René Hamel

Joseph-Irénée-René Hamel (February 9, 1910 – December 16, 1982) was a local politician in Quebec, Canada. He served as Member of the Canadian Parliament and as Member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec.

During World War II Hamel joined the Bloc Populaire Canadien, a political party that opposed conscription. He was the party’s provincial candidate in the district of Saint-Maurice in 1944, but lost the election against Marc Trudel. The following year though, he successfully ran in the federal district of Saint-Maurice—Laflèche. After the war, the party quickly dissolved and by 1949 Hamel was sitting as an Independent MP. He lost re-election in that same year.

Hamel, who opposed Premier Maurice Duplessis, made a political comeback in 1952. Benefiting from a strong support among Shawinigan’s labor class population, he was elected Liberal Member of the Legislative Assembly for the district of Saint-Maurice. Hamel became one of the most effective Liberal floor leaders.