Arnold Peters
Encyclopedia
William Arnold Peters (May 14, 1922 - September 17, 1996) was a Canadian
politician. He represented the riding
of Timiskaming
in the Canadian House of Commons
from 1957 to 1980. He was originally elected as a member of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
, which became the New Democratic Party
in 1961.
Peters, a hard rock miner and union organizer, served in the 124th Ferry Squadron in the Royal Canadian Air Force
during World War II
. He also ran in the 1953 election
against Karl Eyre
in the Timmins
riding, but was not elected.
In Parliament, Peters and his caucus colleague Frank Howard
were responsible for reforming Canada's divorce laws. In many provinces, divorce proceedings once had to be presented to Parliament for approval; Peters and Howard tried to show the ridiculousness of this by reading each divorce petition into the Commons record in great detail. Peters was also active in prison
reform, and regularly lobbied for fairer treatment of non-unionized government employees.
In the 1980 election
, Peters was defeated by Liberal
candidate Bruce Lonsdale
. Lonsdale died in office just two years later; Peters ran again in the resulting by-election
, but was not re-elected.
On September 19, 1996, two days after his death, tributes to Peters were delivered in the House of Commons by Bill Blaikie
, Diane Marleau
and Ed Harper
.
|Liberal
|Karl EYRE
|align="right"|5,541
|Co-operative Commonwealth
|Arnold PETERS
|align="right"| 4,686
|Progressive Conservative
|Maurice BÉLANGER
|align="right"| 3,348
|Labour-Progressive
|Oscar ROY
|align="right"| 369
|}
|-
|Co-operative Commonwealth
|Arnold PETERS
|align="right"|6,936
|Liberal
|Ann SHIPLEY
|align="right"|6,896
|Progressive Conservative
|C. Foster RICE
|align="right"|5,645
|-
|Co-operative Commonwealth
|Arnold PETERS
|align="right"|7,544
|Progressive Conservative
|C. Foster RICE
|align="right"|7,318
|Liberal
|Ted J. MIRON
|align="right"|6,118
|-
|New Democratic Party
|Arnold PETERS
|align="right"|7,055
|Progressive Conservative
|Joseph MAVRINAC
|align="right"|6,053
|Liberal
|Ann SHIPLEY
|align="right"|5,969
|Social Credit
|Gérard MICHAUD
|align="right"|2,665
|-
|New Democratic Party
|Arnold PETERS
|align="right"|7,356
|Liberal
|Mervyn LAVIGNE
|align="right"|6,763
|Progressive Conservative
|John CRAM
|align="right"| 5,540
|Social Credit
|Camil SAMSON
|align="right"|2,033
|-
|New Democratic Party
|Arnold PETERS
|align="right"| 9,986
|Liberal
|Mervyn LAVIGNE
|align="right"| 5,885
|Progressive Conservative
|Bruce BESLEY
|align="right"|3,823
|-
|New Democratic Party
|Arnold PETERS
|align="right"| 8,482
|Liberal
|Louis-R. VANNIER
|align="right"| 7,728
|Progressive Conservative
|George L. CASSIDY
|align="right"|4,443
|Social Credit
|Alcide-J. HAMELIN
|align="right"|288
|-
|New Democratic Party
|Arnold PETERS
|align="right"|11,327
|Liberal
|Dick DUFF
|align="right"|7,768
|Progressive Conservative
|Alf GUPPY
|align="right"|3,317
|Social Credit
|Albert BRETON
|align="right"|718
|-
|New Democratic Party
|Arnold PETERS
|align="right"|10,263
|Liberal
|Guy IANNUCCI
|align="right"|6,598
|Progressive Conservative
|Murray WATTS
|align="right"| 4,615
|Social Credit
|Maurice CURE
|align="right"| 492
|-
|Liberal
|Bruce LONSDALE
|align="right"| 11,135
|New Democratic Party
|Arnold PETERS
|align="right"|10,661
|Progressive Conservative
|Grant SIROLA
|align="right"|4,901
|Marxist-Leninist
|Claudia IRONS
|align="right"| 93
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician. He represented the riding
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
of Timiskaming
Timiskaming (electoral district)
Timiskaming was a federal electoral district in the northeastern part of Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1917 to 1925, and from 1935 to 1997....
in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
from 1957 to 1980. He was originally elected as a member of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was a Canadian political party founded in 1932 in Calgary, Alberta, by a number of socialist, farm, co-operative and labour groups, and the League for Social Reconstruction...
, which became the New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
in 1961.
Peters, a hard rock miner and union organizer, served in the 124th Ferry Squadron in the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He also ran in the 1953 election
Canadian federal election, 1953
The Canadian federal election of 1953 was held on August 10 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 22nd Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Louis St...
against Karl Eyre
Karl Eyre
Karl Arliss Eyre was a Canadian politician. He represented the electoral district of Timmins in the Canadian House of Commons from 1949 to 1957 as a member of the Liberal Party....
in the Timmins
Timmins (electoral district)
Timmins was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1949 to 1979. It was located around the city of Timmins in the northeastern part of the province of Ontario...
riding, but was not elected.
In Parliament, Peters and his caucus colleague Frank Howard
Frank Howard (politician)
Frank Howard was a Canadian trade unionist and politician.Howard was born in Kimberley, British Columbia. After a career as a logger and labour union organizer, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia as a BC CCF MLA in 1953...
were responsible for reforming Canada's divorce laws. In many provinces, divorce proceedings once had to be presented to Parliament for approval; Peters and Howard tried to show the ridiculousness of this by reading each divorce petition into the Commons record in great detail. Peters was also active in prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
reform, and regularly lobbied for fairer treatment of non-unionized government employees.
In the 1980 election
Canadian federal election, 1980
The Canadian federal election of 1980 was held on February 18, 1980 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 32nd Parliament of Canada...
, Peters was defeated by Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
candidate Bruce Lonsdale
Bruce Lonsdale
Bruce Lonsdale was a Canadian politician. He represented the riding of Timiskaming in the Canadian House of Commons from 1980 to 1982...
. Lonsdale died in office just two years later; Peters ran again in the resulting by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
, but was not re-elected.
On September 19, 1996, two days after his death, tributes to Peters were delivered in the House of Commons by Bill Blaikie
Bill Blaikie
William Alexander "Bill" Blaikie, PC is a Canadian politician. He has been a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba since April 2009, representing the Winnipeg division of Elmwood as a member of the New Democratic Party of Manitoba, and Minister of Conservation and Government House Leader...
, Diane Marleau
Diane Marleau
Diane Marleau, PC, MP is a Canadian politician. She represented the riding of Sudbury in the Canadian House of Commons from 1988 to 2008, and was a cabinet minister in the government of Jean Chrétien...
and Ed Harper
Ed Harper
Ed Harper is a former Canadian politician, who represented the electoral district of Simcoe Centre in the Canadian House of Commons from 1993 until 1997...
.
Electoral record
|-|Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
|Karl EYRE
Karl Eyre
Karl Arliss Eyre was a Canadian politician. He represented the electoral district of Timmins in the Canadian House of Commons from 1949 to 1957 as a member of the Liberal Party....
|align="right"|5,541
|Co-operative Commonwealth
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was a Canadian political party founded in 1932 in Calgary, Alberta, by a number of socialist, farm, co-operative and labour groups, and the League for Social Reconstruction...
|Arnold PETERS
|align="right"| 4,686
|Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
|Maurice BÉLANGER
|align="right"| 3,348
|Labour-Progressive
Communist Party of Canada
The Communist Party of Canada is a communist political party in Canada. Although is it currently a minor or small political party without representation in the Federal Parliament or in provincial legislatures, historically the Party has elected representatives in Federal Parliament, Ontario...
|Oscar ROY
|align="right"| 369
|}
|-
|Co-operative Commonwealth
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was a Canadian political party founded in 1932 in Calgary, Alberta, by a number of socialist, farm, co-operative and labour groups, and the League for Social Reconstruction...
|Arnold PETERS
|align="right"|6,936
|Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
|Ann SHIPLEY
Ann Shipley
Marie Ann Shipley was a Canadian politician.Born in Lawrence Station in Southwold, Ontario, she was educated at Ottawa's Lisgar Collegiate and married Manley Adair Shipley. They settled in Kirkland Lake where she was an administrative secretary for the Kirkland District Mines Medical Plans...
|align="right"|6,896
|Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
|C. Foster RICE
|align="right"|5,645
|-
|Co-operative Commonwealth
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was a Canadian political party founded in 1932 in Calgary, Alberta, by a number of socialist, farm, co-operative and labour groups, and the League for Social Reconstruction...
|Arnold PETERS
|align="right"|7,544
|Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
|C. Foster RICE
|align="right"|7,318
|Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
|Ted J. MIRON
|align="right"|6,118
|-
|New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
|Arnold PETERS
|align="right"|7,055
|Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
|Joseph MAVRINAC
|align="right"|6,053
|Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
|Ann SHIPLEY
Ann Shipley
Marie Ann Shipley was a Canadian politician.Born in Lawrence Station in Southwold, Ontario, she was educated at Ottawa's Lisgar Collegiate and married Manley Adair Shipley. They settled in Kirkland Lake where she was an administrative secretary for the Kirkland District Mines Medical Plans...
|align="right"|5,969
|Social Credit
Social Credit Party of Canada
The Social Credit Party of Canada was a conservative-populist political party in Canada that promoted social credit theories of monetary reform...
|Gérard MICHAUD
|align="right"|2,665
|-
|New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
|Arnold PETERS
|align="right"|7,356
|Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
|Mervyn LAVIGNE
|align="right"|6,763
|Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
|John CRAM
|align="right"| 5,540
|Social Credit
Social Credit Party of Canada
The Social Credit Party of Canada was a conservative-populist political party in Canada that promoted social credit theories of monetary reform...
|Camil SAMSON
Camil Samson
Camil Samson was a politician in Quebec, Canada, Member of the National Assembly of Quebec , and leader of the Ralliement créditiste du Québec and other political parties.-Background:...
|align="right"|2,033
|-
|New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
|Arnold PETERS
|align="right"| 9,986
|Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
|Mervyn LAVIGNE
|align="right"| 5,885
|Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
|Bruce BESLEY
|align="right"|3,823
|-
|New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
|Arnold PETERS
|align="right"| 8,482
|Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
|Louis-R. VANNIER
|align="right"| 7,728
|Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
|George L. CASSIDY
|align="right"|4,443
|Social Credit
Social Credit Party of Canada
The Social Credit Party of Canada was a conservative-populist political party in Canada that promoted social credit theories of monetary reform...
|Alcide-J. HAMELIN
|align="right"|288
|-
|New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
|Arnold PETERS
|align="right"|11,327
|Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
|Dick DUFF
|align="right"|7,768
|Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
|Alf GUPPY
|align="right"|3,317
|Social Credit
Social Credit Party of Canada
The Social Credit Party of Canada was a conservative-populist political party in Canada that promoted social credit theories of monetary reform...
|Albert BRETON
|align="right"|718
|-
|New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
|Arnold PETERS
|align="right"|10,263
|Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
|Guy IANNUCCI
|align="right"|6,598
|Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
|Murray WATTS
|align="right"| 4,615
|Social Credit
Social Credit Party of Canada
The Social Credit Party of Canada was a conservative-populist political party in Canada that promoted social credit theories of monetary reform...
|Maurice CURE
|align="right"| 492
|-
|Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
|Bruce LONSDALE
Bruce Lonsdale
Bruce Lonsdale was a Canadian politician. He represented the riding of Timiskaming in the Canadian House of Commons from 1980 to 1982...
|align="right"| 11,135
|New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
|Arnold PETERS
|align="right"|10,661
|Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
|Grant SIROLA
|align="right"|4,901
|Marxist-Leninist
Communist Party of Canada (Marxist–Leninist)
The Communist Party of Canada is a Canadian federal Marxist–Leninist political party.The party is registered with Elections Canada as the Marxist–Leninist Party of Canada...
|Claudia IRONS
|align="right"| 93