Donald MacBeth Kennedy
Encyclopedia
Donald MacBeth Kennedy was a farmer as well as a provincial and federal level Canadian politician.
Kennedy ran for the United Farmers of Alberta
in the 1921 Alberta general election
. He defeated Liberal incumbent William Rae in a landslide. Kennedy resigned his seat to provide a seat for Herbert Greenfield
who was appointed to the cabinet in the United Farmers government. Kennedy ran for a seat in the Canadian House of Commons
in the 1921 Canadian federal election
held months later in the federal electoral district of Edmonton West
as a candidate for the Progressive Party of Canada
he defeated former Liberal
Member of Parliament Frank Oliver and former Conservative MLA Robert Campbell
to win his first term in office.
Kennedy would switch to the new Peace River
district in the 1925 Canadian federal election
. He would go up against William Rae whom he had previously defeated, and Conservative candidate James Arthur Collins. The race would end up in a virtual 3 way tie with Kennedy coming out on top, the spread in the margin of votes between 1st and 3rd was a total of 42 votes.
A year later he would run again in the 1926 Canadian federal election
this time running under the United Farmers of Alberta
banner. He would defeat Mayor of Edmonton Joseph Clarke
and James Arthur Collins again by a much larger margin then the election a year ago.
Kennedy would run for a 4th term in the House of Commons in the 1930 Canadian federal election
. He would defeat Liberal candidate John Ewing Thompson by a comfortable margin. He was defeated in his bid for a 5th term in office this time running under the Co-operative Commonwealth
banner finishing 3rd in a place of 4 candidates to Social Credit Party of Canada
candidate René-Antoine Pelletier
.
In parliament, Kennedy joined the Ginger Group
of radical MPs in the 1920s.
Kennedy ran for the United Farmers of Alberta
United Farmers of Alberta
The United Farmers of Alberta is an association of Alberta farmers that has served many different roles throughout its history as a lobby group, a political party, and as a farm-supply retail chain. Since 1934 it has primarily been an agricultural supply cooperative headquartered in Calgary...
in the 1921 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1921
The Alberta general election of 1921 was the fifth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on July 18, 1921 to elect members to the 5th Alberta Legislative Assembly....
. He defeated Liberal incumbent William Rae in a landslide. Kennedy resigned his seat to provide a seat for Herbert Greenfield
Herbert Greenfield
Herbert W. Greenfield was a Canadian politician who served as the fourth Premier of Alberta from 1921 until 1925. Born in Winchester, Hampshire, in England, he immigrated to Canada in his late twenties, settling first in Ontario and then in Alberta, where he farmed...
who was appointed to the cabinet in the United Farmers government. Kennedy ran for a seat 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...
in the 1921 Canadian federal election
Canadian federal election, 1921
The Canadian federal election of 1921 was held on December 6, 1921 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 14th Parliament of Canada. The Union government that had governed Canada through the First World War was defeated, and replaced by a Liberal government under the young leader...
held months later in the federal electoral district of Edmonton West
Edmonton West
Edmonton West was a federal electoral district in Alberta, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1917 to 1988 and from 1997 to 2004.-Demographics:-History and geography:...
as a candidate for the Progressive Party of Canada
Progressive Party of Canada
The Progressive Party of Canada was a political party in Canada in the 1920s and 1930s. It was linked with the provincial United Farmers parties in several provinces and, in Manitoba, ran candidates and formed governments as the Progressive Party of Manitoba...
he defeated former 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...
Member of Parliament Frank Oliver and former Conservative MLA Robert Campbell
Robert Campbell (Alberta politician)
Robert Eldon Campbell was a provincial politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1917 to 1921 sitting with the Conservative caucus in opposition.-Political career:...
to win his first term in office.
Kennedy would switch to the new Peace River
Peace River (electoral district)
Peace River is a federal electoral district in Alberta, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1925. It is a rural riding in northwest Alberta, representing the counties of Saddle Hills, Birch Hills, Grande Prairie, Northern Lights, Mackenzie, and the municipal...
district in the 1925 Canadian federal election
Canadian federal election, 1925
The Canadian federal election of 1925 was held on October 29 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 15th Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King's Liberal Party formed a minority government. This precipitated the "King-Byng Affair".The Liberals under...
. He would go up against William Rae whom he had previously defeated, and Conservative candidate James Arthur Collins. The race would end up in a virtual 3 way tie with Kennedy coming out on top, the spread in the margin of votes between 1st and 3rd was a total of 42 votes.
A year later he would run again in the 1926 Canadian federal election
Canadian federal election, 1926
The Canadian federal election of 1926 was held on September 14 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 16th Parliament of Canada. The election was called following an event known as the King-Byng Affair...
this time running under the United Farmers of Alberta
United Farmers of Alberta
The United Farmers of Alberta is an association of Alberta farmers that has served many different roles throughout its history as a lobby group, a political party, and as a farm-supply retail chain. Since 1934 it has primarily been an agricultural supply cooperative headquartered in Calgary...
banner. He would defeat Mayor of Edmonton Joseph Clarke
Joseph Clarke
Joseph Andrew Clarke was a Canadian politician and lawyer. He served twice as mayor of Edmonton, Alberta, was a candidate for election to the Canadian House of Commons and the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, and was a member of the Yukon Territorial Council .-Early life:Clarke was born in...
and James Arthur Collins again by a much larger margin then the election a year ago.
Kennedy would run for a 4th term in the House of Commons in the 1930 Canadian federal election
Canadian federal election, 1930
The Canadian federal election of 1930 was held on July 28, 1930 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 17th Parliament of Canada...
. He would defeat Liberal candidate John Ewing Thompson by a comfortable margin. He was defeated in his bid for a 5th term in office this time running under the 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...
banner finishing 3rd in a place of 4 candidates to Social Credit Party of Canada
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...
candidate René-Antoine Pelletier
René-Antoine Pelletier
René-Antoine Pelletier was a station agent and a Canadian federal political politician.-Political career:Pelletier was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1935 Canadian federal election. He ran as a Social Credit candidate defeated incumbent Member of Parliament Donald MacBeth...
.
In parliament, Kennedy joined the Ginger Group
Ginger Group (Canada)
The Ginger Group was not a formal political party in Canada, but a faction of radical Progressive and Labour Members of Parliament who advocated socialism. The group is said to have taken its name from Ginger Goodwin, a United Mine Workers organizer. Ginger was shot dead outside Cumberland, British...
of radical MPs in the 1920s.