Claude Jodoin OC |
|
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President of the Canadian Labour Congress | |
In office 1956–1968 |
|
Preceded by | none |
Succeeded by | Donald MacDonald |
Constituency | Canada |
President of Trades and Labour Congress of Canada | |
In office 1954–1956 |
|
Succeeded by | none |
Constituency | Canada |
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec | |
In office 23 March 1942 – 1944 |
|
Preceded by | Joseph-Romeo Toupin (Liberal Party) |
Succeeded by | Omar Côté (Union Nationale Party) |
Constituency | Montréal–Saint-Jacques |
Personal details | |
Born |
Montreal, Quebec |
May 25, 1913
Died | March 3, 1975 Ottawa, Ontario |
(aged 61)
Political party | Quebec Liberal Party/New Democratic Party |
Spouse(s) | Lilly Jodoin (née Cooke) |
Residence | Manotick, Ontario |
Occupation | Trade Unionist/Politician |
Claude Jodoin OC (May 25, 1913 – March 1, 1975) was a Canadian trade unionist and politician. He served as the first president of the Canadian Labour Congress from 1956 to 1966.
Born in the Montreal suburb of Westmount, Jodoin was educated at Brebeuf College. In 1937 he became an organizer for the International Ladies Garment Workers Union serving as a Canadian manager of the union from 1947 to 1951.
From 1940 to 1942 and again from 1947 to 1954 he served as an alderman on Montreal City Council. He was elected in the 23 March 1942 by-election to the National Assembly of Quebec, as a member of the Quebec Liberal Party, representing the Montréal–Saint-Jacques electoral district. He lost his seat in 1944 and was defeated in an attempt to regain a seat in the Legislature as an independent candidate in 1948. He had been leader of the Young Liberals of Canada in 1939. He was offered a seat in the Canadian Senate by Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent in 1956 but turned it down.
Despite his earlier involvement with the Liberal Party, Jodoin supported the decision by the Canadian Labour Congress to work with the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation to found the New Democratic Party in 1961. Speaking in 1960, he said "The Congress, and I as its president, believe that the need for a new party is greater today than it was even a year and a half ago. Speaking to the NDP's founding convention, Jodoin said "A labour movement that is without interest in political matters is a labour movement that is evading one of the most fundamental responsibilities."