Edmond Prefontaine
Encyclopedia
Edmond Préfontaine was a politician in Manitoba, Canada
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
as a Liberal-Progressive
from 1935 to 1962, and was a cabinet minister in the government of Douglas L. Campbell. His father, Albert Préfontaine
, had previously served in the Assembly for twenty-nine years, and was a cabinet minister in John Bracken
's government.
Fluently bilingual, Préfontaine was educated at the University of Manitoba
and received a Bachelor of Arts
degree. He worked as a farmer, and as a breeder of pure Holstein
s. He also served as director of the Winnipeg District Milk Producers Cooperative Association.
The Préfontaines were prominent franco-Manitoban family in the Conservative Party
during World War I
. Although popular opinion among Canadian francophones was generally against the war, Edmond Préfontaine enlisted for service on May 12, 1918, following his graduation. He spent four months at the Petawawa
Training Camp, and might have served overseas had the war not come to an end. After the war, the Préfontaines left the Conservative Party for the United Farmers of Manitoba, and later for the Liberal-Progressives.
After Albert Préfontaine died in 1935, Edmond campaigned to succeed him in the rural constituency of Carillon
. He was successful, defeating his sole opponent, Louis-P. Gagnon, by 155 votes. A Liberal-Progressive, he was a backbench supporter of Bracken's government.
Préfontaine was re-elected in the 1936
and 1941 provincial elections
, and won without opposition in 1945
. From 1940 to 1950, Manitoba was governed by a multi-party coalition dominated by the Liberal-Progressives, and also including the Progressive Conservatives
. Préfontaine was a supporter of the coalition for many years, but crossed to the opposition benches in 1949.
In the 1949 election
, Préfontaine campaigned as an Independent Liberal opposing the coalition government. He was again re-elected, defeating government candidate H.B. Johnson by 600 votes. During this period, he described the coalition as damaging to the British system of parliamentary government.
Préfontaine rejoined the government side in 1950, as the coalition was coming to a close. He was appointed to Campbell's cabinet as Municipal Commissioner
on December 1, 1951. This position was restructured on April 20, 1953, and Préfontaine was sworn in as the province's first Minister of Municipal Affairs. In the 1953 provincial election
, he described a vote for the Liberal-Progressives as a vote for "progress plus sanity" (Winnipeg Free Press
, 21 May 1953).
Easily returned as a Liberal-Progressive candidate in the 1953 election
, Préfontaine was given the additional portfolio of Provincial Secretary
on September 4, 1953. He held both cabinet positions until June 30, 1958, when the Campbell government resigned from office.
Lloyd Stinson
, leader of the Manitoba CCF, once described Préfontaine as an "independent spirit", and claimed he never seemed comfortable in the Campbell administration.
Préfontaine was re-elected in the 1958 election
. The Liberal-Progressives, who in one form or another had governed Manitoba since 1915, were defeated by Dufferin Roblin
's Progressive Conservatives
in this election, and Préfontaine moved with his party to the opposition benches. He was again re-elected in the 1959 election
, but did not run in 1962.
Préfontaine's son, René Préfontaine, was also active in politics, though ironically as a supporter of Roblin's Progressive Conservatives. It was on Edmond's advice that René turned down an offer to join the Roblin cabinet in 1959.
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...
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and the lieutenant governor form the Legislature of Manitoba, the legislature of the Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected to this assembly in provincial general elections, all in single-member constituencies with first-past-the-post...
as a Liberal-Progressive
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
from 1935 to 1962, and was a cabinet minister in the government of Douglas L. Campbell. His father, Albert Préfontaine
Albert Prefontaine
Albert Préfontaine was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as leader of the Manitoba Conservatives in the late 1910s, and was subsequently a member of the United Farmers of Manitoba....
, had previously served in the Assembly for twenty-nine years, and was a cabinet minister in John Bracken
John Bracken
John Bracken, PC was an agronomist, the 11th Premier of Manitoba and leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada ....
's government.
Fluently bilingual, Préfontaine was educated at the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
and received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree. He worked as a farmer, and as a breeder of pure Holstein
Holstein
Holstein is the region between the rivers Elbe and Eider. It is part of Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of Germany....
s. He also served as director of the Winnipeg District Milk Producers Cooperative Association.
The Préfontaines were prominent franco-Manitoban family in the Conservative Party
Conservative Party of Canada (historical)
The Conservative Party of Canada has gone by a variety of names over the years since Canadian Confederation. Initially known as the "Liberal-Conservative Party", it dropped "Liberal" from its name in 1873, although many of its candidates continued to use this name.As a result of World War I and the...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Although popular opinion among Canadian francophones was generally against the war, Edmond Préfontaine enlisted for service on May 12, 1918, following his graduation. He spent four months at the Petawawa
Petawawa, Ontario
Petawawa is a town located in eastern portion of Southern Ontario. Situated in the Ottawa Valley, with a population of 14,651 . Petawawa is the most populous municipality in Renfrew County.-Geography:...
Training Camp, and might have served overseas had the war not come to an end. After the war, the Préfontaines left the Conservative Party for the United Farmers of Manitoba, and later for the Liberal-Progressives.
After Albert Préfontaine died in 1935, Edmond campaigned to succeed him in the rural constituency of Carillon
Carillon (Manitoba riding)
Carillon is a former provincial electoral division in Manitoba, Canada.It was established for the 1886 provincial election, and eliminated with the 1969 election. The constituency was predominantly francophone...
. He was successful, defeating his sole opponent, Louis-P. Gagnon, by 155 votes. A Liberal-Progressive, he was a backbench supporter of Bracken's government.
Préfontaine was re-elected in the 1936
Manitoba general election, 1936
Manitoba's general election of July 27, 1936 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.The was the second election in Manitoba after the formation of a Liberal-Progressive alliance in 1932...
and 1941 provincial elections
Manitoba general election, 1941
Manitoba's general election of April 22, 1941 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election was held shortly after the formation of a coalition government in December 1940...
, and won without opposition in 1945
Manitoba general election, 1945
Manitoba's general election of October 15, 1945 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.The 1945 provincial election was extremely different from the previous election, which was held in 1941...
. From 1940 to 1950, Manitoba was governed by a multi-party coalition dominated by the Liberal-Progressives, and also including the Progressive Conservatives
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
. Préfontaine was a supporter of the coalition for many years, but crossed to the opposition benches in 1949.
In the 1949 election
Manitoba general election, 1949
Manitoba's general election of November 10, 1949 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election pitted the province's coalition government, made up of the Liberal-Progressive Party and the Progressive Conservative Party, against a variety of...
, Préfontaine campaigned as an Independent Liberal opposing the coalition government. He was again re-elected, defeating government candidate H.B. Johnson by 600 votes. During this period, he described the coalition as damaging to the British system of parliamentary government.
Préfontaine rejoined the government side in 1950, as the coalition was coming to a close. He was appointed to Campbell's cabinet as Municipal Commissioner
Municipal Commissioner (Manitoba)
The office of the Municipal Commissioner is a former government department in the Canadian province of Manitoba, established by the government of John Norquay in 1887...
on December 1, 1951. This position was restructured on April 20, 1953, and Préfontaine was sworn in as the province's first Minister of Municipal Affairs. In the 1953 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1953
Manitoba's general election of June 8, 1953 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. This was the first election held in Manitoba after the breakup of a ten-year coalition government led by the Liberal-Progressives and Progressive Conservatives...
, he described a vote for the Liberal-Progressives as a vote for "progress plus sanity" (Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg Free Press
The Winnipeg Free Press is a daily broadsheet newspaper in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Founded in 1872, as the Manitoba Free Press, it is the oldest newspaper in western Canada. It is the newspaper with the largest readership in the province....
, 21 May 1953).
Easily returned as a Liberal-Progressive candidate in the 1953 election
Manitoba general election, 1953
Manitoba's general election of June 8, 1953 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. This was the first election held in Manitoba after the breakup of a ten-year coalition government led by the Liberal-Progressives and Progressive Conservatives...
, Préfontaine was given the additional portfolio of Provincial Secretary
Provincial Secretary (Manitoba)
The position of Provincial Secretary was particularly important in Manitoba from 1870 to 1874, as that province's institutions were being established. The province had no Premier during this period, and its Lieutenant-Governor acted as the de facto leaders of government...
on September 4, 1953. He held both cabinet positions until June 30, 1958, when the Campbell government resigned from office.
Lloyd Stinson
Lloyd Stinson
Lloyd Stinson was a politician in Manitoba, Canada, and the leader of that province's Co-operative Commonwealth Federation from 1953 to 1959. Although widely regarded as a capable leader, he was unable to achieve a major electoral breakthrough for his party.Stinson was born in Treherne,...
, leader of the Manitoba CCF, once described Préfontaine as an "independent spirit", and claimed he never seemed comfortable in the Campbell administration.
Préfontaine was re-elected in the 1958 election
Manitoba general election, 1958
Manitoba's general election of June 16, 1958 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election was the first to be held in Manitoba after a comprehensive electoral redistribution in 1956...
. The Liberal-Progressives, who in one form or another had governed Manitoba since 1915, were defeated by Dufferin Roblin
Dufferin Roblin
Dufferin "Duff" Roblin, PC, CC, OM was a Canadian businessman and politician. Known as "Duff," he served as the 14th Premier of Manitoba from 1958 to 1967. Roblin was appointed to the Canadian Senate on the advice of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. In the government of Brian Mulroney, he served as...
's Progressive Conservatives
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
in this election, and Préfontaine moved with his party to the opposition benches. He was again re-elected in the 1959 election
Manitoba general election, 1959
Manitoba's general election of May 14, 1959 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It resulted in a majority victory for the Progressive Conservative Party under the leadership of Dufferin Roblin...
, but did not run in 1962.
Préfontaine's son, René Préfontaine, was also active in politics, though ironically as a supporter of Roblin's Progressive Conservatives. It was on Edmond's advice that René turned down an offer to join the Roblin cabinet in 1959.