François-Joseph Laflèche

Who was François-Joseph Laflèche?

François-Joseph Laflèche was a Conservative member of the Canadian House of Commons. He was born in Saint-Wenceslas, Quebec and became a physician, surgeon and pharmacist.

Laflèche was educated at the Nicolet Seminary, then at school in Trois-Rivières. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at the Université de Sherbrooke. He was also licenced for medical practice in the American state of Maine.

He was elected to Parliament at the Richmond—Wolfe riding in the 1930 general election. After serving his only term, the 17th Canadian Parliament, Laflèche was defeated by James Patrick Mullins of the Liberals in the 1935 federal election.

In 1934, Laflèche proposed a motion to legally require Canadian voters to cast a ballot at federal elections at a time when Australia and South Africa had already enacted compulsory voting laws.