James Bilton
Encyclopedia
James H. Bilton was a politician
in Manitoba
, Canada
. He was a Progressive Conservative
member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1962 to 1977, and served as Speaker
of the Legislature for three years.
Bilton was educated in England, and subsequently moved to Canada. He served with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
from 1931 to 1953, and retired with the rank of Staff Sgt. He was also the editor and publisher of the Swan River Star & Times, and a member of the Winnipeg Press Club.
Bilton was first elected to the legislature in the 1962 election
, scoring an easy victory in the mid-northern riding of Swan River. In the election of 1966
, he faced a surprisingly credible challenge from Gerald Webb of the Social Credit Party
, but won by 406 votes. He was appointed Speaker of the Legislature after the election, and served until 1969.
The Tories were defeated in the 1969 election
, and Bilton faced a strong challenge from New Democrat
Alex Filuk, winning by only 163 votes. He was re-elected again by a greater margin in the 1973 election
, and did not run in 1977.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
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 was a Progressive Conservative
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:...
member of 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...
from 1962 to 1977, and served as Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the Legislature for three years.
Bilton was educated in England, and subsequently moved to Canada. He served with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
from 1931 to 1953, and retired with the rank of Staff Sgt. He was also the editor and publisher of the Swan River Star & Times, and a member of the Winnipeg Press Club.
Bilton was first elected to the legislature in the 1962 election
Manitoba general election, 1962
Manitoba's general election of December 16, 1962 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It resulted in a second majority victory for the Progressive Conservative Party under the leadership of Dufferin Roblin...
, scoring an easy victory in the mid-northern riding of Swan River. In the election of 1966
Manitoba general election, 1966
The Manitoba general election held on June 23, 1966, was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It resulted in a third consecutive majority win for the Progressive Conservative Party led by Dufferin Roblin...
, he faced a surprisingly credible challenge from Gerald Webb of the Social Credit Party
Manitoba Social Credit Party
The Manitoba Social Credit Party was a political party in the Canadian province of Manitoba. In its early years, it espoused the monetary reform theories of social credit....
, but won by 406 votes. He was appointed Speaker of the Legislature after the election, and served until 1969.
The Tories were defeated in the 1969 election
Manitoba general election, 1969
The Manitoba General Election of June 25, 1969 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was a watershed moment in the province's political history. The social-democratic New Democratic Party emerged for the first time as the largest party in...
, and Bilton faced a strong challenge from New Democrat
New Democratic Party of Manitoba
The New Democratic Party of Manitoba is a social-democratic political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is the provincial wing of the federal New Democratic Party, and is a successor to the Manitoba Co-operative Commonwealth Federation...
Alex Filuk, winning by only 163 votes. He was re-elected again by a greater margin in the 1973 election
Manitoba general election, 1973
The Manitoba General Election of June 28, 1973 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the social-democratic New Democratic Party, which took 31 of 57 seats...
, and did not run in 1977.