George Roy McWilliam
Encyclopedia
George Roy McWilliam was a Member of Parliament
in the Canadian House of Commons for the constituency of Northumberland—Miramichi
in New Brunswick
from 1949 until 1968. He was a resident of Newcastle, New Brunswick
for most of his life, where he was the publisher and editor of the North Shore Leader, a local weekly newspaper.
Born in Sydney
, Nova Scotia
, McWilliam was a Liberal
and served as Parliamentary Secretary
to the Postmaster-General
from 1963 to 1964 and to the Minister of Public Works
from 1964 to 1965.
McWilliam served as MP through the middle of a long period of Liberal ascendancy in the Miramichi Valley
. The coalition that sustained the Liberal Party was centered on the Irish
vote, especially from the town of Chatham
where they formed the majority, buttressed by the votes of the Irish minority in Newcastle, and the smaller Irish villages like St. Margarets
, Barnaby River
and Sevogle
. Added to this were the votes of the French
-speaking Acadians of Neguac, Rogersville
, Beaverbrook
and Baie-Sainte-Anne
and surrounding areas. The majority of Protestants voted Progressive Conservative
, but there were always a minority who supported the Liberals.
Although Catholics generally supported the Liberal Party, the Irish Catholic clergy did not generally involve themselves in politics.
Roy McWilliam's sister was the noted Miramichi historian Edith McAllister.
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
in the Canadian House of Commons for the constituency of Northumberland—Miramichi
Miramichi (electoral district)
Northumberland was a federal electoral district in New Brunswick, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1988. It was replaced by Miramichi riding, which has been represented in the House of Commons since 1988...
in New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
from 1949 until 1968. He was a resident of Newcastle, New Brunswick
Newcastle, New Brunswick
Newcastle is a Canadian urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, it was an incorporated town and the shire town of Northumberland County....
for most of his life, where he was the publisher and editor of the North Shore Leader, a local weekly newspaper.
Born in Sydney
Sydney, Nova Scotia
Sydney is a Canadian urban community in the province of Nova Scotia. It is situated on the east coast of Cape Breton Island and is administratively part of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality....
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, McWilliam was a 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...
and served as Parliamentary Secretary
Parliamentary Secretary
A Parliamentary Secretary is a member of a Parliament in the Westminster system who assists a more senior minister with his or her duties.In the parliamentary systems of several Commonwealth countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, it is customary for the prime minister to...
to the Postmaster-General
Postmaster General of Canada
The Postmaster General of Canada was the Canadian cabinet minister responsible for the Post Office Department . In 1851, management of the post office was transferred from Britain to the provincial governments of the Province of Canada, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward...
from 1963 to 1964 and to the Minister of Public Works
Minister of Public Works (Canada)
The position of Minister of Public Works existed as part of the Cabinet of Canada from Confederation to 1995.As part of substantial governmental reorganization, the position was merged with that of the Minister of Supply and Services to create the position of Minister of Public Works and Government...
from 1964 to 1965.
McWilliam served as MP through the middle of a long period of Liberal ascendancy in the Miramichi Valley
Miramichi Valley
The Miramichi Valley is a Canadian river valley and region located in the east-central part of New Brunswick. It extends along both major branches of the Miramichi River and their tributaries, however it is generally agreed that the much larger Southwest Miramichi River forms the majority of this...
. The coalition that sustained the Liberal Party was centered on the Irish
Irish Canadian
Irish Canadian are immigrants and descendants of immigrants who originated in Ireland. 1.2 million Irish immigrants arrived, 1825 to 1970, at least half of those in the period from 1831-1850. By 1867, they were the second largest ethnic group , and comprised 24% of Canada's population...
vote, especially from the town of Chatham
Chatham, New Brunswick
Chatham is a Canadian urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, Chatham was an incorporated town in Northumberland County along the south bank of the Miramichi River opposite Douglastown...
where they formed the majority, buttressed by the votes of the Irish minority in Newcastle, and the smaller Irish villages like St. Margarets
St. Margarets, New Brunswick
St. Margarets is a settlement in New Brunswick....
, Barnaby River
Barnaby River, New Brunswick
Barnaby River is a Canadian community in Northumberland County, New Brunswick. It is located south of the city of Miramichi....
and Sevogle
Sevogle, New Brunswick
Sevogle is a community in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. It is located near the mouth of the Big Sevogle River, 5.56 km N of Big Hole, and consequently is visited by hundreds of tourists in the summer for fishing...
. Added to this were the votes of the French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
-speaking Acadians of Neguac, Rogersville
Rogersville, New Brunswick
Rogersville is a Canadian village in Northumberland County, New Brunswick.Rogersville is the home of two Trappist monasteries, Notre-Dame de l'Assomption Abbey and Notre Dame du Calvaire Abbey...
, Beaverbrook
Beaverbrook, New Brunswick
Beaver Brook Station is a Canadian rural community in Northumberland County, New Brunswick.Beaver Brook Station was created when the Intercolonial Railway was constructed through the area north of Newcastle in 1875....
and Baie-Sainte-Anne
Baie-Sainte-Anne, New Brunswick
Baie-Sainte-Anne is a Canadian rural community in Northumberland County, New Brunswick.It is located on the southern shore of Miramichi Bay near its opening into the Gulf of St...
and surrounding areas. The majority of Protestants voted 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....
, but there were always a minority who supported the Liberals.
Although Catholics generally supported the Liberal Party, the Irish Catholic clergy did not generally involve themselves in politics.
Roy McWilliam's sister was the noted Miramichi historian Edith McAllister.