Gordon Sidney Harrington
Encyclopedia
Gordon Sidney Harrington (August 7, 1883-July 4, 1943) was a Nova Scotia
politician and the province's 11th Premier
from 1930 to 1933.
He was mayor
of Glace Bay
from 1913 to 1915 when he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force
fighting in World War I
. He was elected a Conservative MLA
in 1925 representing Cape Breton
and his support from miners helped ensure the Conservative Party's victory in that election. Harrington became Minister of Labour in the government of Edgar N. Rhodes and became Premier of Nova Scotia when his predecessor, Edgar N. Rhodes left provincial politics to ender the federal cabinet in 1930.
During Harrington's term he was able to end ongoing labour disturbance among miners in Cape Breton
which had afflicted the previous two premiers. He improved the provincial department of mining
, fought for the coal and steel industries in Ottawa
, and passed legislation calling for a national policy on coal and steel.
However, his government was unable to combat the Great Depression
and was defeated by the Liberals in the 1933 election
. Harrington remained in the legislative assembly
until 1937. His government was the last Conservative government until Robert Stanfield
was able to take power in 1956.
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...
politician and the province's 11th Premier
Premier of Nova Scotia
The Premier of Nova Scotia is the first minister for the Canadian province of Nova Scotia who presides over the Executive Council of Nova Scotia. Following the Westminster system, the premier is normally the leader of the political party which has the most seats in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly...
from 1930 to 1933.
He was mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Glace Bay
Glace Bay, Nova Scotia
Glace Bay is a community in the eastern part of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia, Canada. It forms part of the general area referred to as Industrial Cape Breton....
from 1913 to 1915 when he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force
Canadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...
fighting in 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...
. He was elected a Conservative MLA
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly is the name given in some countries to either a legislature, or to one of its branch.The name is used by a number of member-states of the Commonwealth of Nations, as well as a number of Latin American countries....
in 1925 representing Cape Breton
Cape Breton (provincial electoral district)
Cape Breton was a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elected one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. It existed from 1867 to 1925....
and his support from miners helped ensure the Conservative Party's victory in that election. Harrington became Minister of Labour in the government of Edgar N. Rhodes and became Premier of Nova Scotia when his predecessor, Edgar N. Rhodes left provincial politics to ender the federal cabinet in 1930.
During Harrington's term he was able to end ongoing labour disturbance among miners in Cape Breton
Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
which had afflicted the previous two premiers. He improved the provincial department of mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
, fought for the coal and steel industries in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, and passed legislation calling for a national policy on coal and steel.
However, his government was unable to combat the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
and was defeated by the Liberals in the 1933 election
Nova Scotia general election, 1933
The 17th Nova Scotia general election was held on 22 August 1933 to elect members of the 40th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It was won by the Liberal party....
. Harrington remained in the legislative assembly
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly is the name given in some countries to either a legislature, or to one of its branch.The name is used by a number of member-states of the Commonwealth of Nations, as well as a number of Latin American countries....
until 1937. His government was the last Conservative government until Robert Stanfield
Robert Stanfield
Robert Lorne Stanfield, PC, QC was the 17th Premier of Nova Scotia and leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. He is sometimes referred to as "the greatest prime minister Canada never had", and earned the nickname "Honest Bob"...
was able to take power in 1956.