Pierre Lorange Explained

Pierre Lorange is a former politician in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He was a member of the Montreal city council from 1966 to 1986 and was a prominent figure in mayor Jean Drapeau's administration.

Private career

Lorange was a jeweller in private life.^[1]

City councillor

Lorange first became a member of the Montreal city council in 1966, when he was selected by other councillors to fill a vacant seat.^[2] He was re-elected in the 1966, 1970, 1974, 1978, and 1982 municipal elections and served as vice-chair of the Montreal executive committee (i.e., the municipal cabinet) during his later years on council.^[3]

In 1985, he helped pass a motion that banned most artists from selling their wares on downtown Montreal streets.^[4] The following year, he went on a business trip to China that was paid for by CP Air, a branch of Canadian Pacific, which has large property holdings in Montreal. Lorange broke no rules by taking the trip, but critics nonetheless charged that it highlighted the need for a municipal code of ethics.^[5]

Political organizerLorange was for many years the chief political organizer of Mayor Drapeau's Civic Party of Montreal and was considered the third most important figure in Drapeau's administration.^[6] Lorange was completely loyal to Drapeau, whom he once described as "the father of the party, the enlightened man with great vision and exceptional balance."^[7]

During his last years in office, Lorange fought efforts by opposition parties and the provincial government to limit anonymous donations to political parties.^[8] Critics often charged that the Civic Party was abusing a loophole in a 1978 provincial law that prohibited anonymous donations of over one hundred dollars, except when the money was collected at "political meetings." The latter term was not clearly defined, and the Civic Party collected almost half of its election budget from anonymous donations in 1978.^[9]

Regional councillorLorange was a member of the regional Montreal Urban Community and served as head of its planning committee in the 1980s. In 1985, he announced that the city of Montreal would drop its previous objection to "mini-downtowns" being set up in suburban communities. While he acknowledged that the new areas might not benefit Montreal, he added that they did not post a threat to the vitality of the city's downtown.^[10]

After DrapeauLorange sought the leadership of the Civic Party in July 1986, after Drapeau announced his resignation.^[11] He withdrew from the contest before balloting, however, and gave his support to the eventual winner, Claude Dupras.^[12] Lorange was not a candidate in the 1986 municipal election, although he campaigned for the Civic Party and attacked Montreal Citizens' Movement (MCM) mayoral candidate Jean Doré by calling him a socialist.^[13] The MCM won a landslide victory in this election, and the Civic Party was reduced to only one seat.^[14]

Return to private life

In 1988, Lorange called for Dupras to stand down as Civic Party leader.^[15] He became involved in a local green space campaign the following year, and some believed he would attempt a political comeback. Ultimately, however, this came to nothing.^[16]

In 1994, Lorange announced his subject for Vision Montreal mayoral candidate Pierre Bourque.^[17]

Notes and References

1. "Lorange won't seek re-election," Montreal Gazette, 16 August 1986, A3.
2. http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/archives/democratie/democratie_fr/media/documents/expo/resultats_electoraux_1833_2005.pdf Election results, 1833-2005
3. Lewis Harris, "Back to his roots: Is Pierre Lorange digging in for a comeback?", Montreal Gazette, 7 July 1989, A3.
4. "Art protest fails to sway official," Montreal Gazette, 21 August 1985, A3; Ingrid Peritz, "Street art must have city's OK," Montreal Gazette, 28 August 1985, A3.
5. "Taking the wrong ride," Montreal Gazette, 30 May 1986, B2.
6. Michael Farber, "Mayor to retire insider claims," Montreal Gazette, 17 December 1985, A3.
7. Ingrid Peritz, "Drapeau's the boss, and no argument; Civic Party celebrates 25 years of power," Montreal Gazette, 19 October 1985, B1; "Drapeau keeps firm control of party," Ottawa Citizen, 26 October 1985, E16.
8. Ingrid Peritz, "Bill would curb anonymous party funding," Montreal Gazette, 5 July 1985, A3;
9. "Block this end-run" [editorial], Montreal Gazette, 9 December 1985, B2.
10. Ingrid Peritz, "Montreal drops objection to 'suburban downtowns'," Montreal Gazette, 11 February 1985, A3.
11. Lewis Harris, "Lorange, Dupras seek leadership; Hoping to be mayor, former is Civic Party stalwart, latter Tory veteran," Montreal Gazette, 12 July 1986, A1.
12. Ingrid Peritz, "Three mayoral hopefuls drop out of Civic Party race," Montreal Gazette, 16 July 1986, A1.
13. "Lorange won't seek re-election," Montreal Gazette, 16 August 1986, A3; Lewis Harris, "Drapeau warns of MCM 'upheaval'," Montreal Gazette, 5 November 1986, A6.
14. Lewis Harris, "Dupras says Civic Party will rise again," Montreal Gazette, 10 November 1986, A3.
15. "Voice from the past," Montreal Gazette, 6 January 1988, B2.
16. Lewis Harris, "Back to his roots: Is Pierre Lorange digging in for a comeback?", Montreal Gazette, 7 July 1989, A3.
17. Lisa Fitterman, "Poverty contrasts with prosperity in east end; `Another day, another robbery,' says merchant in rundown, forgotten area," Montreal Gazette, 26 October 1994, A4.