| The Hon. Gaspard Fauteux |
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|---|---|
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec for Montréal-Sainte-Marie | |
| In office 1931 – 1935 |
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| Preceded by | Camillien Houde |
| Succeeded by | Candide Rochefort |
| Member of the Canadian Parliament for St. Mary |
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| In office 1942–1950 |
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| Preceded by | Hermas Deslauriers |
| Succeeded by | Hector Dupuis |
| 19th Lieutenant Governor of Quebec | |
| In office 1950–1958 |
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| Monarch | George VI Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | Eugène Fiset |
| Succeeded by | Onésime Gagnon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 27, 1898 St-Hyacinthe, Quebec |
| Died | March 29, 1963 (aged 64) Montreal, Quebec |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Other political affiliations |
Quebec Liberal Party |
| Relations | Honoré Mercier, Grandfather Joseph Godbout, Grandfather Lomer Gouin, Uncle Claude Castonguay, Son-in-law |
Gaspard Fauteux, PC (August 27, 1898 - March 29, 1963) was a Canadian parliamentarian, Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons (1945-1949), and the 19th Lieutenant Governor of Quebec (1950-1958).
He was born in St-Hyacinthe, Quebec, to a political family. His grandfather, Honoré Mercier and his uncle, Lomer Gouin, were both former Premiers of Quebec. His grandmother's second husband was Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) and later Senator Joseph Godbout.
Fauteux married Marguerite Barré daughter of the Canadian artist Raoul Barré (Sept 18th 1923). The couple had 4 children; Roger, Paul, Marie (Mimi) and Gaspard Jr.
A dentist by training and then a businessman, he first entered politics at the provincial election defeating Quebec Conservative Party leader and Mayor of Montreal Camillien Houde to win a seat in the Quebec legislature for the Quebec Liberal Party. He lost his seat in 1935 and returned to business. He was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons from the Quebec riding of St. Mary in a 1942 by-election, and was re-elected in the 1945 federal election by again defeating Camillien Houde. He was re-elected in the 1949 election.
In Parliament, Fauteux opposed conscription and was a delegate to the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Conference that followed World War II.
Despite his lack of legal training or long tenure in the House, he was tapped by Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King to become Speaker following the 1945 election.
His inexperience in parliamentary procedure caused him difficulties in the Chair. He had a habit of making decisions before MPs had presented their arguments. He preferred the social aspects of the position and entertained and travelled frequently.
He returned to the backbenches after the 1949 election and, in 1950 was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec by Governor General Harold Alexander, Earl Alexander of Tunis, on the advice of his prime minister, Louis St. Laurent.
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