who witnessed the early years of the Social Credit Movement in the West under the late William Aberhart, were amazed at the size and spirit of today's movement in Quebec. Certainly not for fifteen years has anything comparable been carried on in the West. There is a steadily increasing interest in Social Credit across Canada. Delegates from the United States joined with Canadian delegates at the Congress. There is a virile Social Credit movement in Australia, in New Zealand, in Britain and many other countries. Social Credit, far from being a narrow 'sect' or 'party', is a policy — a fresh approach to our problems, strictly from the Christian viewpoint with universal appeal and application.

Social Credit is Growing. Social Credit is coming.

1) The Institute of Political Action is the inner core of Social Crediters in Quebec Province who have carried the responsibility for Social Credit education and organization in past years, and is today charged with the responsability of guiding and directing the expansion of the Social Credit movement in the French-speaking sections of Canada.