Quick Facts
Biography
René Chaloult (January 26, 1901 – December 20, 1978) was a nationalist politician in Quebec, Canada.
Background
He was born on January 26, 1901 in Quebec City.
Political career
Chaloult first won a seat to the Legislative Assembly of Quebec as a Union Nationale candidate in the 1936 election in the district of Kamouraska. In 1937, he and colleagues Oscar Drouin, Joseph-Ernest Grégoire, Philippe Hamel and Adolphe Marcoux left the Union Nationale. Chaloult joined the Liberals and won re-election in the 1939 election as the Member for the district of Lotbinière.
During World War II, Chaloult opposed conscription.
He won re-election as an Independent in Québec-Comté electoral district in the 1944 and 1948 elections, but was defeated in the 1952 election and in the district of Jonquière-Kénogami in the 1956 election.
Chaloult retired to live at his summer home in Kamouraska. Each year on July 1, he would fly the Quebec flag outside his summer home at half-staff to show his nationalist inclinations.
Death
He died on December 20, 1978.
Legacy
For many years, Chaloult urged Quebec to adopt a distinctive design for its flag. On January 21, 1948, the government of Maurice Duplessis fulfilled the request.